asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the new Employment Exchange recently opened for Jarrow and Hebburn is already too small; that men are having to stand out in the rain without protection; and whether any arrangements can be made to remedy this state of affairs?

The new buildings at this exchange were not intended to accommodate the whole of the present register, and additional premises are being used. Apart from quite exceptional circumstances, there should be no necessity for claimants to wait outside the exchange, if they attend at the time previously given to them.

Will the hon. and gallant Member send observers to see if it is not a fact that, with even half the men signing on, the queues pile up towards the end of the time, so that it is quite impossible to accommodate them?

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether this state of affairs is due to the recent election of the hon. Member for that constituency?

As I said in my answer, we are constantly getting information about this and similar matters from all over the country.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say on how many days of the week they have to sign on?

I could not say in this particular instance without notice.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this is a completely new exchange and is already entirely out-of-date before it is well started?

It is of the usual type of exchange which is being built; there may be a particularly large amount of unemployment at the moment in this district, but that is quite different from being a regular matter.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated surplus of the Unemployment Insurance Fund to the nearest convenient date; at what rate it is now accumulating; and what measures he proposes for its absorption?

The estimated surplus on the Insurance Account of the Unemployment Fund at 30th November, 1935, was £20,340,000. At the present time, the surplus is accumulating at the rate of about £290,000 a week. In reply to the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend is required by Statute to await any recommendations on the subject by the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee. The next report of the Committee will be made not later than the end of February, 1936, and will deal with the financial condition of the Unemployment Fund up to the end of 1935.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not agree that this is a magnificent opportunity to get rid of the means test?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now give the results of his conversations with representatives of industry concerning the arrangement of a five-day working week; whether the conversations are now completed; and whether any publication thereof is to be mad either wholly or in part?

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made as a result of the discussions with the various representative organisations with regard to a reduction in working hours; whether it is intended to continue the discussions; and, if so, what further meetings are contemplated?

These conversations have not yet been completed, and are continuing. The further trades to whom invitations have at present been issued or are about to be issued include printing, light refreshments, distributive, and the bread baking and flour confectionery trades. The question of issuing further invitations is under consideration. The conversations are of a confidential nature.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether these conversations are proceeding now; can he say when it is expected that they will conclude; and when will he be able to give some publicity to that part of the conversations which is not confidential, in the hope that we may help him to smooth out any of the difficulties which may be superficial?

I can give no undertaking of any particular time when the result of these conversations, confidential or otherwise, will be made known.

Is it the intention to issue a White Paper in the early future as to what progress has been made?

It has not got beyond conversations, but I will bear that point in mind.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman remember that the distributive trade is by far the largest employer of labour in this country and that it is a trade that can well afford the cost of instituting a shorter working week?

I will bear that point in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the inadequate and unsatisfactory accommodation provided at the Cardiff juvenile instruction centre; whether his attention has been drawn to the report of Mr. Ben Williams, juvenile education officer; and what steps he proposes to take to see that this matter is remedied at the earliest possible moment?

A copy of a report dated 18th September, 1935, to which, I assume, my hon. and gallant Friend refers, has been communicated to the Minister. My right hon. Friend is aware that the accoinmodation at the Cardiff junior instruction centres is not yet in all respects sufficient. Proposals of the Cardiff local education authority have, however, recently been approved for the provision of additional accommodation at the boys' centre, which should make it adequate for present needs. Approval has also been given to the provision of additional temporary accommodation for the existing girls' centre, and I understand that the local education authority are now considering the submission of proposls for a further girls' centre. In all the circumstances, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that this authority are actively taking steps to meet the situation.

Is it not the case that we could do away with juvenile unemployment centres if we raised the school-leaving age which the Government are going to do?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that most of the boys, and particularly the younger boys, attending the Bishop Auckland juvenile training centre show signs of ill-nourishment; and whether the Commissioner for Special _Areas has made any recommendations on this subject?

While my right hon. Friend cannot, on present information, accept the general statements made in the first part of this question, he has under active consideration the question of the measures which can most effectively be taken to improve the physical condition of juveniles attending junior instruction centres. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the statement in the first part of the question was made by the Commissioner for Special Areas himself and reported in the Press of the North East coast; and in view of that, will the Minister of Labour consult with the Commissioner on this very grave subject?

I need hardly assure the hon. Member that we are of course in close consultation with the Commissioner on this and all other matters relating to the distressed areas and, as I said, my right hon. Friend has under active consideration measures which can be most effectively brought into operation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. Diamond, residing at Herbertson Street, Glasgow, has been, for the past 10 weeks, having his weekly payment made by the unemployment board without taking into account a disability pension which he receives; that the man has received notice that in future this disability will be taken into account; that he has produced a letter from the Minister of Pensions which describes the pension as a disability pension; and whether he can take steps to have the law carried out?

I am informed that inquiry is being made by the Unemployment Assistance Board, who will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

In the meantime, while inquiries are going on, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman see that they make no alteration in the man's present unemployment pay?

This is a matter for the Unemployment Assistance Board, who are making inquiries.

But even the Unemployment Assistance Board are supposed to carry out the law of the land, and the law says that no part of a disability pension below £1 shall be taken into account, and while these inquiries are being made, will there be no interference with the present rate?

We have no evidence that the law is not being carried out in this instance.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in certain cases in Glasgow persons in receipt of transitional benefit have had their benefit reduced; that such benefit had been granted by the public assistance committee before the regulations came into force; that under the standstill arrangement, unless circumstances changed, no alteration in the amount was to be made; that the extra money granted for the children has been deducted from another member of the family; and whether he will take steps to see the law is carried out?

My right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that the law is not being properly carried out in Glasgow, but he would point out that any applicant who is aggrieved by his determination under the stand-still has the right of appeal to the appeal tribunal.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that they are interfering with the stand-still agreement, and that men who have been paid certain sums under that are now being reduced? Is it necessary for an applicant to appeal in order that the law might be carried out in his particular case?

It is clear, it seems to me, that if an applicant is dissatisfied with the determination that is made in his case, his proper course is to go to the appeal tribunal.

But is it not the case that the law should be carried out and that the law says that the stand-still agreement should be maintained, and should the hon. and gallant Gentleman not see that that stand-still agreement and the Act are carried out, apart from any appeal?

I said in my original answer that my right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that the law is not being properly carried out.

I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House to-night.

Is it not a fact that no information is given to the applicant on the form that he has a right of appeal, and that every possible obstacle is put in the way of his making an appeal?

I cannot say whether or not it is put on the form, but as to the last part of the hon. Member's assumption, I certainly cannot agree with it.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons who have been refused benefit as part-time or intermittent workers under the Anomalies Act; and the number who receive £5 or more weekly for their part-time or intermittent work and who have been refused benefit?

During the period 3rd October, 1931, to 31st October 1935, 8,908 claims were disallowed under the Anomalies Regulations by court of referees on the ground that the claimants were normally working for part only of the week. The figure relates to claims, and the number of separate individuals concerned is not known. Statistics are not available showing how many of those whose claims were disallowed earned £5 or more a week by their part-time employment.

So that nobody knows whether they have £5 or £7 a week, and any figures of that sort are mere guess-work?

I have said that statistics are not available to show whether they earn £5 a week or not.

asked the Minister of Labour from what parts of the country, and relative to what occupations, reports are being received by his Department of a shortage of labour?

The evidence which the Department has on this subject arises principally from the working of the Employment Exchanges and the difficulties which the exchanges may experience in filling particular vacancies. As the hon. Member will appreciate the circumstances vary from ease to case, but the principal difficulties arise with regard to vacancies for bricklayers and plasterers in many areas and for the most highly skilled branches of the engineering trades.

Are any arrangements in existence for transferring labour to meet these deficiencies, and if so, have they been successfully carried out?

I think that it is well known that the machinery of the Employment Exchanges all over the country for linking up people who desire work with people who desire employés has been making tremendous improvement in the last few years.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government propose to take to abolish the household means test?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the country with the means test and the Anomalies Act; and whether he will introduce legislation at an early date for the abolition of the means test and the repeal of the Anomalies Act?

The policy of the Government with regard to the means test has already been made clear. As was stated by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, it is hoped to lay proposals before Parliament not long after the end of the Christmas recess. There are no proposals in contemplation for repealing the Anomalies Act.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that this test was strongly objected to by many Government candidates during the recent General Election?

In view of the fact that not a representative of the National Government would support the means test as it is being operated, will the Government refrain from operating it while the Prime Minister is preparing his new proposals?

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that the Opposition Liberals did not oppose the test in the last Session?

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is great discontent in regard to the Anomalies Act, and will he not consider the repeal of that Act?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government propose to take with regard to the abolition of systematic overtime, and how far this matter has been dealt with at the industrial conferences already held?

The question of overtime has been discussed with every association of employers at the meetings held by my right hon. Friend and his predecessor. These discussions are still continuing, and my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to say what proposals may be made.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether, in the opinion of his Department, there is much systematic overtime being worked at the present time?

I could not give any general opinion on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a letter was addressed to him by the hon. Member for Clitheroe on 24th October last in connection with the signing on of the unemployed in Great Harwood to which no answer beyond a formal acknowledgment has, up to the present, been received; and whether he still considers it necessary, pending the result of his departmental inquiry, that the unemployed in this town should sign on an extra day in each week as compared with the adjacent towns of Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Nelson, Padiham, and Clitheroe where similar unemployment conditions obtain?

The letter of 24th October was a remonstrance against a previous reply from my right hon. Friend and in all the circumstances my right hon. Friend did not think a further reply was called for, though he will, of course, be glad to discuss the matter with my hon. and gallant Friend if he so desires. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend must await the result of the departmental inquiry.

