asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the growth of the district, he will consider the provision of an Employment Exchange in Edmonton?

There are at present three Employment Exchanges within approximately two miles of the centre of Edmonton. These Exchanges are fully adequate for the needs of the area, and I should not be justified in adding to them in present circumstances.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the population of the district has grown by nearly 10,000 between 1930 and 1933; that an unemployed person would have to walk two miles in either direction from Edmonton Town Hall either to. Tottenham Employment Exchange or to the Employment Exchange at Ponders End; and, in view of these facts, will he reconsider his decision?

I have considered all these facts. It is true that the population has grown, but I have reason to believe that the present arrangements are adequate for the needs of the population, and I would not be justified in incurring additional public expense.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is a great hardship to unemployed persons to have to walk two miles in order to sign on at the Exchange; and is he further aware that, in spite of the fact that there are three Exchanges within a certain radius, unemployed people have still to walk that distance?

It is true that a certain limited number of these people have to go two miles, but I am not prepared to say that that is unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will consider, as an experiment, sanctioning the employment of labour, subsidised by transi- tional payment or unemployment benefit, on some specific scheme of drainage or reclamation to be carried out by a selected local authority in the public interest;

(2) Whether he will investigate the question of large-scale land drainage of the low-lying districts of East Yorkshire, with special reference to the possibility of allocating unemployment benefit or transitional benefit for the subsidisation of the wages of men engaged in this form of work?

As regards the suggested subsidisation of employment on land drainage schemes, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) on 13th June, of which I am sending him a copy. I am, however, considering whether an experimental training scheme where the course of instruction will include land drainage is practicable, but I cannot undertake that it will be carried out in Yorkshire.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the representations made to him on behalf of 50 county councils asking him to proceed with schemes to provide work at wages for the unemployed, particularly able-bodied men who were in receipt of public assistance, what steps he has taken to ascertain from local authorities their requirements in housing, small holdings, water supplies, road improvements, reconstruction of bridges, land reclamation, land colonisation, and school buildings; and whether he will consider making a grant for every person for whom work is provided by local authorities?

As I said in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) on Tuesday, the Government were not able to accept the proposal put forward by the Association for subsidising relief work by payments from the National Exchequer in respect of the employment of persons who would otherwise receive transitional payments or public assistance. My department is in continuous communication with local authorities about their requirements in relation to housing and water supplies, and loans for other purposes.

Is the hon. Member satisfied with the present rate of capital expenditure on loan account on subjects such as are mentioned in this question, and will the Department take steps to press upon local authorities the advantage of the present low money rates for developments of this kind?

I think opportunity is always taken by local authorities to put forward sound revenue-producing schemes.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the first persons to be consulted are the local ratepayers?

(for Mr. PRICE) asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have been deprived of benefit or transitional payments since the end of July, 1931?

The statistics do not enable me to give the number of separate applicants whose claims have been disallowed, but between 14th July, 1931, and 31st May, 1933, 1,040,915 claims for benefit or transitional payments were disallowed by courts of referees in Great Britain. Determinations by public assistance authorities and commissioners on applications for transitional payments during the period 12th November, 1931, to 6th May, 1933, included 1,036,763 in which the needs of applicants were held not to justify payment. This figure includes renewals and revisions as well as initial applications.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government have any policy for dealing with those people who have been refused transitional payments except to send them to the Poor Law?

That matter has been discussed very often in debate, and I cannot deal with it in answer to a question.

How many of these people have since died of starvation?

(for Mr. McGOVERN) asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed persons in the building trade up-to-date and the total unemployment benefit being paid?

The number of insured persons in the building industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 22nd May, 1933, was 168,896. 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 £135,000 a week.

(for Mr. McGOVERN) asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons who have been refused benefit under the Anomalies Act up-to-date and the total weekly amount thereby saved?

Between J9th October, 1931, and 31st May, 1933, 260,430 claims for insurance benefit or transitional payments were disallowed under the Anomalies Regulations by courts of referees in Great Britain. The figure relates to claims; the number of separate individuals concerned is not available. It is not practicable to make an accurate estimate of the saving, but it is roughly at the rate of £75,000 a week.

How can there be any saving on transitional payments seeing that persons covered by this Act are within the terms of standard benefit claims?

I do not quite follow the hon. Gentleman.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all persons who are affected by the Anomalies Act have a stamp qualification for standard benefit, and therefore cannot be affected by transitional payments?

I think that the hon. Gentleman had better put that question down.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is a saving of this amount?

