asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make regarding the recent discussions about shortening the hours of work in this country?

No, Sir, not at present. As I have explained in reply to previous questions, I have been in communication with the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the Trades Union Congress General Council in the matter, and I hope to begin discussions with individual trades at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour the reason why numbers of miners are being sent from Shirebrook Employment Exchange (Derbyshire) to Ollerton colliery (Notts) for jobs, but few, if any, are being engaged; whether he is aware that refusal to undertake this journey of 10 miles results in loss of benefit; and will he instruct the Employment Exchange at Shirebrook to ascertain the actual number of men required, if any, at Ollerton, and only send that number?

I am having inquiries made, and will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of the debt of the Unemployment Insurance Fund at the end of the years 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1934, respectively, and, in particular, the amount of the debt on 31st October, 1931, and at the latest convenient date?

The amount of the debt of the Unemployment Fund at the dates mentioned was as follows:—

asked the Minister of Labour what would be the estimated saving to his department if all juveniles were kept at school until the age of 16?

I regret that I can give no reliable estimate of the financial effect upon the various services of my department of raising the school-leaving age to 16.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the cost of the salutes when the Atlantic Fleet visits Gibraltar?

The number of saluting rounds which would be fired in the course of a visit of the Home Fleet to Gibraltar is dependent upon such a variety of indeterminate factors that I am afraid it is impossible to give any reliable estimate of the cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate difference to the Exchequer last year if the income of married women had not been included in the assessment of their husbands?

I regret I am unable to furnish the estimate desired, but I may point out that the effect on the Exchequer of a change in the law in the direction suggested would depend upon the amount of redistribution of income that might take place, and could not therefore be measured by the actual incomes of a past year.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that a violent scene took place in the condemned cell before the execution of David Maskill Blake at Armley prison, where a. warder was injured and is still suffering from his injuries, and unusual measures had to be taken to restrain Blake to enable the execution to be effected, the medical officers and officials at all prisons will be instructed to take such precautions in future as will prevent the possibility of such violent scenes?

There is no truth whatever in the suggestion that any violent scene or any struggle took place before or during the execution of this prisoner, or that any prison officer was injured or that any unusual measures had to be taken. Nothing occurred to give even a shadow of foundation for the hon. Member's allegations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to minimising the number of accidents on the roads in London, he will consider materially increasing the number of subways and making it compulsory to use them at hazardous points?

I am always prepared to give sympathetic attention to any proposals submitted to me by responsible local Authorities for the construction of additional or improved subways. As at present advised, I should not feel justified in making it an offence for pedestrians to cross the carriage way except by means of subways, although I agree that their use should be encouraged.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many cases have been brought to his notice of war orphans whose pensions have terminated at the age of 16, but who are none the less permanent invalids through infantile maladies?

I have no record of any cases of the nature referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, as pensions are not terminated at the age of 16 in the case of children who are then shown to be permanent invalids without other public provision for their maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to whether arrangements have yet been made for lifting the ban on British and other Jewish periodicals in Iraq; and whether any further representations have been made to the Iraq Government on this matter?

My latest information is that, with a view to permitting the entry into Iraq of all matter free from provocative political bias, the Iraqi Government are engaged in revising their list of Jewish publications which have been subjected to restrictions. His Majesty's Ambasador at Bagdad has made to the Iraqi Government various representations on behalf of legitimate British and Palestinian interests prejudicially affected by these restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report as to the facilities for public religious worship available for English subjects resident in or visiting Mexico; and, if no report has been received, will he make inquiries?

I have received no recent report on this subject, but I am addressing an inquiry to His Majesty's Minister at Mexico City, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when his report is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of how many houses in Scotland certificates have been granted approving assistance by way of loan and how many approving assistance by way of grant under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in the quarters ending 30th September and 31st December, 1934, respectively?

The following table contains the information asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses completed in Scotland during the quarters beginning 1st July and 1st October, respectively, showing separately the figures for State-assisted and unassisted houses?

The number of houses completed in Scotland during the quarters beginning 1st July and 1st October, 1934, respectively, was as follows:Quarter beginning 1st July, 1934:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses built in 1934 to replace uninhabitable houses in county areas?

The total number of houses built in 1934 under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, to replace uninhabitable houses in the county areas of Scotland was 1,589. The number of houses under construction at 31st December, 1934, was 3,520, and the number approved but not begun was 1,316.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were erected in Scotland by unassisted private enterprise in each of the last five years?

The number of houses erected in Scotland by unassisted private enterprise in each of the last five years was as follows: