asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the absence of any scheme of unemployment insurance is regarded as one of the contributory causes of the shortage of domestic employés in the country; and whether he proposes to take any action to remedy it?

In accordance with an undertaking, given by one of my predecessors, I propose to refer to the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee in due course the question whether private domestic service should be brought within the unemployment insurance scheme. In saying this I must not be taken as expressing any opinion whether the fact that private domestic servants are outside the scheme leads to a shortage of such employés.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he can furnish an approximate statement of the age distribution of the persons who have been unemployed for more than 12 months;(2) whether he can furnish a statement as to the industrial classification of the insured persons who have been unemployed for more than 12 months?

I regret that statistics giving this information are not available, but I will consider whether they can be obtained.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the report of the Commissioner for the special areas in England and Wales will be available during the current month; and whether, in that case, he can give an assurance that any action necessary thereunder will be instituted before the summer Recess?

I am informed by the Commissioner for England and Wales that he will submit his report on the first six months of his work this week. Until I have received and considered the report, I cannot say whether any, and, if so, what action will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health the view of his Department with regard to the proposal that statutory authority should be given for an annual allowance to be paid to the chairman of an urban district council enabling him to meet his out-of-pocket expenses?

This proposal was supported in evidence given before the Royal Commission on Local Government on behalf of one of my predecessors, and has my approval.

asked the Minister of Health what bodies or persons are receiving grants for medical research from public funds; and whether any notable results have been obtained in the last 10 years?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to an answer which I gave on 9th July last to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower), of which I am sending him a copy. The provision for a grant to the Medical Research Council in the current year is £165,000. As regards the second part of the question, I fear it is impossible within the limits of a Parliamentary reply to do justice to the advance of medical science in the last ten years, and to the part which State-aided bodies and persons have taken in that advance. I can only refer him on the subject generally to the annual reports of the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health how many schemes contain, and what area of land is affected by, the provisions referred to in Section 19 (1, d) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932; and what will be the corresponding figures for schemes awaiting his approval?

No scheme in operation contains provisions of the kind referred to. Two schemes submitted for the approval of the Minister contain such provisions in respect of a total area of approximately 970 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of registered bacon curers operating in the United Kingdom; how many receive respectively more or less than 1,000 pigs per week; and is he in a position to state what output figure represents the highest economic efficiency?

I am informed by the Bacon Marketing Board that there are 626 registered bacon curers in Great Britain; of these, seven were handling more than 1,000 pigs per week in the period January to May, 1935. I am unable to give any figure which may be accepted as the unit of maximum efficiency, but I have no doubt that this question will engage the careful consideration of the Development Board, if and when appointed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the greatly increased damage being done this year to crops by rabbits; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation with regard to this matter at an early date?

I have received representations to the effect mentioned in the first part of my hon. Friend's question. I cannot, however, offer any hope of legislation on this subject in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can furnish an estimate of the number of houses built in the last five years the building of which involved ribbon development; and whether he can furnish an estimate of the mileage of roads affected by ribbon development in the same period?

I would refer my hon. Friend to an answer which I gave on 1st May to the hon. Member for Dorset East (Mr. Hall-Caine), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will investigate the complaints he has received from the Humber coal exporters as to the shortage of coal supplies for export?

The exporters have exercised the rights conferred on them by Section 5 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, and have lodged complaints with the District Committee of Investigation. That committee has made progress in its inquiry into the matter, and is holding a further meeting to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the approval either of the whole or the majority of insurance companies interested in motor-car insurance has been obtained to the draft of the Bill dealing with claims in respect of such insurance which is to be introduced this week?

A Bill to amend the Assurance Companies (Winding-up) Act, 1933, was introduced in another place yesterday. While it was being prepared, I took an opportunity of consulting with the British Insurance Association, which represents substantially all the leading insurance companies carrying on business in the United Kingdom. Although the proposed Measure does not bring within its scope all classes of insurers, the Association recognises the urgency of the present problem, and appreciates that more comprehensive insurance proposals would require more time for discussion in Parliament than can at present be spared. In these circumstances, and subject to the qualification I have indicated, the Association is in agreement with the proposals contained in the Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of British exports to France, and the total imports from France, during the last 12 months?

The aggregate value of the trade of the United Kingdom in merchandise with individual countries is normally compiled for calendar years and quarterly periods only. During the 12 months ended March, 1935, the total declared value of merchandise imported into the United Kingdom and consigned from France was £19,077,000. Total exports to France during the same period amounted to £22,670,000, including re-exports valued at £6,383,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in which Departments the system still exists of assessing work by units; and whether, in such cases, women's work is assessed on the same system as men?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the system of assessing clerical work by units for the purpose of standardising output of staff. So far as I am aware, this system does not exist in any Government Department. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.