The saving under the Anomalies Act is roughly the figure which I have given in answer to the Question. What the effect of that might be in other directions I cannot say.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland his reasons for refusing to meet a deputation of unemployed men who had marched from Glasgow to Edinburgh to voice the claims of the unemployed, whether these men are now in Edinburgh without shelter and whether he proposes to take any action?

As regards the first part of the question, it did not appear to me that any useful purpose would be served by my receiving this deputation. As regards the second part, I am informed that these men are no longer in Edinburgh, and the last part of the question does not therefore arise.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman thinks that because the men have left Edinburgh the grievances of the Glasgow unemployed have been removed?

No, Sir, by no means.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, as he has received almost all sort of deputations during his term of office, he refuses to meet a perfectly legitimate deputation of the unemployed in Edinburgh?

I thought in this particular case that no good purpose would be secured by my receiving the deputation, and I am fortified in that view by the policy of the late Labour Government.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman's Department must have some cognisance of the grievances of this large body of men, and why is it that when they come to him constitutionally to state their grievances he does not extend to them the usual courtesy of hearing them, as he does to richer deputations?

I have received deputations from rich and from poor during my term of office. It is not because they were poor that I refused to receive them in this case. I might mention to the hon. Gentleman that on 3rd May last I wrote to this deputation saying that I thought no useful purpose would be served by my receiving them.

May I ask whether this is not the first deputation of the unemployed who have asked to see the right hon. Gentleman since he took office, and consequently he has not been asked to receive poor people? Why is it that in this case, when a number of people wish to put before him their grievances in a perfectly constitutional and legitimate way, he does not meet them with that ordinary courtesy which they have extended to him? Why is it that he cannot at least give the courteous treatment to these people which they have evidently given to him?

I gave this matter very serious consideration before I came to the decision which I announced to them on the 3rd May.

Was the right hon. Gentleman influenced in any respect, by the fact that the request to receive this deputation was made to him by myself as a Member of this House; and is he aware that the reply to my request was the curtest letter which I have ever received from any Minister of the Crown at any time?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) by how much the real value of average weekly wages has risen or fallen as at 1st June, 1933, by comparison with the real value for the year 1924, using columns 3 and 4 of page 85 of the Macmillan Report [Cmd. 3897] as the basis of calculation;

(2) can he state the cost-of-living index (M/L) for 1924 (using basis: 1924 equals 100 in each case) and the cost-of-living index for the latest ascertained period in 1933, and, similarly, the index number of average weekly wages for 1924 and the index number for the latest ascertained period in 1933; and will he make the calculation as it was made in paragraph 187 of the Macmillan Report [Cmd. 3897] in order that the loss or gain in the real value of weekly wages may be compared as between the two years 1924 and 1933;

(3) whether he will, soon after 1st July next, bring up to date, and in the same form, the comparative tables which showed wholesale prices, cost-of-living, and certain other related indices in paragraph 187 of the Macmillan Report [Cmd. 3897] by adding the figures for the completed years 1931 and 1932, and for the first six months of 1933, and publish the tables in the Board of Trade Journal?

I have had a detailed reply prepared which, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider allowing his reply to appear in the Ministry of Labour Gazette and giving it some prominence?

I will consider that suggestion.

May I also put this consideration to the right hon. Gentleman? In view of misconception arising as to the value of wages, would it not be advisable to give the fullest publicity to this information?

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear, however, that the Ministry receive comparatively few of the agreements which are made throughout the country, and are not therefore in a position to speak with authority as to the real wages received?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we can compare like with like?

I will consider all these things. I agree that the fullest publicity should be given to this matter, and I will consider the suggestion that these details should be published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

(for Mr. WILLIAMS) asked the Minister of Labour if he can state what is the percentage increase of rents over the 1914 level of the controlled houses and of the decontrolled houses covered by the inquiries for the cost-of-living index?

It is estimated that at 1st May, the latest date for which figures are at present available, the average increase over the level of July, 1914, in rents, including rates, was approximately 48 to 49 per cent., in the case of controlled working-class dwellings, and about 85 per cent. in the case of decontrolled working-class dwellings.

(for Mr. TOM SMITH) asked the Minister of Labour whether the rent statistics used in compiling the cost-of-living index are still confined to pre-War houses; and whether, in that event, he will consider including post-War houses, and thus bring the figure more nearly into line with the actual conditions of housing and rents?

The cost-of-living index number is designed to indicate the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, and the rent statistics included relates only to pre-War houses. I am afraid that it would be difficult to include the rents of post-War houses within the scope of the present index number owing to the absence of any pre-War basis for calculating percentages of increases in the rents of such houses.

In view of the great change that there has been in rents since the War, is it not time that there was a revision of the Index?

What the hon. Gentleman says is true. There has been a change, of course. I appreciate very much the importance of the point, and I am now considering it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether rents have fallen comparably with the fall in the cost of the other items in the Index?

I cannot say that without notice. If the hon. Gentleman will put the question down, I will try to answer it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state what proportion of the pre-War houses, the rents of which are used as a basis for the cost-of-living index figure, are now decontrolled?

Of the pre-War working-class dwellings of which account is taken in the compilation of the official cost-of-living index figure, it is estimated, on the basis of such information as is at present available, that approximately one-fifth are now decontrolled.

Can the right hon. Gentleman form any estimate as to the increase of rent that has taken place because of decontrol.

No, I cannot.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the effect of decontrol and the increase of rent that usually takes place when he reconsiders the whole subject?

Yes.

Is it not the case that the monthly article in the Ministry of Labour Gazette takes these matters into account and can be consulted in the Library?

Yes, but I do not think that that is the question put by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he has received any reports from His Majesty's inspectors indicating excessive staffing in secondary schools?

The answer is in the affirmative.

(for Mr. MALLALIEU) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, if he can state, as on the latest convenient date, the ratio of teachers to pupils in public secondary schools?

On 31st March, 1932, the total number of pupils in grant-aided secondary schools was 432,061, and the number of full-time teachers 22,293, including 1,332 head teachers, giving a ratio of 20.6 pupils per teacher, excluding head teachers, and 19.4 including head teachers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, what action is being taken to ease the situation for teachers who left training colleges in July last and who have not yet been able to obtain appointments?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he has any recent information as to the number of teachers who left training colleges in July last who have so far failed to obtain employment?

According to the returns just received from the training colleges and University training departments, of the 8,250 students who left in July, 1932, 7,540 have obtained teaching posts, and 606 have not yet obtained employment as teachers. In the case of the remaining 104 no information is available, but it is probable that many of these have in fact secured employment. Steps have already been taken to reduce considerably the number of students entering training colleges this year, and the board are continuing to observe the situation very closely.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he can state, as on the latest convenient date, the number of children remaining in elementary schools after the term in which they reach the age of 14?

My Noble Friend regrets that information is not available in the precise form asked for in the question; but the number of children aged 14 years 3 months and over remaining in public elementary schools in England and Wales, on the 31st March, 1932, was 53,409.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that, in connection with pending trade negotiations with Japan, no engagement will be entered into limiting the power of this country to participate forthwith in any international sanction under the Covenant of the League of Nations?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn) on the 22nd May.

Does my hon. and gallant Friend think the Japanese Government are the least likely to keep any engagements they enter into, in view of past experience?

Order!

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now inform the House on the progress of the Anglo-Japanese conversations relative to commercial competition in overseas markets?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the nature of the reply received from the Japanese Government with regard to the convening of a conference between Japanese and United Kingdom industries; and also what general progress has been made with the preliminary negotiations?

I cannot at present add anything to the statement I made in the Debate on the Motion for the Whitsuntide Adjournment.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind the desirability of consulting with the trade associations before a reply is sent, and, in connection with that conversation, can he give the House the assurance that representatives of all sections of the cotton trade, which is very grievously affected by this matter, will be consulted?

I can assure my hon. Friend that contact is being made and will be kept with the Lancashire organisations on this matter.

Do I understand from that answer that all sections of the trade will be brought into consultation?

I should require to have notice about all sections.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of goods imported from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics under special licence to the latest convenient date?

I have not complete information as to the value of goods actually imported from the Soviet Union under licence, but up to the 14th June licences have been issued for the importation of Russian goods to the value of approximately £126,000.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that these large importations under licence are very much against the spirit and the effective working of the embargo?

No, I cannot agree with my hon. Friend. The licences have been issued in conformity with the principle that a considerable amount of prepayment must be made before any licences are given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty experienced by firms desirous of importing United Kingdom footwear into Czechoslovakia in obtaining the necessary import licences; and whether, in view of the fact that about 125,000 pairs of foot wear, valued at about £26,000, entered the United Kingdom during the first three months of this year, His Majesty's Government will take vigorous action to induce the Czechoslovakian Government to issue licences for an adequate quantity of footwear from this country?

