asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state by whose instructions the managers of Employment Exchanges at Bilston, Wednesbury, Darlaston and Tipton interviewed unemployed men signing on at these Exchanges and invited them to volunteer under the voluntary scheme for the reclamation of waste land at Bilston, Staffordshire, by which men on transitional benefit were required to volunteer to work 40 hours per week for an additional 2s. per week to their Employment Exchange allowance; and whether he will take steps to institute a scheme for the reclamation of waste land in the Black Country by which the local authorities can pay the standard rates to unemployed men for this work?

There is an instructional centre organised by my Department, by arrangement with the Bilston Urban District Council. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a descriptive leaflet which was issued to all men concerned. The action of the Exchange managers in inviting men to volunteer for this scheme was taken in accordance with my instructions. As regards the second part of the question, I have no power under the existing law to proceed as suggested.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if the experiment that has been tried in this instance has not been of the very greatest advantage to the people concerned?

I think that there is no doubt that that is so.

Is the Minister aware that this scheme has caused tremendous discontent, irritation and dissatisfaction among the men employed on it?

No, Sir; it has been received with the greatest satisfaction.

May I ask if there is any regard to the wages paid for this class of work, in starting these schemes?

Yes, Sir. There would be no wages paid for this class of work, for the simple reason that the work would not be done at all if it were not done in this way.

Is it not a fact that these men would far rather be working than idle?

I always assume in this matter that the men would prefer work to idleness.

Will the Minister assist the House by publishing the conditions of the scheme?

I have here instructions which I am sending on to the hon. Member, and a copy of the descriptive leaflet issued by my Department.

Will the Minister see that it is published in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I certainly will, if it is not too long. I should like it to be published.

Can my right hon. Friend say why the Socialist party always objects to work being found for men who are unemployed?

I am the Member for Bilston, and I have not had a chance yet of speaking on this matter. May I ask whether the scheme is not very welcome to the men, who are glad to be able to keep fit and in training, and to be doing something for the community, as well as earning a certain amount of money and meals which were not mentioned in the question?

There is no doubt about that at all.

asked the Minister of Labour the conditions under which labour will be recruited for the training camp to be started at Bedburn, county Durham; and, in particular, whether it is intended that the men shall work 44 hours per week on forest-clearing, trenching and drainage, road-making, and quarrying; and the wages to be paid?

The instructional centre at Hamsterley will be open on a voluntary basis to young men in the County of Durham who have been long unemployed. The work at this centre, as at other centres of this type, managed by my Department on Forestry Commission estates, will be as described by the hon. Member. It is work which would not otherwise have been put in hand, and it is to be started solely in order to provide additional training facilities for the North East coast. Wages will not be paid, but while in training, the men will continue to receive unemployment benefit, or transitional payments, as the case may be. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the leaflet setting out the objects and general conditions of admission to instructional centres.

Are we to understand from that reply that these men are to do this hard work for 44 hours a week for no wages?

No, Sir. The hon. Gentleman is to understand that there is a large number of men who would much prefer work to idleness.

Hear, hear—much rather.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is true that this work was not put in hand because the Government stopped it by suppressing the Unemployment Grants Committee?

No, Sir, that is not true either. The work would not be put in hand at all, if it were not for this.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I wish to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment Motion tonight.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government are taking to deal with the position of unemployed persons during the coming winter?

As is well known to the House, the general policy of the Government is directed to restoring industrial activity as the only effectual way of finding work for the unemployed, and the continuous increase of employment since the beginning of this year is evi-

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, during the winter months, increasing some of the Unemployment Insurance benefits?

I can only refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Unemployment Insurance Bill, which he will no doubt look into.

Is the Minister not aware that it is impossible for the Opposition to put down Amendments seeking to raise the amount?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men, women and juveniles in Bethnal Green at any convenient date in July, August, September, and October, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933, respectively?

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that it has been decided that persons who let rooms at holiday resorts during the summer season are to be regarded as disqualified for dependant's allowance throughout the whole season and not only on the days when the rooms are actually let; and whether, as this decision is causing hardship in many cases, he will consider so amending the law as to provide that the disqualification shall not operate except at such times as the rooms are actually let?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent decision by the umpire dealing with this question. In view of this decision, I do not think an amendment of the existing law is necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman certain that the umpire's award is in accordance with the law?

