asked the Minister of Health how many Poor Law institutions have been closed, and how many new Poor Law institutions have been erected, since 1st January, 1926; and what was the total number of Poor Law institutions open on 1st January, 1926, and on 1st January, 1934, respectively?

The total number of Poor Law institutions of all kinds in use on 1st January, 1926, was 1,114. The corresponding figure for 1st January, 1934, is 1,036. The number closed or transferred to other public purposes during the period was 125 and the number erected or acquired 47.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount paid as Poor Law relief by the public assistance committees in the County of Durham (including the boroughs) for the first week in February, 1932, and the corresponding period in 1934; and how much of the above sum was paid to the able-bodied unemployed and their dependants?

The returns made to my Department as to the cost of out-relief relate to monthly periods. These returns, moreover, do not distinguish the cost of relief to the able-bodied unemployed. The following statement shows the total average weekly cost of out-relief in money and kind in the administrative County of Durham and the five associated county boroughs, and the average weekly cost in respect of out-relief to persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and their dependants during the month of February in 1932 and 1934. The primary cause of relief in a number of the latter cases may, however, be sickness and not unemployment.

During February.	Average weekly cost of out-relief in money and kind.
	To all persons.	To persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and their dependants (included in preceding column).
	£	£
1932	20,849	9,139
1934	26,539	13,324

asked the Minister of Health if he will, during this Session, introduce a Bill for the reduction of rents to the pre-War standard, and containing emergency measures to protect the homes of the unemployed from eviction?

My right hon. Friend sees no sufficient ground for asking the House to review its decisions on these questions, which were fully discussed during the progress of the Rent Restrictions Bill of last Session.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is with the approval of his Department that registrars of births, deaths, and marriages hand to persons registering births printed matter other than the certificate of registration and Form A under the Vaccination Acts; and under what statutory authority the local public health committees can require registrars to distribute printed matter outside the documents they issue under the Registration and Vaccination Acts?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am not aware of any statutory authority under which public health committees can require registrars of births to distribute any forms other than those which they are required to issue under the Registration and Vaccination Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men who have passed through training centres during the last 12 months; and the number of those who were placed in employment after passing through their training?

As the hon. Member is aware, the Department has two types of centre, first the training centre proper, at which a six months' course is given in certain trades, and secondly the instructional centre, where a three months' course is provided with the primary object of re-conditioning. 5,303 men passed through the former centres during the 12 months ended 26th February, 1934, and of those who completed their training 3,944 or 88.8 per cent. obtained employment. 10,893 men passed through the instructional centres during the period, and of those who completed their training, 1,594 or 16.3 per cent. obtained employment. Attendance at the instructional centre is not limited to the numbers for which employment is likely to be available at the end of the course, and those who volunteer for the course do so primarily for the benefit they will derive in increased employability.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed who have been out of work for one year and over, at the latest date?

The number of persons applying for insurance benefit

Division.	Numbers of unemployed persons aged 14–20 inclusive on the registers of Employment Exchanges at 19th February, 1934.			Numbers unemployed, aged 14–20, expressed as percentages of numbers unemployed of all ages, on the registers at 19th February, 1934.
	Males.	Females	Total.	Males.	Females	Total.
London	19,891	10,884	30,775	9.5	24.0	12.1
South Eastern	10,124	7,167	17,291	10.3	38.1	14.8
South Western	11,616	8,091	19,707	9.2	39.2	13.5
Midlands	13,777	9,353	23,130	6.4	21.4	9.0
North Eastern	34,620	20,592	55,212	8.0	37.6	11.4
North Western	32,137	22,856	51,993	8.9	19.4	11.4
Scotland	32,246	20,731	52,977	10.7	34.1	14.8
Wales	18,416	7,156	25,572	9.1	50.7	11.8
Great Britain	172,827	106,830	279,657	8.9	28.5	12.1

asked the Minister of Labour what recommendations were made by the International Labour Office during the year 1933 and which of them were adopted by this country?

Seven conventions and two recommendations were adopted by the International Labour Conference in 1933. Six of the conventions and one recommendation dealt with invalidity, old age and widows' and orphans' insurance; one convention and one recommendation dealt with fee-charging employment agencies. The action of His Majesty's Government in regard to them is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed under 21 in each division under the Ministry, and the percentage of the unemployed of adolescents in each division?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of insured workers employed in the mining industry on the latest date available; and the numbers so engaged on approximately the same date during each of the last five years?

An approximation to the numbers of insured persons in employment in particular industries can be obtained for June of each year by deducting the numbers of insured persons recorded as unemployed at that date from the total number of insured workers, at the same date, as estimated on the basis of the annual exchange of unemployment books. The following table gives these figures in respect of the coal mining industry for the end of June, 1933, and the five preceding years:

Date (end of June).	Estimated Numbers Injured.	Numbers recorded as unemployed.
		Wholly unemployed.	Temporarily stopped.
1933	1,023,840	233,601	150,988
1932	1,044,830	220,277	204,727
1931	1,046,750	198,397	180,236
1930	1,069,370	143,397	112,310
1929	1,074,610	126,893	77,119
1928	1,115,750	168,966	130,483

Figures showing the numbers of wage-earners on the colliery books are regularly compiled and published by the Mines Department. For the week ended 24th February, 1934, and for the corresponding periods in the five preceding years, the totals were as shown below

Week ended—
24th February, 1934	790,047
25th February, 1933	793,166
27th February, 1932	834,462
28th February, 1931	876,703
22nd February, 1930	958,500
23rd February, 1929	917,516

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any record is kept of the number of bad arms resulting from the vaccination of recruits?

