asked the Minister of Labour whether be has yet received the report from the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations on the practicability of a 40-hour week?

No, Sir. I am advised by the National Confederation that the report will be in my hands within a fortnight.

asked the Home Secretary if he is satisfied that, as a result of the modifications in the conduct of the Lord Mayor's Show decided upon by the City authorities after his consultation with them last year, the obstruction of traffic has been so diminished that no further alterations are now necessary?

Some dislocation of traffic is inevitably caused by such a procession, but I am satisfied that the arrangements made this year resulted in a considerable saving of time and reduction of inconvenience to the public, and I feel sure that I shall be acting in accordance with the wishes of the House in expressing thanks to the City authorities for their assistance and co-operation in the matter. I shall keep in touch with the City authorities, and if any measures can be devised for further reducing the obstruction of traffic while retaining the time-honoured characteristics of the function, I am sure the City authorities will lend their ready co-operation as in the past.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the estimated increase during the next four years in the number of young persons, aged 14 to 18, available for employment in Great Britain and what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendation of the consultative committee of the Board that the school-leaving age be raised to 15, either nationally or in districts where juvenile unemployment is exceptionally severe?

My Noble Friend understands from his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that, on the basis of the information at present available, the estimated total increase during the next four years as compared with the current year in the number of juveniles between the ages of 14 and 18 in Great Britain, likely to be available for employment, is as follows:—

1934	…	…	…	55,000
1935	…	…	…	115,000
1936	…	…	…	306,000
1937	…	…	…	443,000

These figures are based on the census of 1921 and may need some revision when the complete figures of the 1931 census are available. As regards the second part of the question, my Noble Friend would refer to the answer given to the Noble Lady the Member for the Sutton Division (Viscountess Astor) on 9th November, 1933, of which he is sending his hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any information as to the consignments of home-grown beans which were unsaleable during the month of September owing to the competition of Dutch beans?

I have received no reports that consignments of home-grown beans were unsaleable in the markets in September last, but I shall be happy to consider any particular information which my hon. Friend cares to submit to me.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention had been drawn to the inquest on Phyllis Mary Francis, aged 17, of 106, Spencer Road, Shelton, Staffs, who died from encephalitis following vaccination and will the case be investigated by his Department?

This case was brought to my notice in March last. It has been investigated, and I am advised that there is no ground for disagreement with the verdict.

asked the Minister of Health how far the under-estimate of the true number of families in England and Wales in the Census of 1921, amounting to 400,000. as given in the last annual report of the Ministry of Health, is likely to have been repeated in the 1931 Census I

The figures indicate that the checks believed to have been imposed by the housing shortage upon the normal creation of new families up to 1921 had substantially been removed by the date of the 1931 Census.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total production of coal in this country for the 10 months ended 31st October, 1933, and the comparative figures for 1932, 1931, 1930, and 1929?

The information is as follows:Output of Saleable Coal in Great Britain for 10 months ended 31st October:

			Tons.
1933	…	…	169,144,100
1932	…	…	171,662,400
1931	…	…	181,404,300
1930	…	…	203,373,300
1929	…	…	214,911,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what legislative authority the Governor of the island of St. Helena, South

—	Duty exig ble under old law	Exigible and paid under Section 42.	Difference.
	£	£	£
London Stock Exchange	387,688	55,615	332,073
Birmingham Stock Exchange	35	12	23
Bristol Stock Exchange	666	192	474
Halifax Stock Exchange	40	14	26
Leeds Stock Exchange	101	50	111
Liverpool Stock Exchange	704	117	587
Manchester Stock Exchange	1,600	404	1,196
Nottingham Stock Exchange	32	7	25
Sheffield Stack Exchange	7,012	1,425	5,587
Provincial Brokers Stock Exchange	3,531	345	3,186
(a) Total for period 1st April, 1933, to 30th September, 1933.	£401,469	£58,181	£343,288
(b) Total from 1st September, 1920, to 30th September, 1933.	£6,602,097	£1,297,708	£5,304,389

I am informed by the Governor of St. Helena that he has exercised no form of control over the retail prices charged by merchants in that island.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the Exchequer in issuing transfer deeds free to the public for the period 1st April, 1933, to 30th September, 1933; the cost to the Exchequer of the concession granted to stock exchange firms under Section 42 of the Finance Act, 1920, and the amendment of 1931 for the same period; the extent to which each stock exchange has taken advantage of that privilege; and the aggregate totals since that Section operated?

The cost of the transfer forms issued free to the public in the period from 1st April, 1933, to 30th September, 1933, was approximately 460. The following table shots (a) the effect over the same period of the operation of Section 42 of the Finance Act, 1920, as amended by the Finance Act, 1931, and (b) the aggregate total from 1st September, 1920, when that. Section came into operation, to 30th September, 1933.