I think that it is in accordance with the law; in any case, I have no power to alter it. The umpire's court is entirely outside my Department. Might I say, in regard to this question, that I would like the hon. Member to look at the umpire's award, as I think that it will probably give an answer on the point.

asked the Minister of Health whether persons insured against unemployment who are in receipt of public assistance by reasons of unemployment are in general required to register at Employment Exchanges?

It is a general practice of public assistance authorities to require able-bodied applicants for public assistance, whether insured or not, to register at Employment Exchanges.

Am I right in understanding that it is not proper to add to the live register people who are receiving benefit from the Poor Law authorities in order to arrive at the total number of persons unemployed who are already given on the live register

That is a question of interpretation of which I should have notice.

rose——

I would remind the House that there are 120 questions on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners employed in the mines of Great Britain in September, 1931, and the number at the latest date?

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the result of his inquiry as to the circumstances in which it is the practice of the police to charge persons. with the offence of sleeping out?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in connection with the proplem of the proper treatment of sleeping-out offences, his attention has been called to Police Order No. 565, issued by the chief constable of Wolverhampton; and whether he will take steps to see that the matter is treated throughout the country on the same lines?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state the result of his inquiry among chief constables into arrests for sleeping out under Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act?

My attention has been called to the police order to which the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander) refers. The replies which I have received from chief officers of police indicate that persons are not as a rule arrested and charged under this provision in the Vagrancy Act unless there is ground for thinking that they are of bad character, or they are found in circumstances likely to cause danger or nuisance to the community. I am satisfied that it is the general practice to use this power sparingly, but I propose to consider the question whether it is possible to define more closely the circumstances in which proceedings are necessary or desirable.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the new regulations, when he has considered them, will be made accessible to the Members of the House?

Oh, yes, Sir, certainly.

Will they be in the form of a Bill?

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the humane administration on this subject that exists in Wolverhamption is extended to the country generally?

I am always glad to give consideration to the matter.

May I ask whether any amendment of the law will be introduced

I am not in a position, as I have only just received these reports, to come to a decision as to whether that is desirable or not.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to give effect to the Report of the Royal Commission on Licensing?

I have nothing at present to add to my answers to previous questions on this subject. No such legislation is contemplated in the immediate future.

In view of the agitation of the brewers that, in order to get increased output, it is essential that they should get 1,000,000 new young drinkers, do not the Government think that it would be wise to put into effect the recommendations of the Royal Commission, which really faced the question of drink quite fairly. There were brewers on it, and it issued an agreed report. Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it would be a good idea to take the whole of this question out of party politics?

Might I ask whether the statement made by the Noble Lady is not a gross slander upon the brewers of this country

May I bring this matter to the notice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?—which I now do.

asked the Home Secretary whether any recent action has been taken to remind those local authorities responsible for administering the Road Traffic Act of 1930 of their duty to enforce the existing regulations to reduce the nuisance in public thoroughfares caused by inefficiently silenced sports cars and motor cycles and defective lorry tyres; and, if not, will he draw the attention of the proper authorities to their powers?

The provisions referred to with regard to noise caused by motor vehicles were communicated to the police at the time they were issued in 1931. They are contained in the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, which are constantly before the police, and I have no reason to believe that the police need to be reminded of the provisions of the law on this particular subject.

Will my right hon. Friend ask the police to ascertain why it is that the regulations are universally disregarded?

All I can say is that I am, in close consultation with my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, going into the whole matter at the present time.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this excessive noise is becoming an intolerable nuisance?

Would it not be possible to have an examination of these cars made at the factory before they go out to the public and make these awful noises?

asked the Home Secretary what is the total number of firearms surrendered to the police in response to the recent invitation; arid can he give an estimate of the number still retained in private possession under permits?

:As I informed the House in reply to a question on the 10th July last, the total number of firearms surrendered by the public, in response to the appeal for the surrender of surplus firearms, was 16,409, of which 12,622 were pistols and revolvers, 3,706 were rifles, 73 were antique firearms, and 8 were unclassified in the returns made by chief officers of police. I regret that I have no information on which I could base an estimate of the number of firearms retained in private possession.

Do I understand from that reply that no records are kept of the number of permits that are given to enable this total to be arrived at?

Of course, these firearms are supposed to be registered, but I have no records that would permit of my forming a judgment as to the number.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I point out to him that my question is as to whether he can give an estimate of the number of firearms in the possession of private individuals with permits?

