asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider setting up a committee to examine the position of funds raised in connection with colliery disasters, with a. view to the committee putting forward a scheme for the transference of all such funds to a central board, who would undertake the collection and distribution of all such moneys raised for future disaster funds?

I have examined my hon. Friend's suggestion, but he will realise that his proposal is much wider than a Departmental one. I shall be pleased, however, to discuss the issues involved with him, or any others Members interested, and to convey their representations to the proper quarters.

asked the Secretary for Mines the cost of the Mines Reorganisation Commission up to the latest date and the total amount paid to each member, including the chairman, with the number of sittings; what are the details of the reorganisation schemes carried through by the commission and, particularly, the names and number of collieries affected and the number of men displaced by these schemes; and what provision, if any, has been made to protect the miners displaced?

I am informed that the commission have held 110 sittings up to date. Particulars of expenditure and of individual remuneration are as follow:

Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission.
Expenditure to 31st October, 1934.
—	Remuneration.			Travelling and Incidental Expenses.			Total.
1. Chairman and Commissioners:	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Sir Ernest A. Gowers	23,073	7	5	471	8	2	23,544	15	7
J. Jones	2,637	1	6	206	3	6	2,843	5	0
Sir Felix Pole	2,637	1	6	35	2	0	2,672	3	6
Sir William Pole	2,637	1	6	606	2	10	3,243	4	4
L. Holt	—			6	6	0	6	6	0
	30,984	11	11	1,325	2	6	32,309	14	5
2. Commission Staff (including travelling, etc., expenses of staff lent).	4,040	1	3	859	11	6	4,899	12	9
3. Telegrams and Telephones	—			413	0	0	413	0	0
4. Salaries of Staff lent to the Commission	22,788	1	5	—			22,788	1	5
5. Fees and Expenses of professional and technical agents.	—			—			20,693	6	0
							81,103	14	7
6. Cost of Accommodation borne on Office of Works Vote.	—			—			11,524	0	0
							92,627	14	7

With regard to the second part of the question, particulars of colliery amalgamations carried through during the years 1931, 1932 and 1933 were given for each year in Part III of the Annual Report of my Department. Particulars of completed schemes since the end of 1933 are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that a clerk, named B. K. Mukerjie, employed in the locomotive workshop of the India State Railway at Lucknow was discharged on 30th April, 1944, within a fortnight of organising a conference of the East Indian Railway Workers' Union, which is recognised by the railway administration; and, if having regard to the appearance of victimisation in the case, he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter?

I have received the report of the Government of India on this matter. Mr. Mukerjie's discharge was not on account of his connection with the conference of railway workers held at Lucknow on 15th and 16th April, 1934, but because his previous activities were considered to infringe the Government Servants Conduct Rules.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information as to the municipality of Ahmedabad placing a boycott upon British goods; how long such boycott has been in existence; and the dates upon which steps, if any, have been taken to obtain the removal of such boycott?

I have no information that any such boycott is in existence.

asked the Secretary of State for India the nature of British manufactured goods which are boycotted by the Bombay Corporation; and the value of manufactured goods which could have been manufactured in Great Britain but were imported by the Bombay corporation during the years 1931, 1932, and 1933?

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington, South (Sir W. Davison) on 29th May, 1933, I understand that considerations of price and quality have been and still are decisive with the Bombay Municipality in placing their contracts. I have no information which I can give the hon. Member on the second half of his question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the name of the person or persons who gave the Territorial Drill Hall at Plymouth recently to Sir Oswald Mosley for a Fascist demonstration; if he is aware that two halls in the area were refused; the date of the application for the Territorial Hall and when it was granted; if he is aware that a condition of granting this hall has always been that 14 days' notice must be received; that the hall was being used by a sports organisation on this evening and no notice of cancellation had been sent to the secretary and that the Independent Labour party and the Communist party of Great Britain had been previously refused the use of this hall?

