asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mrs. Bertha Booth, of Clitheroe, has been refused any unemployment insurance benefit whatever by the Umpire after appeal from her trade union; that she secured full employment 10 years after marriage and was employed for 17 years afterwards up to 6th November, 1933; that she has been promised further employment as soon as a vacancy may arise; and whether he will consider cases that fall into this category with a view to some modification of the regulations?

The facts as stated in the latter part of the hon. Member's question are not entirely in agreement with those which appear to have been before the Umpire when he gave his decision, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. I understand, however, that the association of which the claimant is a member is proposing to reopen the case on further facts which they desire to bring to the notice of the Umpire. As the hon. Member is aware, decisions on claims to benefit are in the hands of the statutory authorities, over whom I have no control.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, and when, he proposes to publish a report by the commissioner who has been in charge of the outdoor relief in the borough of Rotherham since September, 1932?

It is presumed that the hon. Member intended to refer to transitional payments and not to outdoor relief, the administration of which remains with the Rotherham County Borough Council. A report by the commissioner who was appointed to act in the stead of the council in the discharge of their duties with respect to transitional payments will be published in due course, but I am not in a position to state the precise date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the letter sent to his Department by the secretary of the Hull and District Migration Committee on the 8th February, with regard to the maintenance of the Beverley Hostel; and, if so, whether he can hold out any hope of Government assistance being given in order to save this institution from being forced to close down at an early date?

I have considered this letter, but I regret that I can hold out no hope of a direct grant to the Hull and District Migration Committee. As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, this committee receives payments from another organisation which is grant-aided by me and with which I am now in negotiation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether under the Unemployment Bill allotment holders in receipt of unemployment benefit will be liable to be prevented from cultivating their allotments owing to having to attend a training course?

No, Sir. Clause 7 of the Bill provides that persons required by the Minister of Labour to attend a training course may show that they have good cause for not attending, and that thereupon there is to be no loss of benefit owing to failure to attend. I do not anticipate that any Minister of Labour will require an allotment holder to attend a training course if this means that he cannot continue to cultivate his allotment, certainly I should not do so myself; but in the unlikely event of such a requirement being issued I have no doubt that the allotment holder would be able to show to the satisfaction of the statutory authorities that he had good cause for not attending.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of giving publicity to that answer, which will very much relieve the minds of many unemployed men who are hesitating about taking up allotments?

I am much obliged for the supplementary question of the right hon. Baronet. No doubt this answer in the House will obtain publicity. I will take what steps I can to obtain all possible publicity for it.

asked the Minister of Labour what would be the total cost to the Exchequer of restoring the cuts effected in 1931 in unemployment benefit and transitional payments on the basis of 2,500,000 unemployed, and the separate cost of raising children's allowances from 2s. to 3s.?

On the basis of finance assumed for the Unemployment Bill, the restoration of the reduction in rates of benefit made in October, 1931, would increase the amount of benefit payable by about £5,700,000, and the cost of increasing the allowance for a child dependant from 2s. to 3s. per week would be about £1,700,000 in respect of claimants for insurance benefit. These additional annual charges would fall upon the Unemployment Fund. As regards the existing scheme of transitional payments, I am not in a position to estimate the effect under the needs test of increasing the basic rates of benefit, as the cost would depend upon the assessments of need made by public assistance authorities.

Can the Minister say at the same time how much it would cost to restore the rates of contributions?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of musicians who are now unemployed; and how many have been placed in employment by his Department in the last 12 months?

The number of wholly unemployed persons aged 18 years and upwards registered at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 22nd January, 1934, as applicants for work as musicians was 2,772. I regret that the statistics are not compiled on a basis which would enable me to give the numbers of musicians who have been placed in employment by the exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of debt outstanding to the Treasury from the Unemployed Insurance Fund at the end of September, 1933; whether the amount was reduced at the end of December, 1933; and, if so, by what amount?

The amount of the outstanding debt of the Unemployment Fund was £115,000,000 on 30th September, 1933, and £110,930,000 on 31st December, 1933, a reduction of £4,070,000.

Can the Minister say from memory what has been done with that balance? Has the amount been paid over to the Treasury?