That information is not available to my Department, and it would require immense research at enormous cost.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it advisable that the total should be ascertained?

asked the Home Secretary if he will request the appropriate medical authorities to conduct an investigation into the effects on the physique of women employed in the textile industry of Lancashire on the six-looms-per-weaver system, and issue a report thereon?

The Factory Department will carefully watch for any ill-effects on health which may appear to arise from this system, but I am advised that a special investigation at the present time would not be likely to lead to any definite results. The system has only recently been introduced, and there are no sufficient data on which conclusions could be based.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to keep in touch with this problem, especially in view of the fact that the women employed under this new system are complaining very much indeed of the physical hardships consequent upon it?

As I think I have previously stated in this House, this question is being very closely watched.

Has this matter been referred to the Industrial Health Research Committee, whose business it is to look into these matters?

I am not sure of that.

asked the Home Secretary in how many cases in connection with the juvenile courts established under the Children Act women justices have been placed on the panel; in how many no women were appointed and in how many areas there are no women magistrates?

The Juvenile Courts (Constitution) Rules, 1933, required Juvenile Court panels to be formed before the 1st instant, but I have not yet received from all Clerks to Justices the lists of Justices appointed to serve on the panels which they are required to send to me by Rule 10. I am sorry, therefore, that I am not to-day in a position to give the hon. Member an answer to the first two parts of his Question, but I will communicate with him as soon as the information is available, and give him at the same time such information as I have obtained on the third part.

When this information is available, will the right hon. Gentleman, where no women have been appointed to these juvenile courts, insist upon one woman being appointed for that special purpose?

I shall have to wait till I receive the reports before I make any definite statement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any further statement to make with regard to the case of Flying-Officer Fitzpatrick?

No, Sir: I regard the case as having been closed very satisfactorily by the report made to me by the Commissioner of Police and the full publication through the Press which was made last August.

Is the Home Secretary aware that the report of the Commissioner of Police has given general satisfaction to the public, and complete satisfaction to the persons most closely coneerned in the case?

asked the Home Secretary how many and which local authorities have granted permission for the employment of children under 12 since the passing of the Children Act?

New by-laws on this matter have been submitted to me by three local authorities, but have not yet been confirmed. Under the provisions of the Act of this year, by-laws made under the previous Act by 11 local authorities authorising the employment of children under 12 by their parents an light agricultural or horticultural work are still in force. These authorities are the counties of Devon, Hereford, Kent. Nottinghamshire and Somerset, and the cities or boroughs of Hereford, Maidstone, Newark, East Retford, Tiverton and Tunbridge Wells.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the teachers who have to teach these children what effect they think working for two hours before going to school has on their learning? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into that question?

Yes.

As there are so many agricultural labourers unemployed to-day, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the employment of children of 12 ought to cease?

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the proposal of the Surrey County Council to call a conference of local authorities in Surrey to consider the prevalence of heath and common fires during the past summer and what methods, if any, can he adopted to prevent their recurrence and limit the area of danger; and whether he will assist the local authorities in this direction by advice or otherwise?

I have not, and I understand the Minister of Health has not, so far received any communication from the Surrey County Council regarding the proposed conference, but, if any such conference is convened, I should be happy to arrange for the Fire Adviser to my Department to attend, or to render assistance in any other possible way.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply and for his offer of assistance, may I ask him whether he will bear in mind the fact that the great difficulty in dealing with heath and common fires is due to lack of information as to who is responsible for taking the matter in hand Generally speaking, the calls were——

Order!

Will my right hon. Friend confer with the War Office authorities as to the forest area in the Aldershot district? The Frimley district in Surrey, which is in my division and adjoins Aldershot, has suffered very severely from fires——

Order!

If such a conference is convened, will the right hon. Gentleman secure some representation of the Forestry Commission, which has a fairly complete system for dealing with such fires?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to raise the school-leaving age?

It is not part of the Government's policy to introduce legislation to raise the school-leaving age, but the Noble Lady will find the policy of the Government in regard to juveniles above the existing school-leaving age in the Unemployment Insurance Bill circulated to-day.

May I say how grateful some of us are to the Government for what they are doing; but may I at the same time ask whether it would not be a better policy for the Government to raise the school-leaving age, because they know in their hearts that it will have to be raised in the next two or three years? Would it not be better to do it now?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is proposed to invite the Joint Committee on Teachers' so, who is to take the place of the late Lord Burnham as chairman?