The Drill Hall was let under the authority of the local Territorial Army Association; I cannot say whether applications were made to other halls. The application for the Territorial Army Association Hall was made on 3rd October, and finally accepted, when certain conditions as regards insurance had been fulfilled, on 5th October. There is no condition as to 14 days' notice. The sports clubs who use the hall on Fridays, if it is not let for other purposes, were informed on 4th October. The last occasion on which the Independent Labour party applied to use the hall was on 7th March, 1931, but the hall had been already let for an exhibition lasting from the 4th to the 25th of that month. No application from the Communist party is traced at any date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when the charter granted to Imperial Airways expires, and, in view of the urgent need for speeding up and extending air mail and other air services, what his future attitude is towards these services; and whether, in view of the greatly increased subsidies granted by other countries to their air services, he will consider increasing the subsidy granted to air services?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to the hon. Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons), and would repeat that all relevant factors will be taken into consideration before any new agreement is concluded with Imperial Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he proposes to recommend the acceptance by this country of a quota of Rhodesian tobacco in view of the potentialities for British trade and settlement in that country?

No, Sir. I would, however, remind my hon. and learned Friend that tobacco grown within the Empire receives a preference of over 2s. per lb. on importation into the United Kingdom, and that imports of tobacco from Southern Rhodesia during the last few years have shown a very satisfactory increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his statistics show the number of woollen mills in the south of Scotland which were open five years ago and which have now been compelled to close down?

The information collected by the Board of Trade in connection with the preparation of an annual survey of industrial development relates to factories which were opened or closed in 1932 and 1933 and during the present year. I am unable to state how many of the factories which were closed during this period were open five years ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that substantial trade debts have been due by German importers to Scottish woollen manufacturers; if payment of them has been arranged in the recent agreement; and whether he has been able also to secure any provision for an increase of import licences?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my Noble Friend to the statement by my right hon. Friend on 1st November on the subject of the Anglo-German Payments Agreement of that date. As regards the last part, so far as I am aware, import licences are not required in connection with imports of wool piecegoods into Germany, but the Payments Agreement contains special provisions for the issue of foreign exchange certificates in respect of the export of United Kingdom textile manufactures to Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the trade agreements hitherto concluded affecting British woollen manufactured exports do not perceptibly benefit the Scottish trade owing to its high standard; and whether, in view of the depressed condition of this industry in the south of Scotland, he will make a point of recommending for preferential treatment in any trade agreements which may be entered into in future the specially high-grade woollen goods which are produced in that area?

Safeguards for the high grade wool textile industry along with other industries have been secured in almost all the trade agreements already negotiated, and I can assure my Noble Friend that the importance of this export trade is not overlooked in our negotiations. The difficulties of the industry, however, are to a considerable extent due to reduced spending power in its overseas markets, and it is therefore difficult to secure improved facilities for it by means of trade agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information of the intention of the Turkish Government to develop textile industries in Turkey; and what effect it is likely to have on the textile industries of this country?

An account of the Turkish Government's five-year industrial plan, which contemplates amongst other things the development of textile industries in Turkey, is contained in the Commercial Secretary's "Report on Economic Conditions in Turkey" which was published last June by the Department of Overseas Trade. As regards the second part of the question, I am afraid that I am not able to estimate what effect the development of a Turkish textile industry is likely to have on the textile industries of this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the importation of manufactured granite, which has increased from 40,682 tons in the first nine months of 1932 to 62,456 tons in the corresponding period of 1934; and whether he proposes to take steps to deal with the loss of employment in the monumental granite industry resulting?

I am aware of the figures to which my hon. Friend refers. The duty on monumental and certain other manufactured granite was increased as recently as 23rd June last, and sufficient time has not yet elapsed for the effect of the increased duty to be gauged.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information to give the House with regard to the inclusion of domestic servants in unemployment insurance?

In accordance with the promise given by his predecessor, my right hon. Friend intends to bring this and certain other questions to the notice of the Statutory Committee as soon as they have completed the inquiries, upon which they are now engaged, into the practicability of unemployment insurance for agriculture.

asked the Minister of Labour what requests have been made to his Department during the past year to supply skilled tradesmen to the firm of Briggs Bodies in London; and whether steps have been taken to notify the persons applying for such jobs as to the conditions regarding both weekly hours of employment and overtime rates?

The total number of vacancies for skilled workmen notified to the Dagenham Employment Exchange by Messrs. Briggs Bodies, Limited, during the year ended October, 1934, was 954, of which 913 were filled. All applicants accepted for work with the firm are fully informed of the hours of work and conditions of overtime payment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make it possible for the Members of this House to have any papers or instructions from the Unemployment Assistance Board delivered to them as early as the Press get such papers?

