asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the notice issued by the Wallasey water engineer that he had seen no necessity for restricting the use of water for garden hose, etc., as Wallasey could draw upon Liverpool for the water they required; and what action, if any, he proposes to take?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any notice in the terms stated. Although the Wallasey Town Council have not yet made compulsory restrictions on the use of water, they have, by appeals to consumers, effected a saving of nearly 7,000,000 gallons in the amount taken from Liverpool since 5th March last. My right hon. Friend is keeping in touch with the position

asked the Home Secretary what is the number of aliens now in this country awaiting deportation; how many have been refused entry to the United States or other country and have not been repatriated; at whose expense are they being maintained; and where and how are they accommodated?

The number of aliens who have been recommended by a court for deportation and are at present in prison is 31. Of this number 29 are still serving a sentence and in the case of the remaining two who received short sentences the necessary steps are being taken with a view to their deportation as soon as practicable. Since the 1st January the number of cases in which it has not been possible to proceed with deportation on account of uncertainty of national status is nine. In all these cases the aliens have been released from custody—generally subject to special requirements as to reporting to the police—and have made their own arrangements for maintenance and accommodation.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total quantity of coal produced in Great Britain, and the total number of persons employed, in the last quarter of 1930, and also at the last quarter for which figures are available, giving separate figures for Lancashire and Cheshire?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines the average (pithead) price per ton in Great Britain in the last quarter of 1930, and at the latest date at which figures are available, giving separate figures for Lancashire and Cheshire?

The average pithead proceeds per ton of coal disposable commercially in Great Britain in the last quarter of 1930 was 14s. 2d. and in the quarter ended 31st March, 1934, 13s. 8d. The corresponding figures for Lancashire and Cheshire were 17s. 1d. and 16s. 6d. respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has circularised public assistance committees to the effect that after 1st July they may ignore £l of any disability pension, or if he will now do so without delay?

No, Sir. The hon. Member no doubt has in mind the provision of Clause 38 (3) (b) of the Unemployment Bill. This provision relates to the assessment of the need of applicants for assistance under Part II of the Bill, which has not yet come into operation. The basis upon which need is assessed for the purposes of transitional payments is not affected by the Bill.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the respective total numbers of female writing assistants and established shorthand typists employed in the Department of Customs and Excise and the Stationery Office on 1st April, 1934; and the respective total numbers of S-class clerks, female writing assistants, and established shorthand-typists employed in the department of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, the Land Registry, the National Savings Committee, the Public Works. Loan Board, and His Majesty's Treasury on 1st April, 1934?

The numbers employed on 1st April, 1934, are shown in the table following:

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of people ever recorded as employed in this country and the total number on the last available date?

In the period from June, 1923, the earliest date from which figures are available, the highest number of insured persons estimated to be in employment in Great Britain was 10,316,000 at 23rd September, 1929; the corresponding figure at 14th May, 1934, was 10,187,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to return the party of Greek refugees who have been stranded in the Cayman Islands for some time and are being maintained by the islanders, who are unable to recover any payment, to their port of origin and to reimburse the islanders?

The matter has recently been brought to my notice. His Majesty's Representative at Athens has been requested to approach the Greek Government with a view to securing the repatriation of the party at the expense of that Government, and the reimbursement to the Cayman Islands of the expenses incurred on behalf of the party. The outcome of his representations is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the Cayman islanders are without any means of communication other than irregular steamship services, some form of wireless communication can be established with Jamaica?

The desirability of establishing a wireless station in the Cayman Islands was recognised at the time of the hurricane disaster in November, 1932, and the question was considered by the Legislative Council of Jamaica in February, 1933. The financial position of the Colony was such, however, that the Council felt compelled to limit its assistance to the Dependency to an amount sufficient to cover the cost of repairing hurricane damage, partly by way of grant and partly by loan. The Dependency has no funds from which the cost of erecting a station could be defrayed, and in the circumstances it is regretted that the matter must remain in abeyance until the financial position improves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the abolition of the term "fetischtic marriage" as applied to native Christian marriage in Nigeria is under consideration; and if native cases under the marriage ordinance for Christians are always taken before native tribunals?

So far as I am aware, the term "fetischtic marriage" is not applied to any kind of marriage in Nigeria. All matrimonial causes arising from or connected with a Christian marriage are excluded from the jurisdiction of the native courts.