This debt was incurred by advances made for periods of five years and as they fell due they have not been renewed.

I understand that there was a reduction of something like £4,000,000. I want to find out whether that £4,000,000 has been handed over to the Treasury for the purpose of reducing the debt.

It has not been handed over to the Treasury. The debt due to the National Debt Commissioners has been reduced by this amount.

I wish to ask the Minister whether this repayment by the Unemployment Insurance Fund is not a definite indication of the improvement in our economic situation during the past eight months?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any information as to the allocation of any sums being collected on behalf of the marchers now on their way to London?

The only information which my right hon. Friend has on this subject is that which has appeared in various circulars issued by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement (a Communist-controlled organisation) and by the National Congress and March Council which is a body consisting of representatives of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, the Independent Labour Party, and the Communist Party of Great Britain. I think it would be best in order to save any misunderstanding, to quote the relevant passages from certain of these circulars.

(1) Circular issued by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement to all Branches and District Councils on the 13th December, 1933:

"All money raised on these collecting cards will be allocated on the basis of 50 per cent. locally and 50 per cent. to be forwarded to headquarters. This means that as the cards are filled up the total collected on the card should be marked at the bottom and 50 per cent. of it along with the card forwarded into Headquarters."

(2) Circular issued by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement to all Branches and District Councils on the 15th January, 1934:

"After the Marchers have passed through a locality the surplus monies left after the Marchers have been fed and accommodated should be handed to the leaders of the contingents, who will forward it on to Headquarters …"

"We therefore urge every branch and District Council to immediately return the 50 per cent. of the collecting cards, and in addition we have taken a decision that from all other monies collected in the localities, apart from the National Cards, 25 per cent. should be sent to Headquarters."

I think it only right to add that in a circular dated the 25th January, 1934, issued by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, there occurs the following passage:

"The 50 per cent. raised on the collecting cards and other money raised for the National March Fund will be strictly utilised for meeting the expenditure for printing, etc. in connection with the organising of the March and Congress, and by far the bulk of the money in the National Fund will be used for feeding the Marchers in London, and for meeting the expenses for return conveyances to their homes."

In view of the fact that the march is apparently organised by the Communist party, would it not be advisable to take steps to prevent the marchers coming to the Metropolis? [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]

The Government have no powers to prevent the march, so long as it is orderly.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to assume that these sums are being used for any other purpose than that for which they were collected, namely, the care of the hunger marchers?

I have been very careful not to express any opinion of my own. I have quoted from certain documents, and I think the House can draw its own conclusions.

Would the right hon. Member mind adding this bit of information to that contained in the documents, that I am one of the persons responsible for the control of the fund?

I thought that it was well known that the hon. Member took an interest in this march.

Is it not a great pity that these poor people are being exploited in this way by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement?

asked the Minister of Health why he caused an official of his Department to proceed to Northwich, Cheshire, within the last fortnight to countermand the decision of the local public assistance committee to provide the ordinary rations for casuals to the Scottish hunger marchers?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. No instruction such as he suggests has been issued. The question whether these persons, who had recently collected money and who were in possesion of a certain amount of food, were in fact destitute was discussed with the local officials in the presence of my inspector, and on finding that sufficient food was not available it was decided to issue the ordinary rations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that processions coming through Cheshire have given great offence to the county?

I am not misinformed. May I ask if the local authorities did not decide to give these men the ordinary assistance that is available for casuals, but, on the arrival of the Ministry official, were told to rescind their decision? The official was present when the marchers were arriving and compelled the authorities to rescind the decision that they had recently taken.

It is not the case that the officials over-rode the decision of the local authority. The local authority had the duty of inquiring what the means of these persons were. If they had failed to make that inquiry and had not taken means into consideration, they would have been breaking the law.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, the investigations having been made, the Northwich local authority decided that they would supply the men with the minimum rations available for casuals, that the official of his Ministry arrived subsequently, and issued instructions to the local authority and told them to rescind their decision?

No, that is not the case.

It is the case.

asked the Minister of Health, if he will issue a circular to local authorities pointing out the undesirability of setting persons in receipt of public assistance to test work during such times as their appeals against disallowance of benefit under the unemployment Insurance Acts are subjudice?