I can assure the hon. Member that both the Unemployment Assistance Board and my right hon. Friend recognise the importance of securing that such documents are made available to Members of this House as soon as they are released for publication in the Press.

asked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures in the monumental granite trade as at the end of September, 1932, 1933, and 1934?

Separate figures are not available in respect of unemployed persons in the monumental granite trade, but the number of wholly unemployed persons, aged 18 and over, who were registered at employment exchanges in Great Britain for employment as monumental masons, engravers and stone carvers was 443 at 24th October, 1932, 401 at 23rd October, 1933, and 424 at 22nd October, 1934. These statistics are compiled only at quarterly dates, and figures are therefore not available for September of these years.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as wholly unemployed at Pontefract, Castleford, Wakefield and Barnsley on the latest date available and the comparative figures for 1930 and 1931?

The following table gives the information desired:

Wholly Unemployed Persons on the Registers of the Pontefract, Castleford, Wakefield and Barnsley Employment Exchanges.
Employment Exchange.	22nd Oct., 1934.	29th Oct., 1931.	27th Oct., 1930.
Pontefract	2,147	1,856	1,640
Castleford	3,979	3,596	2,548
Wakefield	3,795	3,817	3,009
Barnsley	7,633	6,886	5,568

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what functions have been assigned to the newly-constituted Mines Department in Kenya Colony; and whether they include the duty of protecting the natives, both in their capacity of owners of the lands and in their capacity of workers?

The functions of the Commissioner of Mines and his staff are to ensure compliance with the provisions of the laws relating to mining and its ancillary operations. I have no doubt that the officers of the Mines Department keep a watchful eye on native interests, and they are charged with the supervision of the mines and machinery and all matters relating to the safety and health of persons employed. The duty of safeguarding the interests of native occupiers devolves upon the Chief Native Commissioner, the Native Lands Trust Board, the provincial commissioners and the district officers. Supervision of labour conditions is primarily a matter for the labour inspectors and the district officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether be has considered the memorandum urging the imposition of a tax on undeveloped farm lands in Kenya, which was submitted by the Rongai Valley Association to the economic development committee in Nairobi; and whether His Majesty's Government in Kenya Colony will give favourable consideration to this proposal?

I have not received a copy of the memorandum in question. If its proposals are embodied in the report of the Economic Development Committee, I have no doubt that the Governor will give them careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures were taken to compensate the relatives of those Africans who lost their lives in the winding accident in the Gold Coast Colony last June; and what was the proportion of compensation, if any, allotted to each family of the deceased Africans?

I am informed that the mine management is paying £12 compensation to each bereaved family. Thirty-five payments have already been made. The remaining six families have not yet been traced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, following upon the mining accident in the Gold Coast Colony in June last, when a considerable number of Africans lost their lives, it is proposed to introduce any legislation in the Gold Coast Colony providing for workmen's compensation?

The question of the enactment of workmen's compensation legislation in the Gold Coast and other African Colonies had been under active consideration for a considerable time before the regrettable accident to which the hon. Member refers. A draft model Ordinance was prepared embodying the essential features of the United Kingdom Workmen's Compensation Act, but in a simplified form, designed to secure substantial justice for a workman injured in the course of his employment without excessive regard for complicated technicalities of procedure. This model Ordinance was communicated to the Governments of the African Colonies, and Bills based on the model have been prepared by a number of those Governments, including the Government of the Gold Coast. These Bills departed from the model in various respects, and it was realised that it was very desirable to secure uniformity in this legislation in order to enable rates of premium to be quoted by the accident offices for a standard form of policy to cover their risks. It was accordingly decided to defer further consideration of the Bills which had been submitted until the observations of all the Colonial Governments concerned had been received, in order that a revised model Ordinance might be prepared which would be capable of enactment without substantial modification in the various Colonies. These comments have now been received, and the preparation of the revised model Ordinance is being actively pursued. I hope to be in a position to communicate it to the Colonial Governments concerned early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African miners lost their lives in the winding accident which occurred in the Gold Coast Colony in June last; whether an inquiry has been or will be held into the cause of the accident; and whether any steps are possible to prevent a recurrence of such accidents?

