asked the Minister of Labour the number of men employed and the number of unemployed in the Scottish building industry in April, 1933; the respective numbers as at the end of February, 1934; what is the reason for the increase in the number of unemployed; and what action does he intend to take to increase employment for building workers in Scotland?

The following table shows the estimated numbers of insured men, aged 18–64, in the building industry classification in Scotland at July, 1932, and July, 1933 (the latest dates for which figures are available), and the numbers of men recorded as unemployed at 24th April, 1933, and 19th February, 1934.

Date.	Estimated numbers insured	Date.	Numbers recorded as unemployed.
July, 1932	73,500	24th Apr., 1933.	16,618
July, 1933	79,930	19th Feb., 1934.	25,755

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public assistance committees in Scotland have granted an allowance of 3s. a week each for children on able-bodied or ordinary relief; and will he issue a circular to all of them urging the adoption of the 3s. minimum standard?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. With regard to the second part, the duty of granting relief is one for the public assistance authority alone, subject to the appeal against inadequate relief and to the possibility of surcharge. I do not propose to interfere with the performance of that duty by issuing any circular such as is suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many complaints have been referred to the Consumers' Council under the Milk Marketing Scheme; and in how many cases a reduction of milk prices has taken place in consequence?

The Consumers' Committee for England have been considering the effect of the Milk Marketing Scheme on consumers and in that connection have examined 29 complaints, which have been made or referred to them. The committee have reported to me, and I am making arrangements for the publication of the report. Effect is being given to the main recommendation of the committee in the terms of the contract recently prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board for the six months' period commencing on 1st April. This is, that the existing arrangements regarding retail prices should be modified by the fixing of minimum margins between wholesale and retail prices, so as to allow for play of competition, while protecting the market against undercutting. The minimum margins prescribed by the board for regions other than the South Eastern are, 8d. in country districts and small towns, 9d. in medium-sized towns and 10d. in large towns. In the South Eastern region the margin is 10d. except in rural areas and small towns, where it is 8d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the committee on the marking of imported meat?

The recommendations referred to are receiving the careful consideration of the Ministers concerned. I regret I cannot say more at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated amount of monetary gold in the world at the end of 1929; what was the actual or estimated world-production of gold in each of the years 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933; what was the estimated amount of monetary gold in the world at the end of 1933; and how much of it was held at the end of that year by Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, respectively?

The monetary gold in the world at the end of 1929 was estimated by the League of Nations Gold Delegation at $11,272,000,000 (£2,316,000,000), exclusive of hoards in Asia and Africa. No corresponding estimate is available for 1933.The world production of gold has been estimated as follows (in £ millions at gold par):—

1930	…	…	…	88.5
1931	…	…	…	94.8
1932	…	…	…	102.5
1933	…	…	…	103.5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated amount of monetary gold in this country at the end of 1929; what was the excess of imports of gold over exports of gold in each of the years 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933, respectively; and what was the estimated amount of monetary gold in this country at the end of 1933?

The monetary gold in this country and the Irish Free State at the end of 1929 was estimated by the League of Nations Gold Delegation at $791,000,000 or £162,500,000 (exclusive of any gold earmarked for oversea owners). No corresponding estimate is available for 1933.The net imports (or exports) of gold since 1930 have been as follow:

			Value.
			£
1930, net import	…	…	4,861,000
1931, net export	…	…	34,581,000
1932, net import	…	…	17,858,000
1933, net import	…	…	191,334,000

Since the value is the face value of British gold coin, and the market value of all other gold, these figures require some adjustment in 1931 and subsequent years. The Board of Trade estimated the Set loss of gold in 1931 at £31,000,000 on a par basis, and the net imports in 1932 and 1933 at £12,500,000 and £133,000,000 respectively.

asked the Home Secretary whether the policy of promoting prison hospital principal officers to the rank of chief officer on the discipline side has been abandoned; the date on which the last promotion was made; and what are the essential qualifications for the promotion of a hospital principal officer to the rank of chief officer?

The policy of the Prison Commissioners in filling any vacancy in the post of chief officer is to select the officer who appears to them best fitted for promotion, and the qualifications of both hospital and discipline officers are considered. A hospital principal officer has not been promoted to be discipline chief officer since 1924, but since 1928 two posts of hospital chief officer have been created and four hospital principal officers have been promoted to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the protest of the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Ching-wei, against the enthronement of Pu-Yi in Manchuria has been officially communicated to the Foreign Office; and, if so, what reply has been sent?

Yes, Sir. The text of Mr. Wang Ching-wei's statement has been received from the Chinese Minister. The communication has been duly acknowledged.

asked the Minister of Health as on the last convenient date the number of pensioners under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, male and female, respectively, who are in receipt of supplementary allowances from public assistance committees?

On 1st January, 1933, there were 44,863 widows (with 39,139 dependent children) in receipt of widows' pensions, and 561 orphans in receipt of orphans' pensions, under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts who were also in receipt of outdoor poor relief. The returns made to my Department do not separate the number of old age pensioners in receipt of outdoor poor relief who were receiving old age pensions under the Contributory Pensions Acts from those who were receiving old age pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the present strength of the senior and junior divisions of the Officers Training Corps, respectively?

The last available figures are shown on page 65 of the Army Estimates, 1934.