asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the difficulty of obtaining recruits, he will consider the desirability of increasing the number of married persons who are carried on the strength of the different regiments?

There is no limit to the number of soldiers over 26 years of age who may receive marriage allowance. It would not be practicable to increase the percentages of the several ranks allowed to be on the married quarters roll.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the fact that Private Appleyard, the young soldier who recently shot himself, had been suffering from the effects of vaccination for two months before he took his life; and whether any other soldiers, during the past 12 months, have had bad arms resulting from vaccination?

The late Private Appleyard suffered from an unusually severe local reaction following vaccination which necessitated his being excused full duty from 5th to 21st October, and from 14th to 24th November, 1933. The information available does not indicate that "bad arms" following vaccination have been abnormal either in number or severity during the past 12 months.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what was the number and value of Army remounts purchased from Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, respectively, during 1933; what proportion of those from Northern Ireland came originally from the Irish Free State; and whether he intends still to rely upon Ireland rather than England, Scotland and Wales for the supply of Army horses?

For the calendar year 1933, the number of remounts purchased from Northern Ireland was 494, and from the Irish Free State 168. In the former case the remounts purchased were chargers and troop horses, and the average cost was £60; in the latter case they were troop horses only, and the average cost was a little over £44. I am unable to say whether any of those purchased in Northern Ireland came originally from the Irish Free State. The policy of purchasing as many remounts as possible within Great Britain is being continued.

asked the Postmaster-General how many writing assistants employed in his Department who have had five years' established service are graded as of A category?

It is of the essence of the system of confidential annual reports, agreed upon by the Civil Service National Whitley Council, that their contents are not disclosed (except to the individual concerned, in the case of an adverse marking) otherwise than to the Departmental Promotion Boards for whom they are intended or, where no such board exists, to the officers charged with the duty of making recommendations for promotion to the heads of their departments. I regret therefore, I am unable to give the particulars asked for in the question.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of saving in the county of Durham as the result of the appointment of commissioners?

It is not possible to state the total saving in the county of Durham due to the operation of the needs test owing to the fact that a certain number of persons, on ceasing to draw transitional payments, discontinue registration without finding employment. It is, however, estimated that the expenditure on transitional payments during the year ended 2nd December, 1933, was about £300,000 less than if all the determinations current during the period had been given by the public assistance committee in accordance with their practice prior to December, 1932.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now state the annual cost of the administration of transitional payments in the county of Durham for 1931–32 and 1932–33 respectively?

From the time the Unemployment Insurance (National Economy) (No. 2) Order, 1931, came into operation (November, 1931) to 31st March, 1932, the cost of determining the need of persons claiming transitional payments in the county of Durham was £7,840, representing the amount repaid to the Durham County Council in respect of additional expense incurred by them by reason of the duties imposed on them by the Order. For the financial year 1932–33 the cost of making the determinations of need in the county was £34,311, of which £15,218 represented the additional expenses of the Durham County Council for the first eight months of the year, the balance being in respect of the cost (including initial expenditure) of the commissioners and staff. These figures are exclusive of the administrative expenses incurred direct by the Ministry at the Employment Exchanges and elsewhere, otherwise than for the purpose of the determination of need.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what arrangements have been made for the representation of the British cotton industry at the forthcoming Levant Fair at Tel-Aviv; and whether, in view of the importance of the Near Eastern market and the competition therein, he will ensure that this opportunity is used to the best advantage?

In order to facilitate the exhibition of United Kingdom goods at the forthcoming Levant Fair at Tel-Aviv, the Federation of British Industries has undertaken the work of organising a British Pavilion. I am informed that special steps are being taken to bring this important opportunity to the notice of firms in the Lancashire cotton trade.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to alleviate the hardship to widows who, while their husbands were alive, legally adopted, before 1926, a child or children, so that practically they became their own children, but who, though themselves eligible for allowance under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Pensions Contributory Acts, 1925 to 1932, by virtue of the insurance of their husbands, are not considered to have a claim for allowance for the child or children?

Legal adoption of children was not possible before 1st January, 1927, when the Adoption of Children Act took effect, but as from that date it was open to a married couple to legalise a de facto adoption previously made by them. Where advantage has been taken of that opportunity, an additional allowance under the Contributory Pensions Acts, subject to the satisfaction of the statutory conditions, becomes payable in respect of the child on the death of the adoptive father. I gather, therefore, that the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend relates to cases in which the opportunity of regularising the adoption was neglected, and I am afraid that I could not justify the introduction of legislation to give effect to that suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that Section 1 of the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927, which exempts drivers on authorised car parks from keeping vehicles illuminated during the hours of darkness, does not apply to taximeter-cabs on authorised taximeter-cab ranks: and, having regard to the difficulty of maintaining lights during long periods of standing, particularly in provincial towns, whether he can take steps to apply the exemption to taximeter-cabs in appropriate cases?

I will consider this suggestion in connection with the Regulations made under the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927, which are at present under review.

asked the hon. Baronet the Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will take steps to ensure that all glassware used in the refreshment and dining rooms of the House of Commons shall be of British manufacture?

Only glassware of British manufacture is purchased by the Kitchen Committee for use in the refreshment and dining rooms of the House of Commons.