Forty-one African lives were lost in the accident an inquiry into the cause of the accident is at present being held, but it has been prolonged owing to the necessity of sending the rope, used in hauling the cage, to this country for expert examination. The Governor reports that the design of the cage has been altered with a view to preventing a recurrence of such acci- dents, and that further preventive measures will be considered when the cause of the accident is definitely established.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that irritation and dissatisfaction are displayed by small traders throughout the country with the operation of the Goods Vehicles (Keeping of Records) Regulations, 1934; and whether he will consider representations with a view to making them less drastic and of more practical service?

I am already considering representations of this kind with a view to seeing whether some simplification of existing requirements is possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether the pedestrians knocked down by a motor car, one of whom died shortly afterwards, on the evening of 4th November at Kirk Sandall, near Doncaster, were walking on the road with their backs to the oncoming traffic; and whether a footpath is provided for pedestrians at that particular point?

I am informed by the Chief Constable of the West Riding of Yorkshire that notice of intended prosecution has been served upon the driver of the car and, in the circumstances, it would not be proper for me to make any statement on a matter which may be the subject of evidence before the court.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to certain road accidents in which motor vehicles have caught fire following collision; whether he can supply figures as to the number of fires in motor vehicles following collisions during the present year; and whether he has investigated the possibility of preventing such fires by means of automatic disconnection of the electric circuits in the event of impact?

I regret that I cannot supply figures of the number of fires following collisions of motor vehicles. The risk of dangerous fire as a result of a collision has been reduced by the trend of modern design and, while my Department has examined various devices for disconnecting electric circuits in the event of collisions, as at present advised, I do not feel justified in making the use of any device hitherto examined compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any particular road surface is now being recommended to local authorities by his Department and, in that case, whether he can state its nature?

The selection of surfacing materials is primarily the responsibility of highway authorities for whose guidance experiments have been conducted and reports issued by my Technical Advisory Committee dealing with several kinds of materials which have been successfully used for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make any detailed statement with regard to the 11 experimental lengths on the Kingston by-pass road; and whether any lesson yet can be derived from their use?

Detailed information concerning these experimental sections has been incorporated in the reports issued annually by my Department entitled "Experimental Work on Roads."

asked the Home Secretary how many deaths took place in the Metropolitan area from motor accidents on the road during the first week in October; how many prosecutions were instituted for those deaths; how many convictions were secured for careless and dangerous driving; and what was the penalty or sentence imposed in each case?

During the week from 30th September to 6th October there were 27 deaths from motor accidents in the Metropolitan Police District. Proceedings for dangerous and careless driving have been instituted in two of these cases, but the charges have not yet been heard. In two other cases the question of proceedings is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the owners are under any obligation to His Majesty's Government to equip or make provision for equipping the steamship "Queen Mary" with a catapult for aircraft

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in order to preserve the secrecy of Income Tax returns, he will arrange for the envelopes used to enclose receipts to taxpayers to bear a cellophane front instead of being open in front as at present?

Arrangements to that end have already been made, and the

Total income.		Equivalent capital.	Income Tax.	Sur-tax.	Net Insurance payment to provide for Estate Duty.	Total.
£		£	£	£	£	£
	All Investment.
5,000		100,000	1,042	337	808	2,187
10,000		200,000	2,167	1,519	2,301	5,987
25,000		500,000	5,542	6,469	8,531	20,542
50,000		1,000,000	11,167	15,957	25,244	52,368
Half Earned and Half Investment.
5,000		50,000	975	337	270	1,582
10,000		100,000	2,099	1,519	801	4,419
25,000		250,000	5,474	6,469	3,043	14,986
50,000		500,000	11,100	15,957	8,062	35,119

asked the Postmaster-General whether the side and tail lights of Post Office motor vehicles purchased during the past three months have been fixed in the low positions normally used for every other class of light motor vehicle; and whether, in view of the necessity of increasing safety on the roads, he will consider the advisability of this policy?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts payable in the year 1934 in respect of Income Tax, Sur-tax, and insurance to cover Death Duties, in the case of a married man aged 45 years with three children with an income of £5,000, £10,000, £25,000, and £50,000, respectively, in a case where the taxpayer derives all his income from investments and in a case where half the income is derived from earnings and half from investments?

The following table shows for the year 1934–35 the Income Tax and Sur-tax payable on the incomes in question together with the net annual payment required to meet the Estate Duty on death. The table is on the basis laid down in their report by the Colwyn Committee on National Debt and Expenditure, investment income being capitalised on a 5 per cent. basis and the taxpayer being assumed to be a married man, aged 45, with three children.