It is not, according to my information, the general practice of Poor Law authorities at the present time to enforce a test of this kind in the limited class of cases mentioned in the question, but I could not properly limit the discretion of the authorities in the manner suggested.

Is not the Minister aware that at least one case has arisen where a man has been placed in the position of having had to do test work for a period in respect of which he has subsequently been awarded transitional payments?

Yes, Sir, I am aware that that case has arisen; in fact, my hon. and gallant Friend himself drew my attention to such a case. But I would point out to him that it may be definitely in the interest of the man himself to provide him with some occupation during such a period.

asked the Minister of Health of he can furnish an estimate for the latest available date of the number of persons, exclusive of dependants, in receipt of public assistance on grounds of unemployment who were not registered at the Employment Exchanges of the Ministry of Labour?

The number of persons, exclusive of dependants, in receipt in England and Wales of out-relief on account of unemployment who were not registered at an Employment Exchange in the first week of February 1931, was ascertained from a special return to be 3,964. There has been no special return since then, but it is estimated that the number at the present time is less than 10,000.

In these circumstances, does the Minister think that public speakers will now abstain from misrepresentations to the effect that people are pushed off the live register on to the Poor Law?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Labour informed the House that there would be a large increase in the figures as a result of this circumstance, because of the large number who have not been registered?

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons described as engaged in gainful occupations, including those unemployed at the moment, recorded at the Census of 1931, distinguishing separately males and females; and what increase has occurred as compared with 1921?

Persons aged 14 and over enumerated in England and Wales at the 1931 Census as following a gainful occupation, including those out of work, amounted to 13,247,333 males and 5,606,043 females. The corresponding figures for 1921 were 12,069,331 males and 5,036,727 females, and there was an increase from 1921 to 1931 of 1,178,002 males and 569,316 females.

Is it possible for the Minister to give these figures as a percentage of the total population?

It is possible, but it would take time.

Could not all this information be obtained from published blue books?

Is it not the case that the most recent number of the Statistical Abstract does not give these figures, and that the figures for the various occupations have not yet been published?

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers in this country were members of trade unions at the end of 1920 and of 1932, respectively

The information in my possession relates to the membership of trade unions, registered and unregistered, whose head offices are situated in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The total membership of such trade unions was about 8,346,000 at the end of 1920 and about 4,441,000 at the end of 1932. These totals include members in the Irish Free State and overseas branches of the unions referred to, who numbered about 55,000 in 1932; a corresponding figure for 1920 is not available. Detailed statistics of trade union membership in 1932 and in previous years will be found in the issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for October, 1933.

Can the Minister say how far this great reduction in member ship is due to the average workingman's dislike and distrust of the political activities of the Trades Union Congress?

Is it not a fact that the figures for 1920 were a record because of all those engaged on munition work throughout the length and breadth of the country?

And is it not a fact that they include a large number of women who were in munition works and went out of industry afterwards?

I have not the figures for women apart from men, but it is the fact that the figures for 1920 are the highest ever recorded, and that there was a great increase in membership during the War.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the figures for 1933 have jumped up considerably over those for 1932?

asked the Minister of Labour the proportional increase in the number of persons employed in retail co-operative establishments in 1933 compared with 1918?

I am informed by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies that the increase in the number of persons employed in retail co-operative establishments, between 1918 and the end of 1932 (the latest date for which information is available) is about 56 per cent. I should perhaps add that though precisely comparable figures are not available there is no reason to suppose that this proportionate increase is materially different from the increase which took place in the same period in the numbers engaged in retail trading generally.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the improvement in the industrial situation, he will now, in accordance with promises made, introduce a measure relating to the hours and conditions of the employment of juveniles?

A Bill is to be introduced almost immediately to restrict the hours of employment of young persons and to deal with other conditions in the distributive trades. This measure will apply to a very large number of young persons whose hours at present are either not regulated at all or subject to the antiquated limit of 74 hours inclusive of meal times contained in the Shops Act of 1912. The Bill, if passed, will make a very big advance in the direction indicated by the hon. Member. Whether it will be possible in the near future to go still further on these lines is a matter which will receive the sympathetic consideration of the Government.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether van boys are included in the Bill; and, in any case, was not a definite undertaking given by the Government that a Measure dealing with all these juveniles would be brought in when the industrial situation improved, and has it not improved?

