asked the Minister of Health how many full-time vaccination officers and public vaccinators, respectively, are employed in England and Wales; how many of these are paid by fees only and salary only, respectively; in how many instances is the appointment of vaccination officer and public vaccinator, respectively, combined with other appointments; and whether in any of these instances vaccinations are paid for by fees?

I have no information to show how many of the vaccination officers and public vaccinators employed in England and Wales are full-time officers, and I cannot, therefore, answer the questions asked by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received during 1934 in which death was attributed to vaccinia or vaccination, or in some way associated with vaccination; and what were the ages of the victims of vaccination to whom these certificates referred?

The answer to the first part of the question is seven. The ages of the persons concerned were three months, four months, eight months, six years, seven years, 18 years, and 20 years respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many children at Acton have received three doses of diphtheria immunising mixture; how many of these were re-Schick-tested subsequently; and what was the result of the final Schick tests?

According to information furnished by the local authority, the answer to the first part of the question is 3,631, and to the second part 2,063. The answer to the third part is that, of the latter number, 2,050 tests gave negative results. The figures are in each case brought up to 31st December, 1934.

asked the Minister of Labour as regards the north-western area as on the last convenient date, the number of insured persons, the number of claimants for benefit and for unemployment allowances, and the total number on the live register, distinguishing between males and females?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that from and in-eluding the year 1926 to 1934 out of 10 officers employed under the prison commissioners at Swansea, whose years of service total 297 years, not one of the officers received the Imperial Service medal; and whether he will give an assurance that all branches of this service are treated impartially in this connection?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's question on 19th June last.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether a comparison of any statistical returns relating to all kinds of accidents below ground in North Staffordshire over the past five years shows the mines of that area to be in a better or a worse position than neighbouring areas of the same size and output?

Statistics show that the accident rate for all accidents below ground in North Staffordshire during the five years 1929–33 is lower than that for Warwickshire but higher than that for Cannock Chase, these being the only neighbouring districts that are of approximately the same size and output.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of tons of coal carried by means of conveyors and

The following table gives the information desired:loaders in mines in 1934; the percentage of the total output represented by that total; and the tonnage carried by other mechanical means in 1934 at the coal face?

During 1934, the total quantity of coal carried by means of conveyors and loaders at mines in Great Britain was 81,493,000 tons, or 37 per cent. of the total output of coal. Particulars of the quantity of coal carried by other mechanical means are not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines the approximate number of mines at which the secondary haulage is still carried out by means of horses and ponies; and whether there are any adequate technical reasons for the use of horses and ponies for secondary haulage in any mine at present?

The total number of mines at which horses are employed belowground is approximately 1,000, and except to this extent, the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, this matter cannot be considered solely from the technical point of view, and, while it is, and always has been, the policy of my Department to encourage the substitution of mechanical for horse haulage, I am satisfied that there are good reasons for continuing to employ horses for secondary haulage in some mines.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can issue a statement showing the national celebrations which have been arranged in connection with His Majesty's Silver Jubilee, and stating the days on which it is proposed that this House should sit during the week of 6th May?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the official announcement issued by the Home Secretary which was published in the Press of 12th February. As regards the last part of the question, an announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport the terms of the communication made by him to the British Medical Association inquiring into the connection between the consumption of alcoholic liquor and road accidents; and the names of the members of the subcommittee making the inquiry, and whether they will call for evidence in this connection?

I asked the British Medical Association whether they could give me any information on the question of the connection between the consumption of alcoholic liquor and road accidents. The Association have informed me that they have appointed a committee consisting of 15 members to examine the question. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will agree that all matters in connection with this inquiry may safely be left in their responsible discretion.

asked the Minister of Transport whether instructions have been given to his examiners to note if candidates for driving licences can distinguish red from green lights with facility?

An examiner is not required to subject a candidate to a specific test of colour vision, but under the Regulations he must be satisfied that the candidate is able to act correctly on all signals given by traffic signs.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will cause a safety crossing to be provided in the neighbourhood of Temple Avenue for the safety and convenience of persons crossing the Embankment to and from the adjacent tramcar stop?