The position is as it was when my right hon. Friend answered my hon. Friend's question of 11th June. There is no evidence that the placing of the lights has contributed in any way to an accident, but if my hon. Friend has information to the contrary, I shall be happy to make further inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received affecting the conditions of services and remuneration of sub-postmasters; and whether he can give any indication as to future action in redressing those complaints?

Representations have been made to my right hon. Friend on behalf of the sub-postmasters urging various concessions together with claims for improvement of agreed rates of remuneration. When the necessary investigation into these claims which is now proceeding has been completed, further discussion with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters will take place.

asked the Postmaster-General what condition, if any, are imposed upon the official publicity contractors for advertisements in and around Post Offices and sub-Post Offices of the United Kingdom.

The conditions of contract with the official publicity contractors for advertisements in and around Post Offices and sub-Post Offices of the United Kingdom are somewhat detailed and cover a number of matters. With the hon. Member's permission, I will send him extracts from the main provisions governing the exhibition of such advertisements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the weekly cost per head for every hospital, poorhouse, asylum and sanatorium patient or inmate under the control of the Glasgow Corporation?

I regret that no figures are available for sanatoria, infectious diseases hospitals and mental defective hospitals. As regards other institutions, the following statement gives the desired information which is available:—

Institution and Average Weekly Cost (Year ended 15th May, 1934).
		s.	d.
Barnhill Poorhouse	…	17	2
Crookston Home	…	23	10¾
Southern General Hospital	…	24	4½
Eastern District Hospital	…	37	5¼
Western District Hospital	…	42	6¼
Stobhill Hospital	…	35	10
Dunclutha Home, Kirn	…	42	0½

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much leave of absence an employé in His Majesty's dockyards is allowed for civic duties; and what is the limit for such leave before the special approval of the Admiralty is necessary?

For the purpose of attending to their civic duties, employés in His Majesty's dockyards who are classified as "non-industrial" may be granted special leave without pay, in addition to their ordinary allowance of paid leave provided that the absence does not conflict with the duty in the dockyard. Admiralty approval is required in each case and the period of leave without pay does not count for either incremental or superannuation purposes. Employés in His Majesty's dockyards classified as industrial may be granted leave of absence locally up to a total of 28 days a year, including leave with pay, whether for the purpose of attending to civic duties or otherwise. This period is extended to 52 days for trade union officials desiring to attend to their trade union duties, and to 80 days if they are also members of public bodies. Applications for leave for civic duties in excess of these periods would be dealt with by the Admiralty on their merits.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give figures showing the yearly number of new entrants at Greenwich Hospital School from the year 1927 to the latest date available; the number of those S chick-tested from the time Schick-testing started; the number found Schick-positive and Schick-negative; and the number of Schick-positives immunised, with the dates of entry into school and immunisation, respectively?

Owing to changes in the arrangements for applying this test since 1927 at the Royal Hospital School, detailed figures are not available for all the years mentioned in the hon. Member's question. I am endeavouring to obtain such statistics on the lines requested as have been kept, and will send these to him by letter as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether it, is the practice, when prosecutions undertaken by his Department against individuals for pension frauds are dismissed by the magistrates, for him to withhold payment of pensions in these cases under the decision of the referee?

The Contributory Pensions Acts by a specific provision entrust to the Minister, and not to the courts, the duty of deciding whether a person is entitled to a pension, and gives to dissatisfied claimants a right of appeal to referees, whose decision is made final and conclusive. In proceedings for fraud, which are brought under another Section of the Acts, the question before the magistrates is a different one, namely, whether, for the purpose of obtaining a pension, the accused knowingly made a false statement or false representation. The fact that a charge, brought under that Section, is dismissed does not necessarily imply that in the opinion of the magistrates the accused is entitled to a pension.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons who are insured under the National Health Insurance Act; and the figures of the men between the ages of 55 and 60 who are insured?

The number of persons in Great Britain who on 31st December, 1933, were insured under the National Health Insurance Act was approximately 18,481,000. The age distribution of the persons so insured was last ascertained as at 31st December, 1931, and the number of insured men aged between 55 and 60 was then about 799,000.