We are very glad to receive that testimonial from the hon. Member, and I hope that he will go further and give credit for that improvement where credit is obviously due.

Will my right hon. Friend, on his side, be good enough to answer my question?

I have answered part of the question, and I will proceed to answer the other part. The hon. Member must await the introduction of the Bill.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Bill embodies in part or in whole the recommendations of the committee on shops?

It is impossible for me to say now what is in the Bill. I have said that it will be introduced at a very early date, and perhaps the hon. Member will wait until it is introduced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was more than a promise that was given; it was a pledge, and does he not consider that it is time that pledge was redeemed?

I can only repeat that it will be as well to await the introduction of the Bill, and then any criticisms made will be met by the Government.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any further statement regarding the provision of sports' grounds for the Metropolitan Police?

I am happy to be able to say that, in addition to the ground at Leyton mentioned last year, which was purchased with the assistance of friends, it has now been possible, with the same help, to lease for two years a suitable ground at Eden Park, Beckenham. This ground includes one Rugby ground, two Association grounds, one hockey ground, two cricket pitches, a miniature golf course and four tennis courts. Now that Hendon Country Club has been acquired for the Police College, and the new Peel House, an athletic ground is available in each of the four districts of the Metropolitan Police force.

Arising out of the very satisfactory reply of the hon. Gentleman, may I ask if he will be prepared to play a game of golf with the Member for that constituency, when he opens it?

If he will allow me to arrange the handicap.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether rates are chargeable on those playing fields?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue further instructions with regard to the speed of empty taximeter cabs in London, in view of the obstruction they cause by their slowness?

The loitering of unhired cabs is undoubtedly a cause of obstruction to traffic and the police give constant attention to the enforcement of the Regulations. Any question of the extension of the Regulations would be a matter for the Minister of Transport.

Is the Minister aware that there is a growing tendency by some taximeter cabs to drive very slowly along the centre of the road and not to give way to faster vehicles which follow?

The police are watching this question very carefully, and as a proof of that I may say that under the Hired Vehicles Regulation, 1933, the number of proceedings taken for cabs loitering in scheduled streets was 543, and for cabs stopping in scheduled streets 324. That was for last year alone.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the many cases where the driver of a commercial motor vehicle is compelled by the nature of his employment to commit a breach of the law, he will issue definite instructions to the Metropolitan police to make inquiries on this point before taking proceedings against a driver for an offence for which the employer may be primarily responsible?

My right hon. Friend has every sympathy with the hon. Member in the point he has in mind, but he does not think that any further or special instructions are required.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of special goods vehicles, exceeding 11 tons in weight unladen, licensed and operated by showmen and chargeable with duty under paragraph 5 of the Second Schedule to the Finance Act, 1920, as amended by the Finance Act, 1933?

The amended scale of licence duty for showmen's vehicles prescribed by the Finance Act, 1933, only came into operation on the 1st January, 1934, and I am therefore unable to give the information for which the hon. Member asks. The number of showmen's special goods vehicles over 4 tons in weight unladen in respect of which licences were current at any time during the quarter ended 30th September, 1933, was 60.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will circularise those local authorities who are proposing to abandon the electric tramway with a view to persuading them to adopt the electric-trolley omnibus rather than the petrol- or oil-driven omnibus?

The circumstance that much of the electrical transmission equipment of tramways could continue to be used if trolley vehicles were substituted makes it relatively economical, other things being equal, to substitute such vehicles. This advantage, and other advantages which trolley vehicles possess in certain circumstances are, I think, already well known to local authorities and companies who may be considering the question of abandoning some or all of their tramways.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has decided on a date for the official opening of the new Liverpool to Manchester road?

Any such matter would be for the responsible local authorities to consider. As the hon. Member is aware, the road to which he refers has been available for public use for some months.