The conclusion reached in the past was that the provision of a pedestrian crossing at this place would not be in the interests of pedestrians, but in view of my hon. Friend's question I have had the matter reviewed. The result is to confirm the previous conclusion. The tramcar stop is opposite Carmelite Street where a police constable is stationed to assist pedestrians crossing the road. A scheme for the erection of light signals at a number of points along the Embankment, including the junction with Carmelite Street, is at present the subject of negotiations with the Corporation of the City of London. The installation of light signals will make for the safety and convenience of persons crossing the Embankment in the neighbourhood of Temple Avenue.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information relative to the electricity merger of the Brompton and Kensington Electricity Supply Company, Limited, the Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company, Limited, the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company, Limited, the Kensington and Knightsbridge Electricity Lighting Company, Limited, St. James's and Pall Mall Electric Light Company, Limited, and Westminster Electric Supply Corporation, Limited; the total capital of the newly-formed company; and whether, as a result of this merger, the charges for electricity will be reduced?

I have no information regarding these arrangements beyond what has appeared in the Press?

asked the Postmaster-General whether residents living in flats in blocks of buildings in the West End of London are entitled to expect first delivery of their letters to be made at their own flats; and whether any distinction is made between such delivery of letters at private residences and the delivery of letters at business offices in the City and West End of London?

No hard-and-fast rule exists. Both in the case of blocks of flats and business premises it is the endeavour to make arrangements which are mutually convenient to all parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what, according to his latest information, is the number of British subjects in Buenos Aires, including suburbs, and the total number in Argentina?

Exact figures of the number of British subjects resident in Argentina are only ascertainable from the Argentine census, the last of which was taken in 1914 and gave a total figure of 28,300 British subjects. These figures do not, however, include persons of dual nationality and with this addition His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires has recently estimated that the number of British subjects in Argentina amounts to a figure between 55,000 and 60,000, of whom 30,000 may be resident in Buenos Aires.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the constitution and functions of the Economic Advisory Committee set up under the chairmanship of the governor of the Central Bank of China; and whether, in view of the great experience of foreign bankers in the world as well as in Chinese conditions, they are represented on, the committee?

I have learned from the Press that such a committee was inaugurated on 15th February last, but my right hon. Friend has not yet received any report on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether schemes of land drainage form part of the plans prepared by the Commissioner for special areas in Scotland; whether the Commissioner has proposed to make use of the Land Drainage Act in connection with those schemes; and whether he intends to introduce legislation to prevent the Act from lapsing next April?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, a Bill is to-day being introduced to continue for a further period the powers of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland under the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act, 1930.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to announce the terms of the drainage grant, 1935–36; and whether he will at the same time announce a scheme for promoting the destruction of bracken?

The terms on which grants for the assistance of agricultural drainage in Scotland will be made in 1935–36 are set out in the scheme recently published by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. and gallant Baronet. The terms are identical with those of last year's scheme. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply given on 12th March to the Noble Lady the Member for Kinross and West Perth (Duchess of Atholl) of which I am also sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many persons are at present in receipt of pensions under Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, of 4 and 5 William IV, 1834, cap. 24?

The Sections in question were repealed by the Political Offices Pensions Act, 1869. No persons are at present in receipt of pensions under the latter Act.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount spent, and estimated to be spent, by all the departments on the equipment and defence of the naval base at Singapore?

It is estimated that the total capital expenditure incurred by the defence departments on the equipment and defence of the naval base at Singapore up to the end of the current finansial year will be about £7,325,000, and that the amount remaining to be spent is in the neighbourhood of £7,500,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any restrictions against ribbon development are attached to Crown land offered for sale in the Sidcup by-pass, now called Sidcup Road?

The land in question is part of a large building estate which has been in process of development for many years past in consultation with the London County Council and other authorities, and there is no question of mere ribbon development. The Crown, in addition to giving the land required for the new road sites, paid the London County Council a sum of over £20,000, on the basis of the adjoining area becoming frontage land, instead of back land, for building development. None of the Crown land adjoining the road is now offered for sale, but portions of it are available for letting on building lease. The lay-out and the restrictions to be attached to leases will be carefully considered, in consultation with the town planning authority.