My Noble Friend has been fortunate in securing the consent of the right hon. The earl of Onslow, chairman of committees in another place, to be nominated as successor to the late Lord Burnham as Chairman of the Standing Joint committees on Teachers' salaries. His appointment will enable the Committees to resume their meetings. My Noble Friend desires to take this opportunity of placing on record his deep sense of the loss which has been sustained by the death of Lord Burnham, who had been Chairman of the Committees since their inception.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now give any indication of the numbers of persons who, owing to non-prolongation of the national health insurance period, will cease to be insured at the and of the year?

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated number of panel patients in approved societies in England ceasing insurance through unemployment this year; is he prepared to sanction prolongation of insurance; and, if not, will he state what additional number of Poor Law doctors will be necessary to deal with panel patients?

I understand the hon. Members to refer to those persons who by reason of long-continued unemployment will cease to be entitled to medical benefit under the scheme of National Health Insurance on the 31st December next, though remaining insured under the contributory pensions scheme. It is impossible at present to state what the number of such persons will be as it will depend on the extent to which persons at present unemployed succeed in finding work or exercise their right to become voluntary contributors before the end of the present year. The figure given in the Government Actuary's Report on the Bill of 1932 was 80,000 but the hon. Members will be aware of the marked improvement in employment which has taken place since that Report was made. The remaining parts of the question asked by the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. Logan) anticipate tomorrow's Debate, when they can most conveniently be discussed.

In view of the statement of 80,000, which is not considered by the approved societies to be an under estimate, is it not possible for a regulation to be issued by the Ministry for prolongation?

That also will be the subject of discussion to-morrow.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there has been an actual increase of the unemployed who are affected by this arrangement?

I do not think that is the case as far as these figures are concerned.

:When the right hon. Gentleman speaks of the right of unemployed persons who have been unemployed for a long period to become voluntary contributors, will he bear in mind the difficulty these people have of paying any contributions at all? When they become voluntary contributors, they are called upon to pay the whole of their contributions

In regard to the latter part of my question and the reference to Poor Law doctors, will that also be considered to-morrow?

That depends upon the number who actually go out of insurance. No exact estimate of that can be formed until the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses for which guarantees have been given by the Government under Section 2 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933?

asked the Minister of Health the latest figures for which guarantees have been given under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933, with respect to each area and the total number of houses?

asked the Minister of Health to what extent building societies are co-operating in the provision of finance for building under the terms of Section 2 (1) of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933?

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases in which building operations have been initiated under the scheme of capital assistance from building societies contemplated under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any progress returns from local authorities in connection with their administration of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933; and, if so, what are the respective total numbers of houses completed at a recent date in the Metropolitan Police district and in the rest of England and Wales with the assistance of guarantees under that Act?

I have received proposals from local authorities for giving guarantees in respect of approximately 13,000 houses. I shall not, however, be in possession of information as to the number of houses for which guarantees have been given until I receive the returns due from local authorities on the 31st December next.

Will these returns give any idea of the rentals of these houses, if they are let at weekly rentals?

It will certainly give an idea of them.

Cannot we have that idea?

How many of the 13,000 houses are in the Metropolitan Police district and how many in the rest of England and Wales?

I can give particulars of the areas. I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Has the right hon. Gentleman particulars of sites available for the erection of other houses to replace those that are being pulled down?

I should require notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local housing authorities that have not submitted to him programmes of slum-clearance; what steps he proposes to take to secure effective action in such cases; and whether he is satisfied with the progress being made throughout the country to secure clearance of all slum areas within five years?

There are 1,717 local housing authorities and of these 1,341 are county district councils. I have received 1,176 returns. There are thus 541 outstanding, including 418 from county district councils. In any case in which a local authority has submitted no programme, and I have prima facie evidence that a programme should be submitted, I shall, after communications of the usual sort, proceed to secure the holding, of a public local inquiry into the position under Sections 35 or 52 of the Act. As to the last part of the question, in general the local authorities' programmes are satisfactory.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think he will be able to secure clearance of all slum areas in five years?

The answer is just what I have said. The programmes are a satisfactory reply to the request that I have addressed to the local authorities.