No record is kept, with the exception of the cases which are admitted to hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that Shamsul Huda, one of the prisoners released after the appeal in the Meerut conspiracy case, has been convicted again under Section 124A of the Indian penal code for making a seditious speech and was recommended by the magistrate to be treated as a political prisoner in B-class; and whether he is being accorded B-class treatment, in what gaol he is confined, and what is the present state of his health?

I have no information, but will inquire.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of women cleaners in each of the Royal Dockyards who are affected by the reduction in wages ordered in Admiralty Order L. 6,135/33 of 23rd January, 1934; the rate of pay which they received before the reductions first came into force; the reasons for this reduction; and the amount of money which it is anticipated will be saved?

Twenty-nine women are affected, all employed in Portsmouth Dockyard. Their previous rates of wages were 1s. 3d. an hour for work between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 1s. an hour thereafter. After discussion on the Shipbuilding Trade Joint Council for Government Departments, the reduction was made in order to bring these rates, which were last reviewed in 1922, more nearly into accord with fair wages principles. The estimated reduction in expenditure therefrom is £5 5s. a week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the British Government, after settling the amount of War claims with the German Government, paid over to German nationals their claims in full against British insurance companies, or was any compromise arrived at?

The British Government made no payments to German nationals in respect of their claims against British insurance companies. In so far as these claims fell to be treated as debts within the provisions of Article 296 of the Treaty of Versailles, or constituted property rights or interests within the provisions of Article 297 of that Treaty, they were dealt with in accordance with the Clearing Office arrangements instituted by those articles.

asked the Postmaster-General the average amount of time which should be taken in obtaining a toll call; and whether there has been in recent years any alteration in the rapidity with which these calls were originally made?

The average time taken to obtain a toll call from London is now 68 seconds, including the time taken for the wanted subscriber to answer his telephone, which on the average amounts to 20 seconds. Before the establishment of the toll exchange in 1921. these calls were handled in the Trunk Exchange with an average "delay" of 15 to 20 minutes. Trunk calls from London are now on the average effected within 114 seconds; as recently as 1931 they took from 10 to 15 minutes. I have assumed that my hon. and gallant Friend's question relates to calls from London, but the corresponding figures for the provinces are not materially different.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been drawn to the collapse of women jurors in a recent murder trial in London; and if he will take or advise appropriate steps to be taken to avoid a recurrence?

I have seen the reports in the Press, but I do not know of any steps which could appropriately be taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the probable cost of removing the means limit for pre-war police pensioners imposed by the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1920 and 1924?

Without a detailed examination of every case it is impossible to give any reliable estimate of the additional cost that would be involved by the removal of the limit of means laid down in the Pensions (Increase) Acts, but I am advised that it would probably be of the order of £100,000 or £200,000 a year in the case of police pensioners from forces in England and Wales.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the growing tendency of different chief constables to interpret the law in varying fashion; and whether he will consider the desirability of establishing some central authority which shall be responsible for the uniform interpretation of the law on any police matter?

No, Sir. I am not aware of any such tendency. It is not within the province of the police to interpret the law. This can be done only by the competent courts. It is, however, the responsibility of the police to enforce the law, and before instituting proceedings it is their duty to satisfy themselves that there is prima facie evidence of the commission of some offence. In cases of doubt, they may have occasion to take legal advice or may consult the Home Office, and from time to time the Home Office issues circulars to chief officers of police explaining the effect of legal decisions or giving advice on questions of administrative policy. But neither the Home Office nor any other central authority could properly be made responsible for exercising functions which ought to be exercised only by a court of law.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Prison Department has had requests from governors of prisons for additional officers in certain prisons; and if he has given his attention to the general staffing of prisons during the past six months?

The staffing of prisons is a matter which receives' constant attention. It is open to governors to apply at any time for extra staff to meet emergencies or changing conditions. In addition, there is a general review each autumn, when governors are required to submit proposals in connection with the preparation of the estimates for the following year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London Passenger Transport Board have entered into a contract with the Associated Equipment Company, Limited, for the supply by that company of 90 per cent. of the board's requirements of road vehicles for a period of 10 years; whether a copy of this contract will be made public; and, if not, whether any information is available as to the class and description and number of vehicles to be supplied to the board under the contract?

I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that they have entered into a contract with the Associated Equipment Company for the supply of motor omnibus chassis and spare parts. The board do not propose to publish the contract; but I am informed that it is substantially in accordance with the pro forma contract to which reference is made in Section 6 of the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London Passenger Transport Board have placed orders for electric trolley vehicles for experimental purposes with the Associated Equipment Company, Limited, without inviting any other British firms to tender; and whether, inasmuch as there are several other companies in Great Britain specialising in the manufacture of electric trolley vehicles, an opportunity will be given to more than one company to supply experimental vehicles and tender for the supply of vehicles required?

I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that they have purchased chassis for two experimental trolley vehicles from the Associated Equipment Company. The bodies and electrical equipment will be manufactured by other firms. The inviting of tenders is a matter entirely within the discretion of the board, but I am informed that it is their intention to invite approved firms to tender for the supply of trolley vehicles in the event of the Bill now before Parliament becoming law.