asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the shipbuilding industry at the latest available date, and comparable figures for the two previous years?

At 20th May, 1935, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 65,916 insured persons aged 16–64 in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain. The corresponding figures for 14th May, 1934, and 22nd May, 1933, were 76,203 and 99,165 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that no unemployed men residing in Newcastle have yet been afforded opportunities of obtaining smallholdings or poultry farms under the Special Areas Development Act, 1934; and when such opportunities are likely to be afforded them?

I am informed that early in February the Commissioner for the Special Areas addressed a letter to the Newcastle City Council as the smallholdings authority offering to co-operate with the council in settling a number of unemployed men on the land through the agency of the Smallholdings Acts. No reply to the letter has been received, but the Commissioner understands that the council do not wish to take any action themselves. The Commissioner is therefore hoping to arrange with the Land Settlement Association to undertake the work on his behalf, and the matter is under active consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement with regard to the continuance or otherwise of the beef subsidy?

An Order under the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1935, extending until 30th September, 1935, the period during which payments may be made to producers of cattle in the United Kingdom under the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1934, was made by the appropriate Ministers on 13th June, 1935. The Order was presented yesterday as a White Paper, and the House will shortly be invited to approve it by Resolution in pursuance of Section 1 of the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1935.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the fact that the period for objections to the scheme for the setting up of a pig industry development board expires on 29th June, whether he will immediately after the expiry consider objections, if any, formulate a scheme for submission to the Bacon and Pig Marketing Boards, and use his influence with these boards in order that they may at once call meetings of their constituents to obtain approval of the scheme, so that the approval may be obtained and the final scheme laid before Parliament in time for its passage before the summer Recess?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I fully appreciate the desirability of proceeding as expeditiously as possible with consideration of the bacon development scheme which was recently submitted to us. For the present, however, I am unable to add anything to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine) on 30th May, when I stated that it was not possible to give any indication as to the further progress of the scheme until after consideration has been given to any representations or objections which may be made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any local authority has yet experimented with the enforcement of silence zones for the whole 24 hours of the day; and whether he is prepared to receive sympathetically applications to carry out such experiments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Transport how many grants have, within the last three years, been made towards the removal of level crossings in Wales?

Two applications for grants towards the removal of level crossings in Wales have been received during the last three years:—(i) to replace a level crossing on the Leckwith Road, Cardiff, towards which a 75 per cent. grant from the Road Fund was made; and (ii) to eliminate the crossing at Carmarthen in conjunction with the proposed new bridge across the Towy; details of this scheme are in preparation and a grant has been promised.

asked the President of the Board of Education the salaries and conditions of employment of caretakers and cleaners of secondary and elementary schools in England and Wales?

The salaries and conditions of employment of caretakers and cleaners of secondary and elementary schools in England and Wales are matters within the discretion of the local education authorities, or other bodies responsible for the schools, and the Board have no information on the subject.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the request sent to him by the Hull Chamber of Commerce to exempt coal for export and bunker coal from quantitative control and for the re-introduction and enactment of the Coal Mines Bill, 1934; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

I understand that the alleged shortage of coal which prompted the request referred to is under inquiry by the committee of investigation appointed under Section 5 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, as a result of a complaint lodged by the Humber Coal Exporters' Association. I think it would be well to await the result of the committee's action before discussing the matter further.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of postal orders of each denomination which during the last five years have not been cashed?

I am sorry that the particulars asked for are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to include any organised provision for the medical treatment of boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16 years in the vocational guidance of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Bill, 1935, in view of the position being anomalous now that the age of entry to unemployment insurance has been lowered?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry made on this subject in the course of his speech on the Second Reading of the Bill.