asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department Whether he will consider calling at an early date a conference of hotel, catering, and other tourists interests in the country with a view to finding a method of increasing the total funds available for attracting tourist traffic to this country; and whether he will ensure that this is done in time to enable an increased Government contribution to be approved, if necessary, before the Estimates are prepared for the next financial year?

The question of increasing the funds available for the attraction of tourists is constantly before the Travel and Industrial Development Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and the desirability of a conference of the kind suggested is a matter for the executive committee of that association, to whom I will communicate my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in those areas where the average payments made by public assistance authorities are markedly lower than either the scales proposed in the regulations of the Unemployment Assistance Board or those actually paid under transitional benefit, the continuance of the extra allowance for coal made during the winter months will be allowed without risk of surcharge?

Any question of surcharge is a matter for the district auditor, acting in accordance with, Statute; and my right hon. Friend would be acting contrary to the Statute if he gave any directions to him. Nor could he well suggest that a seasonal allowance should be continued where the special seasonal need has passed. It is the duty of the Public Assistance Authority to afford adequate relief after considering the needs of the applicant. My right hon. Friend is prepared to make inquiry in the case of any authority where evidence is produced indicating that the standard of relief is inadequate.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a cattleman at Iver, Bucks, was removed to hospital under a magistrates' order, although not suffering from any disease; and under what Section of what Act the medical officer of health applied for a magistrates' order in this case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, since, as I understand, the person referred to was certified to be suffering from a dangerous infectious disorder. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 10th April.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of pits in operation and the number of men employed, above and below ground, in December, 1920, at the following collieries situate in Rhondda (East) Division: Lockett's Merthyr, Mardy, Davis and Sons, Ferndale and Tylorstown, United National, Wattstown, Standard Colliery, Ynyshir, Lady Lewis, Ynyshir, Insoles, Cymmer, Lewis, Merthyr, Porth, Naval, Penycraig, Glamorgan, Llwynypia; and also the number of pits in operation and the number of men employed, above and below ground, at the present time, the number of pits finally abandoned, and the number otherwise laid idle, together with the number of pits and men now under notice to terminate operations?

In December, 1920, 32 pits at which 24,200 persons were employed below and above ground were in operation in the Rhondda (East) Division. At the present time, 16 pits at which 7,300 persons are employed, are in operation, 12 pits are idle and four have been abandoned. I have no information as to what, if any, pits and men are now under notice to terminate operations.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the distressing position of certain incapacitated war orphans as a result of the regulation which precludes allowances being paid after the age of 21; whether he will seek authority which will enable allowances to be continued in the case of totally incapacitated war orphans for so long as the infirmity exists; and will he specially consider the case of Eileen Baker, daughter of the late Private Harry Israel Baker, No. 34,862, 12th Suffolks, who was reported missing in April, 1918, in view of the fact that this war orphan suffers from paralysis and is unable to contribute to her self-support?

The facts of the case referred to are as stated. On the more general issue raised I would say that the Government are not prepared to amend the Royal Pension Warrants in the manner proposed. A series of practically identical questions on this subject have recently been addressed to me in this House. The Warrant provisions in question involve an important principle which has been maintained by all successive Government since the War. This principle is that, in the case of children with living parents being pensioned ex-service men or widows, the additional allowance or pension for the child cannot be extended beyond the date when the child attains its majority. A departure from this principle would involve serious reactions in many directions. It would mean the grant of life pensions to men and women on the score of infirmities which are in no way connected with war service, and which consequently would not be pensionable in the case of their fathers, the ex-service men. Moreover, they are already provided for, under statutory powers, by the public social services of this country. It would involve, in fact, the creation of a second generation of adult war pensioners, a development which I do not think the House would view with favour. I may add that the issue raised in these questions is not a new one. Pensions in similar cases have been going out of payment for many years past, and the proposal, if adopted, would mean the revival of cases which have been off the pension list for 12 years or more.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of firms, with the

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th April, 1935, col. 1310, Vol. 300],supplied the following statement:number of their employés, in Wolver-hampton and Willenhall, respectively, which come under the provisions of either the paper-box trade board or the stamped or pressed metal-ware trade board?

According to my information, there are 11 firms at Wolver-hampton with about 370 workers falling under one or other of these trade boards; the corresponding figures for Willenhall are four firms and about 20 workers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the new agreement which has been reached between the British and Australian Governments with regard to an increase of Australian shipments of chilled beef exports to this country during the current quarter, he can state what will be the total permitted imports of chilled beef in this period; and how that figure compares with the amount permitted for the same period in 1934?

Total imports of chilled beef during the current quarter should not exceed 2,275,000 cwt., which compares with 2,175,000 cwt. imported in the corresponding quarter of 1934.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the criticisms from a statistical standpoint of the previous feeding experiments among school children in Scotland, he has satisfied himself that there is on the representative expert sub-committee, now conducting an inquiry into the nutritional value of milk, a statistical expert who will make sure that the inquiry is conducted on sound lines?

The statistical side of this experiment has been kept in view from the outset, and I am satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made not only for expert statistical examination of the results, but also as to the method by which the necessary information is being collected and recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses re-conditioned with grants under the Rural Housing Acts in each of the counties of Scotland, respectively, from the beginning of the operation of those Acts to the latest date at which figures are available?

The following statement contains the information asked for:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) what would be the annual cost if all those in receipt of old age pensions were given an increase of 5s. per week;(2) what would be the annual cost if widows' pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act were increased by 5s. a week;(3) what would be the annual cost if the contributory pension to persons of 65 years of age was increased by 5s. per week?

The annual extra cost of increasing old age, contributory and widows' pensions by 5s. a week would be at the present time:

asked the Home Secretary how many pensioners of the Metropolitan Police Force are resident in the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney?

I regret the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the number of questions asked recently by certain members of the Indian Legislative Assembly with the object of reflecting discredit on the railway administration and on officers of the railway board; whether any justification for these ques- tions has been found; and what has been the cost of questions and answers on railway administration to the Government of India in 1933, 1934, and up to date in 1935, respectively?

Questions about the details of railway administration have always formed a considerable proportion of the questions asked in the Legislative Assembly. My hon. and gallant Friend would not expect me to express an opinion regarding the object of the questions. As regards the other points raised, I have no information.