Has the right hon. Gentleman in his mind any period of probation to allow authorities that fail to comply?

There will be no formal period of probation at all. It depends whether the local authority gives any adequate reason why its returns are not forthcoming.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to report that something has been done

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied in view of the changes that have taken place in the constitution of local authorities, that progress in slum clearance will not he endangered

I see no reason at all to suppose that.

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman said about these public inquiries, how long is he going to wait before he makes public inquiries?

The hon. Gentleman will fully understand that each case must be judged upon its own circumstances. If a local authority produces any adequate reason why there should be a lapse of time in the production of its programme, sufficient time must be allowed. If there is no adequate reason, the procedure will carry on as I have described.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea of the number of people likely to be affected by the housing programme

That is the subject of another question.

asked the Minister of Health if he has been able to make any estimate, as a result of the slum-clearance schemes now received by him, of the approximate annual cost to the State of assisting such schemes?

Estimates based upon the programmes already received indicate that on the average 44,000 houses a year will be provided by local authorities under their five-year slum-clearance schemes. This would involve an Exchequer commitment of approximately £550,000 for each year's instalment, rising to £2,750,000 a year on completion of the programme. The annual subsidy is payable for a period of 40 years from completion of the houses.

asked the Minister of Health what steps will be taken to compensate those religious bodies whose schools will be affected by the reduced attendances arising out of slum clearances with insufficient rehousing on site, and for those concerned by their removal to other districts?

There is no provision in the Housing Acts which would enable compensation to be paid in the circumstances mentioned.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if, in a case where almost all the scholars attending a Church school were to be affected by parents in the area being moved into another district, there would be any compensation for the school at all?

Certainly there is no statutory provision for the payment of compensation.

asked the Minister of Health the number of replies he has received from local authorities with regard to the five-years' slum-clearance plan; the total number of houses to be built; and how far these figures submitted are adequate to meet local needs as a whole?

As regards the first and last parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle), Question No. 30, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot give the number of new houses proposed to be provided until programmes have been submitted by all housing authorities, but it is estimated on the basis of the programmes already received that 200,000 houses will be provided in five years.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the response to the Government in respect of slum clearance is totally inadequate, and that no less than 200,000 houses should be built annually for a, period of 10 years, if the demand for decent houses for the lower-paid wage earners is to be met?

No, Sir. With regard to adequate clearance, that is, of getting rid of the houses unfit for human habitation, the estimate to which my hon. Friend refers is quite exaggerated.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses it is estimated will be built for the accommodation of previous slum dwellers during the year 1934?

Estimates based upon the programmes already received indicate that an average of about 44,000 houses per annum will be provided for five years by local authorities under their slum clearance schemes. It is not possible to state with certainty whether that average rate will be attained in the first year of the scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if be will consider raising a national housing development loan of £500,000,000 in order that slums may be abolished and their population re-housed on a comprehensive scale suitable to the urgency of the need?

I have every reason to believe that the existing arrangements for raising capital for slum clearance are fully adequate.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman will not, allow the opportunity to go by when money is cheap and when the cost of building is cheaper than it has been at any time since the War?

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities who have submitted schemes for slum clearance; what is the total population; the number of families; and the number of houses affected by the schemes so far received?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. R. Davies) on 7th November, of which I am sending him a copy. The total number of persons affected by the schemes referred to in that reply is 330,593. I am not able to say what is the number of families affected.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the complaints from rural district councils concerning the compensation which they may pay to owners of houses destroyed in slum-clearance schemes, he has any proposals to make; and how many rural district councils have as yet actually put, the Act into operation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; 19 rural district councils have formally declared areas to be clearance areas arid a number of others are dealing individually with unfit houses under Part II of the Act of 1930.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my rural district council have declined to operate the scheme unless there is compensation paid to the owners of property?

I should be glad to receive information from the right hon. Gentleman on the subject of any particular council.

I have already communicated with the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any definite programme of the unhealthy areas to be cleared or improved by the London County Council under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1930, during the next five years, as called for in his Housing Circular 1331?