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that, although notices have been put up, saying that the road is not open officially and that people use it at their own risk, everybody is using it? Can it not be opened properly?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Southall bench of magistrates have instructed the local police not to disclose the addresses of magistrates, especially when applicants for their addresses desire to make declarations under the Vaccination Act, 1907; that the local bench have passed a resolution instructing the justices not to sign exemption forms in their own homes; and whether he will circularise magistrates reminding them of their duty, if the time and place is convenient, to take exemption declarations under the vaccination laws?

I am not aware that any such action has been taken. My right hon. Friend is advised that it is within the discretion of justices to decline to take statutory declarations otherwise than in open court, if they think fit.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the inadequacy of the sentences which can at present be imposed in cases of flagrant cruelty to animals, he will consider introducing legislation extendng the powers of His Majesty's courts to include flogging for such offences?

I regret I cannot add anything to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend last Thursday.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not cognisant of the numerous regrets that have been expressed, both in the High Courts and in magistrates' courts at not being able to inflict the penalty of flogging in flagrant cases of cruelty, and will he not see that the only way to teach the meaning of pain is to inflict pain?

No.

It is obvious that legislation will be required, and from the reception of my hon. Friend's remarks it is also obvious that such proposals would meet with some disapproval and would not be unanimous.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the pain which the Government inflict upon hon. Members on this side of the House?

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions for breaches of the law relating to the sale of poisonous drugs in each of the preceding three years; and whether he is satisfied that the inspection as carried out by police officers is adequate in view of the provisions of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act of 1933?

The Pharmaceutical Society initiated proceedings in Great Britain for breaches of the Poisons and Pharmacy Acts in 170 cases in 1931, in 169 cases in 1932 and in 161 cases in 1933. In addition, the police in England and Wales, who have power to intervene only in cases in which they have reason to suspect a breach of the law, prosecuted in 18 cases in 1931 and in 10 cases in 1932. The figures of police prosecutions in 1933 are not yet to hand, nor has there been time to obtain information in regard to such prosecutions in Scotland. As regards the second part of the question, the duty of enforcing the provisions of the Act of 1933 is placed by the Act upon the Pharmaceutical Society and the local authorities, according to the classification of the poison in the Poisons List. Both are given full powers of inspection.

Have the Home Office any jurisdiction in regard to the number of inspectors to be appointed, and will they take part in the appointment of the inspectors?

Under the provisions of the Act, routine inspection has been confined to the Pharmaceutical Society, with undoubtedly inadequate powers. The new Act considerably increases those powers but it has not yet come into force, and we shall have to wait to see whether those powers are sufficient.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of county borough, county (excluding London), non-county borough, urban district, and rural district councils, respectively, in England and Wales, administering each of the following services: maternity and child welfare, supervision of midwives, tuberculosis under the Public Health (Prevention and Treatment of Diseases) Act, 1913, treatment of the blind under the Public Health Act, 1925, treatment of persons of unsound mind, registration of nursing and maternity homes, hospitals (other than for infectious diseases) under Section 131 of the Public Health Act, 1875, and infectious diseases hospitals; and if he will consider the inclusion of such analysed information in the annual report of the Ministry?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate this information in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the last part of the question, I will consider whether information of this kind can conveniently be included in future annual reports of the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the population of England in 1931 had been born in Scotland and, for comparison, the percentage of the population of Scotland which had been born in England?

Of the total population enumerated in England and Wales at the 1931 Census, 366,486 persons, or 0.92 per cent., were returned as having been born in Scotland. Of the total population enumerated at that Census in Scotland, 168,640 persons, or 3.48 per cent., were returned as having been born in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the estimated number of persons of each sex attaining the age of 16 years in each of the years from 1924 to 1933?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health what recent representations have been made to his Department from rural districts regarding the shortage of water, and from what districts; and will he state whether it is the intention of the Government to take any emergency measures over and above those included in the proposed legislation for improving rural water supplies?

Since 1st October last, 32 representations from rural districts regarding the shortage of water have been received, of which 17 were made this year. With permission, I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am about to issue a circular to local authorities regarding the temporary emergency measures to be taken especially in urban areas in the event of a prolongation of the drought. The essential need in rural areas is for permanent measures, the provision of which will be assisted by the Bill now before Parliament.