The importation of many kinds of goods into Czechoslovakia is subject to exchange licences, which it is understood are granted without any definite quota limits in the case of certain goods, including footwear, provided that the proposed importation is associated with a compensating export transaction. This arrangement in itself does not appear to involve discrimination against the United Kingdom export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state (1) the tonnage and value of all imports into South Wales ports during the years 1930, 1931, and 1932, and the countries of origin;

(2) the tonnage and value of all exports from South Wales ports during the years 1930, 1931, and 1932, and the countries of destination?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any technical process different in principle from those employed in this country will be used at the Bata shoe and slipper works, Dagenham?

I have no information on this subject.

Will my hon. Friend obtain such information before he makes any recommendations to the Home Secretary with regard to the Czechoslovakian technicians who are to come into this country for the purpose of instructing in this machinery at the new shoe and slipper works at Dagenham?

I do not think that that supplementary question arises. In any event, it does not seem to be a matter for the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding Portuguese flag discrimination?

The negotiations have now reached an advanced stage and are proceeding satisfactorily.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when he expects to have them calculated?

It is difficult to give a date, but I hope that they will be concluded shortly.

(for Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the difficulties caused to British merchant shipping and exporting industries by the policy of the Suez Canal Company in relation to British trade; and will he consider reconstituting the official British membership of the Suez Canal Company Board at an early opportunity so as to give better protection to British interests?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to similar questions on this subject on Tuesday last, and of which I am sending him a, copy.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this system of having two sets of directors, official and trade directors, results in the trade representa- tion on the Suez Canal Board being weaker than it would otherwise be?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that inconvenience and loss have been suffered by Scottish farmers owing to the delay on the part of the Import Duties Advisory Committee in issuing their decision in regard to imported oats and oat products; and if he will consider increasing the size of the committee to avoid the recurrence of such delays?

The degree of rapidity with which decisions can be reached in any particular case depends mainly on the nature of the application and the circumstances of the industry to which it relates, and I have no reason to think that an enlargement of the membership of the committee would result in greater expedition.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is very difficult indeed for farmers to know what crops to plant when they are kept waiting for many months to know whether they will be getting the benefit of a tariff or not?

Although the enlargement of the committee might not expedite the work, would the Chancellor of the Exchequer ask the committee whether there are any suggestions they could make which would enable applications to be dealt with more quickly?

I can only ask them to consider the suggestion in the question. The suggestion was that by enlarging the committee decisions might be more expeditiously reached. It would be difficult to concur in such a suggestion.

May I ask why I was not given the same reply a month ago, when I asked the same question, because I proposed that the committee should be enlarged a month ago, and I was referred to what had been said in December?

Yes, Sir. Truth is eternal.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what has been the reason for the lamentable delay in this case?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will find out from the British Government's representative in Sweden what was the average wholesale price at which kraft paper was sold in Sweden for internal consumption during the months of January, February, and March of this year?

The British Legation at Stockholm state that they are reliably informed that Kraft paper, weighing not less than 40 grammes per square metre, has, during the past months, been sold for internal consumption in Sweden at prices ranging from 32 ore to 44 ore per kilogramme, the price varying with the circumstances of the sale. It is understood that these prices are general and are regulated by the cartel.

(for Mr. PRICE) asked the Minister of Health if he can make any statement on the position of slum clearance?

Since the passing of the Housing Act, 1930, up to the 13th June, resolutions had been received from 185 Local Authorities declaring 847 areas, comprising 21,938 houses, to be clearance areas; 592 Clearance and Compulsory Purchase Orders affecting 16,117 houses had been submitted and of these Orders 390, affecting 9,414 houses, had been confirmed. A further 729 houses, in 39 clearance areas, had been purchased by agreement by 17 local authorities. It is too early yet for a statement on the results of my right hon. Friend's recent circular to local authorities.

Has my hon. Friend any idea of what relation this bears to the complete programme that is to be carried through in five years?

Oh, very little at all. This is the position previous to the change in housing policy by the Government.

Have not the local authorities been asked to provide an estimate of the action they propose to take in order to complete this slum clearance in five years?

My hon. Friend will remember that the local authorities were asked to let us know their programme, and how they intend to deal with the problem, by September next. At present it is too early to say what the result will be.

(for Mr. T. SMITH) asked the Minister of Health whether he can say what proportion of all houses and what proportion of urban working-class houses are decontrolled?

I would refer the hon. Member to the estimates given in Command Paper 4208.

(for Mr. T. WILLIAMS) asked the Minister of Health whether any steps have been taken towards carrying out the provision of a proper scheme of sewage disposal for the village of Bugbrooke, Northants?

My right hon. Friend is in communication with the Northampton Rural District Council as to the result of steps recently taken by them for dealing with the matter referred to by the hon. Member and as to whether further measures are needed.