I received early in August a comprehensive report from the County Council containing a programme for the displacement and rehousing within a period of 10 years of a quarter of a million persons. I am expecting a supplementary and more detailed report shortly. I would remind the hon. Member that it was recognised in Circular 1331 that the time needed to remedy the present deficiencies in London will be longer than in other areas.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the statement in Circular 1334, issued under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933, expressing confidence that local authorities will endeavour to secure that effect is given to the principles of the fair-wages Clause, a local authority will be entitled to make the giving of a guarantee dependent upon observance of the fair-wages Clause; and, if so, why in a subsequent letter it was intimated that the Department would deprecate the rejection of an otherwise satisfactory scheme because of a refusal to observe the fair-wages Clause?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. If the hon. Member will be good enough to send me particulars of the letter to which he is referring I will communicate with him on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health if lie can state the total number of houses constructed during the six months ended 30th September, 1933, and, for comparison, the corresponding number during the same period of the previous year?

The total number of houses completed in England and Wales during the six months ended the 30th September, 1933, was 113,332. The corresponding number for the six months ended the 30th September, 1932, was 95,515. The increase in comparison with the earlier period is thus 17,817 or 18 6 per cent. These numbers exclude houses of a rate-able value exceeding £78 (£105 in the Metropolitan area).

Is not this figure the highest ever recorded except 1927?

It is the highest since 1929.

Has the right lion. Gentleman any idea how many of these 100,000 houses were erected for the working-classes?

I should require notice of that question.

How many Socialist councillors inhabit them?

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built in England and Wales in each of the years ended 30th September, 1932, and 30th September, 1933, by local authorities, by State aid, private enterprise with State aid, and private enterprise without State aid?

As the answer involves a tabular statement I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I may say, however, that the total number of houses built without State assistance in the year to 30th September, 1933, which is 167,880 breaks the record.

Are these houses under the £78 or £105 assessable value?

Yes, the particulars sired particulars.are given in the Table.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the councils of counties and county borough, and more especially the London County Council, have effectually consulted, and are continuing to consult, the representatives of voluntary hospitals to secure co-operation both in the spirit And letter of Section 13 of the Local Government Act, 1929?

The information in my possession shows that both in London and in the country generally effect is being given to the policy embodied in Section 13 of the Local Government Act. Where necessary, the attention of local authorities is directed to the importance of this matter on the survey of their public health services.

It is not simply the wording of the Act, but the spirit. I want to know whether the spirit is observed of the Ministry's original intention in their memorandum that local authorities should establish the most cordial relations with the medical profession. Is it not the case that the London General Hospitals Voluntary Committee very largely consists of the smaller hospitals, and the larger hospitals feel a real sense of grievance that they are not really, in spirit, being properly consulted in order to give full co-operation with the county council in its schemes?

The last part of the question is outside my knowledge, but I can Assure the hon. Gentleman that it is the constant policy of the Ministry of Health to promote co-operation of the voluntary and public hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health whether the advisory committee on London refuse have reached any conclusions for the improvement of the disposal of refuse; and, if so, will he state the nature of the proposals?

I am informed that the committee have done a large amount of work but have not yet completed their survey of present conditions, and that they hope to do so and to make their report on the disposal of house refuse possibly by next Easter.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in dealing with the question of the water supply to rural and other districts that have suffered in the late drought?

Outside rural areas, the experience of the last drought was a striking testimony to the excellent provision generally made by water undertakers. In rural areas, I have in a special circular urged rural district councils and county councils to make full use of their new powers of financially aiding the provision of water schemes. The Ministry assists and encourages the exercise of these powers on all favourable opportunities.

Will my right hon. Friend see to it that any such schemes for local areas are made part and parcel of a national scheme when the time comes for it to be pushed through?

asked the Minister of Health whether local authorities keep records regarding privately- owned drainage and sewage systems and septic tanks located on private property, in order that information may be available as to the effect upon the sources of water supply to be included in any scheme for the development of rural water supply?

I am not aware that it is the practice of local authorities to keep specific records of this character. The plans of new buildings, deposited with the local authorities, inform them of the nature and position of new private drainage and sewage disposal arrangements; and, as the older property of which no plans are deposited is superseded, their information becomes more nearly complete.

Does not my right hon. Friend feel that, in view of the probable development of rural water supplies, it is necessary to find out where septic tanks on private property are, because of the fear of future contamination; and should he not make proposals to public authorities for private drainage records to be brought up-to-date?

I think that in all cases where the matter is one of real practical importance it receives the attention of the local authorities.

Is it not a fact that in the Thames Valley this important subject is dealt with by the inspectors of the Thames Conservancy Board?