Has the Minister taken any action to stimulate the formation of regional water boards; and has he given instructions to those boards, where they have been set up, to take in hand this problem of organisation in their areas?

It is constantly present to the minds of the expert staff of the Ministry of Health that a very useful purpose may be served, on appropriate occasions, by the establishment of such regional water committees.

Do not the regional committees referred to fail in their object because they have no power to enforce their decisions?

No. Sir; I could not possibly agree to that description of the state of affairs. I think that the formation of regional committees has in every case very greatly assisted the proper development of local water supplies.

Does the right hon. Gentleman issue instructions or directions to the regional boards that they shall take up this task of organisation?

No, Sir; it would not be my function to give them instructions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the medical inspection of children in elementary schools does not extend below the waist; and will he take steps to ensure a more thorough examination in the future?

My Noble Friend is aware that the medical inspection of children in elementary schools does not normally extend below the waist or necessitate the entire stripping of every child. In cases, however, where there is reason to suspect the existence of a defect which requires a more complete examination, suitable arrangements are made for this to be carried out. My Noble Friend is not satisfied that the advantages of making a complete examination as a routine practice would justify its adoption, in view of the objections which might be raised by parents.

Would the hon. Gentleman be willing on some future occasion to receive a deputation of those interested in boys' club work, who have a great deal of knowledge on the subject?

Would the hon. Member for Bromley (Sir E. Campbell) like his boys and girls examined?

They are.

Not nude, anyhow.

I shall be glad to arrange for a deputation to be received.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many married women were employed in teaching in the elementary schools in England and Wales at the latest date for which returns are available?

The number of full-time married women teachers in regular employment on 31st March, 1933, in public elementary schools and prac- tical instruction centres in England and Wales, was 11,913.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the number is increasing or decreasing?

I cannot say off-hand.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many men and women teachers, respectively, left the training colleges and university training departments in 1933; and how many of these men and women, respectively, have failed to find employment at the beginning of the present year?

My Noble Friend would refer to the answer given on Thursday last, of which a copy is being sent to the hon. Member.

Would not a reduction of the compulsory age for the retirement of women teachers create vacancies for younger members of the teaching profession?

I dare say, but there are some objections to it, which it would take too long to enumerate.

Would it not be simpler to reduce the size of the classes?

asked the Minister of Health if he will take any steps to ensure that the percentage of re-housing is not less than 70 per cent. in areas where it would impose hardship on the present inhabitants to move them to housing sites which are, as far as their means go, relatively distant?

The avoidance of hardship of the kind suggested is certainly a principal object both of the local authorities in submitting their re-housing proposals and of myself in considering those proposals. Local circumstances vary so materially that it would not be practicable to lay down any hard and fast rule in the matter.

If the local circumstances do not allow of sufficient re- housing, will my right hon. Friend take steps to provide some form of compensation?

I will certainly bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the result to date of the inquiries which he caused to be instituted into the adequacy of the slum clearance scheme at 11 towns?

The result has been, as regards eight of the towns, to furnish information necessary for the discharge of my responsibilities in respect of slum clearance under the Act of 1930, and I have communicated to the authorities concerned my conclusions on the reports made to me. The report on the inquiry at Bootle is still receiving my consideration; I am awaiting the inspector's report on the inquiry at Leicester, and I am making certain further inquiries of the corporation of Croydon.

Are those responses satisfactory?

It is impossible to give a precise answer to that question. The effect is contained in my replies to the bodies in question.

What does the right hon. Gentleman propose to do if any of these local authorities persist in not doing their duty? Does he propose to supersede them and do the work himself, through his Department, or what method is he proposing to adopt?

The duties imposed upon the Minister of Health in case of any authority not carrying out its responsibilities under the Act of 1930 are actually specified in that Act.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated number of persons to be displaced and rehoused during the period 1934 to 1938 under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1930, by the operations of the London County Council, the Metropolitan Borough Councils, and the local authorities in the Metropolitan Police district outside the administrative county area, respectively?

