asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of schools which are at the present time using films for educational purposes; whether education committees invariably obtain the sanction of the board for this innovation; and whether this sanction has ever been refused?

My Noble Friend regrets that he has insufficient information to enable him to answer the first two parts of the question. With regard to the last part of the question, of those cases in which the board have been consulted, in only two instances has sanction been withheld; in those cases the board suggested, for various reasons, that consideration of the provision of cinematograph apparatus should be deferred.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of secondary schools for boys and for girls, and the total number of places in the administrative county of London in each of the years 1920 to 1934; the number of boys and girls attending those schools in each of those years; the estimated number of children of secondary school age in the administrative county of London in each of these years; and the estimated number of children of secondary school age in the administrative county of London in 1935, 1940, 1945, and 1950?

The following is the information asked for in so far as it is available:

LONDON.
			Secondary Schools on the Grant List.
—			Number of Schools for			Number of Pupils on 1st October.
			Boys.	Girls.	Boys and Girls.	Boys.	Girls.	Total.
1920	…	…	36	52	2	17,467	18,704	36,171
1921	…	…	36	52	2	17,940	19,738	37,678
1922	…	…	36	52	2	17,893	19,470	37,363
1923	…	…	36	52	2	17,632	18,660	36,292
1924	…	…	36	52	2	17,652	18,469	36,121
1925	…	…	37	52	2	18,078	18,824	36,902
1926	…	…	38	52	2	18,222	18,995	37,217
1927	…	…	37	52	2	17,367	19,000	36,367
1928	…	…	37	52	2	17,465	19,149	36,614
1929	…	…	38	52	2	17,691	19,042	36,733
1930	…	…	39	52	2	18,113	19,011	37,124
1931	…	…	39	51	2	18,982	19,307	38,289
1932	…	…	38	51	2	19,182	19,137	38,319
1933	…	…	38	51	2	18,968	19,028	37,996
NOTES.—(1) Inasmuch as no recognised accommodation is laid down in the case of secondary schools, information as to the number of places as distinct from the number of pupils in such schools is not available.
(2) (a) The total number of children aged 11 and under 17 in London was 491,786 in 1921, and 394,011 in 1931; but similar information is not available for the inter-censal years.
(b) It is estimated that the number of children in London between those ages in 1935 will be of the order of 370,000. Sufficient data are not available on which the frame estimates for the years 1940, 1945 and 1950.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the revival of the speed limit with his authority in certain towns, he will instruct the local authorities concerned to mark all their boundaries which cross the roads traversing their confines in order that motorists may be properly warned?

If my hon. Friend will draw my attention to any case in which he thinks that the existence of a speed limit is not adequately indicated, I will consider whether I could usefully approach the local authority concerned.

asked the Home Secretary the number of fatal and nonfatal accidents, respectively, during 1932 and 1933, separately, arising out of the use of motor-bicycles on the roads of this country?

The number of accidents attributed to motor cycles in Great Britain in 1932 was:

Fatal	…	…	1,648
Non-fatal	…	…	40,683

This does not include accidents to motor cyclists which were attributed to other vehicles, as to which there are no particulars. Figures for 1933 are not yet available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when was the last occasion on which combined manoeuvres were held in which separate forces belonging to the Royal Air Force and the Army were employed; and whether any manoeuvres of this description are contemplated this year?

In addition to the normal training co-operation which is regularly provided by Air Force units specially allotted for that purpose, air squadrons have taken part in Army exercises in three of the last four years, the last occasion being in September, 1933. The question of participation in such exercises in 1934 is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when was the last occasion on which combined manoeuvres were held in which separate forces of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy were employed; and whether any manoeuvres of this kind are contemplated this year?

The most important of recent combined exercises was one with the Home Fleet in September, 1933. While no exercise on the same scale is contemplated in 1934, a combined training exercise on a smaller scale will take place in September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the year 1933, the number of bulk barrels of beer produced and the number retained for consump- tion in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, respectively, and the average specific gravities for England and Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom for the calendar year 1933?

The number of bulk barrels of beer produced and the average original gravity for the year 1933 were as follow:

—		Number of bulk barrels produced.	Average Original gravity.
England and Northern Ireland	…	18,070,000	1,040·59
Scotland	…	1,338,000	1,041·19
United Kingdom	…	19,408,000	1,040·63

No information is available as to the quantity of home-made beer retained for consumption in England and Scotland respectively. The number of bulk barrels of such beer retained for consumption in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland during the year was as follows:

		Bulk Barrels.
Great Britain	…	19,087,000
Northern Ireland	…	35,000
		19,122,000

asked the Minister of Health whether any further tests have been carried out by the Ministry in connection with the treatment for tuberculosis called umckaloabo; whether any of the tests have been satisfactory; and to what expense the Ministry has been put in connection with these tests?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the other two parts do not therefore arise. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of an answer given to the hon. Member for Brighton (Sir C. Rawson) on 20th October, 1932, from which he will see that no further test of this preparation at the public expense would be justified.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information as to whether infection from tuberculosis may be derived from imported butter, cheese, and milk-blended margarine as well as from milk; and whether he is satisfied with the precautions taken to prevent infection from this source?

I am advised that the danger of infection with tuberculosis from dairy products made from pasteurised milk or cream is negligible. I understand that practically all the milk and cream used in the preparation of imported butter and margarine is pasteurised, but I cannot say what proportion of imported cheese is made from pasteurised milk.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a large number of certified maternity nurses attending cases frequently do not receive their pay; and whether he will consider some arrangement which will better ensure that the midwife, who is indispensable, is at all events paid out of maternity benefit?

Cases have come to my notice in which midwives have complained of difficulty in obtaining payment of their fees. The selection of a midwife and the amount and payment of her fees are, however, matters of private contract between the midwife and the person engaging her services. Where the confinement is that of a woman entitled to maternity benefit I have every reason to believe that the payment of the midwife's fee is ordinarily regarded as the first charge upon that benefit, and I do not think that the introduction of amending legislation to protect the interests of the midwife in this respect would be justifiable.

asked the Minister of Health how many local loans to local authorities in Wales have been sanctioned within the last 12 months; what has been the rate of interest in each case; and what is the rate now?

I have sanctioned during the last 12 months 551 loans for public works (including housing) to local authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire. I have no complete information of the rates of interest paid by the authorities in respect of these loans; but many of them have no doubt been advanced by the Public Works Loan Board, and the rate of interest charged by that body since April of last year has been 3⅝ per cent. for most loans and 3⅞ per cent. for some.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many tuberculous cattle have been slaughtered under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1925, and what has been the cost?

During the eight years of the operation of the Tuberculosis Order of 1925 up to 30th September, 1933, 141,220 tuberculous cattle were slaughtered by local authorities in Great Britain, and the compensation paid amounted to £521,581.