It is estimated that about 150,000 persons living in the County of London will be displaced and rehoused during the period mentioned by the combined operations of the London County Council and the Metropolitan Borough Councils. The operations of the borough councils will be closely co-ordinated with those of the County Council, and will represent about 10 per cent. of the total. The number of persons to be displaced and rehoused by local authorities wholly or partly in the Metropolitan Police District but outside the administrative county area is estimated as about 19,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet come to any conclusion as a result of his recent inquiry into the slum-clearance scheme submitted by the borough of Willesden; and, if so, whether he has as yet communicated his conclusions to the Willesden Borough Council?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

Inasmuch as the inquiry was public, will the conclusions that the right hon. Gentleman draws from it also be made public in their entirety?

The conclusions that I drew from the inquiry are contained in a letter written to the local authority. If the hon. Member wishes to see a copy of that letter, I can supply her with one.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Liverpool housing committee have sent out letters to over 300 private builders asking for their co-operation under the 1933 Act but that only a few have replied; and, in view of the apathy shown, what action does he intend to take?

No, Sir; my attention has not previously been drawn to these facts. I assume that the corporation will communicate with me when their inquiries have been completed.

Will it be possible for a statement to be made in the House at an early date with regard to the replies which have been received on this subject from the various municipal housing authorities?

I think that that is a much wider question. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a specific question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to issue to the House a periodical statement summarising the information contained in the progress returns, which he receives quarterly from local authorities in connection with their operations under Section 2 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933?

This information, if desired, can be made available by way of question and answer and, as at present advised, I doubt the necessity for supplementing this method of publication.

Has the right hon. Gentleman regularly received these progress returns from local authorities in accordance with the instructions given by him?

Yes, I have received all the information that is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of rural district councils in England and Wales which have made arrangements with private builders for the erection of working-class dwellings to be let under Section 2 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933?

Nine rural district councils have made arrangements with private builders of the kind referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. Two others have such arrangements under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position with regard to the reimbursement to the Huddersfield Borough Council of the housing subsidies wrongfully obtained from the council; and what action the Ministry proposes to take in this matter?

The borough council have obtained, or are obtaining, reimbursement of the subsidies improperly obtained in all cases where, on legal advice, recovery is possible. The action of the council has been taken with the approval of my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the housing scheme put forward by Messrs. Rees and Nicholson for the establishment of a national housing committee and a stable programme undertaken on a non-party basis; and whether he will consider the appointment of a committee of Members of this House to examine these proposals and to report?

My attention has been drawn to the scheme mentioned. As regards the last part of the question, I would invite my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the report issued last July of the Departmental Committee on Housing which was presided over by Lord Moyne and for the rest consisted of Members of this House.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Moyne Committee reported that the terms of reference did not permit them to decide upon such a proposal?

That would not be quite an accurate account of the report of the Moyne Committee. The arguments were weighed and opinion on the merits was expressed against the proposal.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the improved financial condition of the country, he will consider the advisability of making a grant in accordance with the recommendations of the National Park Committee Report?

I have considered the matter and regret that I cannot hold out any prospect of a grant at the present time.

In view of the funds now available for the purpose of historical documents, will not the right hon. Gentleman consider granting the comparatively very small sum that will be required for this purpose?

No. Order of priority must be observed.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the fact that after a contributor under the national health and pensions insurance has handed over his card to his approved society he has no means of proving the surrender of the card, and that in the event of such a card being subsequently lost he is compelled to stamp a duplicate card or lose benefit; and whether he will consider the issue of an approved form of receipt when such cards are surrendered?

It is the duty of an insured person, on surrendering a card to his approved society, to present his record card, on which the society is required to enter the number of contributions paid. He is then entitled to credit for those contributions even although the stamped card may subsequently be lost. The form of receipt suggested in the second part of the question is, therefore, already provided. Even if the contributor neglects to obtain a receipt in this way, he may be able, by submitting other evidence under the procedure for settling disputes between societies and their members, to prove that a card which has since been lost was in fact duly surrendered.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of a specific case in which, although the employer can prove that deductions were made from wages, the man cannot prove that his card has been handed in, and he is called upon to pay £1 19s. when he has already paid his subscriptions and the employer has paid his?

Such a case could only arise when the two following circumstances were present: First of all, that the man had failed to present his record card, and, in the second place, that he had failed in the normal procedure provided for the settlement of such difficulties by his society, to provide any evidence to satisfy whatever the authority is that the contribution card has in fact been presented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the creation of a number of fixed trusts designed to attract small investors content with a moderate rate of interest in return for safety; and will he, before the creation of fixed trusts is carried to excess, appoint a committee of experts to advise the Government on the principles underlying fixed trusts and what should be done about further flotations, so that unscrupulous persons may not use fixed trusts for exploiting the public?

The facts, so far as I am aware of them, do not seem to me to call for any action by the Government. I think that the public can best protect themselves against exploitation of the kind suggested by declining to invest in any fixed trust which is not under the control of trustees of the highest repute.

Seeing that fixed trusts do not come under the Companies Acts, and that the holders have no voice in the administration, are the Government not taking a responsibility in not issuing a warning?

Possibly my reply will be taken as a warning.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed that there is apparently no obligation on the promoters of a fixed trust to issue a prospectus, as in the case of a publicly issued limited company, and may not the omission of the necessity to issue a prospectus, which was probably unforeseen, afford unscrupulous persons an opportunity for victimising the small investor?

I have no doubt that the matter is being carefully watched by those who are most closely concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to protect British investors in foreign loans raised in London from abuse of confidence and as a protest against recent breaches of contract, he will, pending termination of default, take steps to prohibit the handling of short-term credit acceptances financing the export of fruit from Rio de Janeiro and Santos to Britain and, similarly, the exported products of Rumania to Britain?

I have no power to adopt the proposal referred to in the question and I think that it must be left for those immediately concerned to deal with such matters at their discretion. At the same time my hon. Friend may rest assured that I am by no means indifferent to the treatment accorded to British bond-holders and am always ready to consider whether any action on my part would assist their situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Customs revenue and Excise revenue obtained from the new duty on heavy hydrocarbon oils between 25th April and 31st December, 1933, specifying the amounts derived from kerosene, lubricating oil, gas oil, and fuel oil, respectively?

As the answer involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of standard barrels of beer brewed in the nine months from April 1932 to 31st January, 1933, and from April, 1933, to 31st January, 1934; and the respective amounts of duties received during the two periods?

The numbers of standard barrels of beer brewed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the two periods mentioned were 10,089,000 for 1932–3 and 11,749,000 for 1933–4, the amounts of duty assessed on such beer being £53,504,000 in 1932–3 and £40,990,000 in 1933–34. The figures for the period 1st May, 1933, to 31st January, 1934, are provisional. My hon. Friend will realise that Excise beer duty assessed in one month is not received until the next.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of Entertainments Duty collected for the last financial year; and will he give the figures for the cheaper seats, those up to and including 6d.?

The total net receipts of Entertainments Duty during the year ended 31st March, 1933, amounted to £9,318,622. I am afraid that the information asked for in the second part of the question cannot be given as detailed statistics of Entertainments Duty at the various prices of admission are not available.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it will be possible to get some information on this matter by the time the Budget is introduced? It is a very important question, and one would like to have information if possible.

I wish it were possible to satisfy the hon. Gentleman, but by the method by which this duty is collected it is impossible to separate the amounts collected for the various denominations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of stamps, stamped roll tickets, etc., sold for the purpose of Entertainments Duty during the last 12 months of which his Department has a record?

While statistics of the actual sales of stamps and stamped tickets of the different denominations for the purpose of Entertainments Duty are not available, I can inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the receipts from their sale in the year ended 31st January, the latest date for which figures are available, was approximately £1,855,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to state what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee, on the application recently made by the National Farmers' Union to the Committee for an adjustment of the duty on certain imported flowers, particularly tulips, in view of the adequacy of home supplies, the losses sustained by home growers owing to the volume of imports, and of the adverse effect of imports of flowers upon the trade in bulbs between Holland and the United Kingdom?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given on the 22nd May last to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mr. Emrys-Evans), of which I am sending him a copy.