Possibly my hon. and gallant Friend has not read the last sentence in my letter. Is he satisfied that the size of the exchanges should be the only criterion of how many days a week these unfortunate people have to sign on?

It is, at all events, a substantial criterion, but there is a departmental inquiry going into the whole of this matter, and I suggest that my hon. and gallant Friend should await the result of that inquiry.

As the departmental inquiry has already been sitting two months, when are we likely to get a report?

I cannot give any particular date, but departmental inquiries often sit a considerable time.

asked the Minister of Labour the sum which would be involved in the payment of an extra 1s. to children of parents on transitional benefit and the number of such children?

I regret that statistics are not available enabling me to make this calculation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to issue regulations providing that all applicants under the Unemployment Assistance Board should be granted coal allowances throughout the winter months?

This is a matter for the Unemployment Assistance Board, who inform me that allowances are determined, and, where necessary, varied on the actual needs of each individual case.

That is not the question I asked. I asked whether the Minister is prepared to issue regulations to give this supply of coal in the winter months. I want further to ask whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman is aware that the assistance committees are giving it? Is it not absurd that a body is not able to make applications, and will nothing be done?

I cannot give any undertaking that any such regulations will be issued. As I pointed out, under the working of the Unemployment Assistance Board at the present time they have the power to vary their determinations to suit the individual case.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that they are refusing, and I am asking whether the Minister will make provision in the winter months to see that this supply is given?

No, I have already said that I cannot give any such undertaking.

There is plenty of coal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that it is possible for a Member to be returned, to this House against the wishes of an electorate through the issue of unstamped voting papers, he proposes to prevent this happening in future by an alteration in the laws governing elections?

The Ballot Act. 1872, requires that immediately before a ballot paper is delivered to an elector, it shall be marked on both sides with the official mark, either stamped or perforated, and the Act provides that any ballot paper which has not on its back the official mark shall be void and not counted. Provision was included in the Economy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1926, for the stamping or printing of the official mark on ballot papers before the commencement of the poll, but this proposal met with such opposition that it was dropped. In these circumstances, I should not feel justified in introducing legislation amending the existing law in this respect unless I were assured that such legislation would be in accordance with the general desire of the House.

Is not the Minister aware that in the working of the present stamp machine, unless the greatest care is taken, the impression cannot be seen or felt; and does he think it just that a man employed at a palling table should be able to decide who is to represent over 32,000 electors, as he did in Spring-burn in 1931?

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the incident which is the basis of this question happened in a municipality which has now a Socialist majority?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the stipendiary magistrate at Merthyr Tydfil in issuing a statement during the recent General Election urging the electors of Carmarthen to support a certain candidate and to reject another candidate; and whether, in view of the undesirability of stipendiary magistrates taking part in political controversy, he will say what action, if any, he proposes to take?

I have been in communication with the stipendiary magistrate, who tells me that he wrote a letter in support of a candidate for a constituency outside his magisterial area and this letter appears to have been published in a local newspaper. Although there is no general provision of the law which disqualifies stipendiary magistrates from taking part in Parliamentary elections, it is, I think, generally recognised that they should avoid identifying themselves prominently with party politics, and the stipendiary magistrate in question tells me that he proposes in future to follow this practice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether a stipendiary magistrate is a civil servant?

No.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the practice of employers inserting electioneering material in the pay envelopes of their employes should be dealt with under the Corrupt Practices Act?

asked the Home Secretary whether, as the use of motor-cars which are on the hire-purchase system for the purpose of conveying electors to the poll is apparently a contravention of the Corrupt Practices Act, 1883, he is prepared to advise returning officers in future to this effect?

I have no jurisdiction to determine what is or what is not an offence under the Corrupt Practices Act, but I may say that I should consider the interpretation of the Act contained in this question to be very questionable, for it would seem that what that Act refers to is the hiring or letting of carriages for the purpose of conveying electors to or from the poll. In any case these questions have nothing to do with the dares of returning officers.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a monstrous abuse of democracy that hundreds of motor-cars can be introduced into a constituency for one candidate and denied to the other candidate? Does he not think it is a monstrous abuse of equal opportunities?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the persistent attempts in industrial areas to deny free speech to National candidates throughout the General Election campaign, it is proposed to take any legislative action?

I am not satisfied that the existing law contained in the Public Meetings Act, 1908, is inadequate if full advantage is taken of its provisions. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the police are fully aware of their duties relating to the maintenance of order at public meetings, but of course it is no part of the duties of the police to act as stewards. The sole function of the police in this matter is to deal with violent conduct and breaches of the peace.

Is it not a fact that the united front formed by the Socialist and Communist parties was largely responsible for the intensified rowdyism indulged in throughout the General Election campaign?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the anxiety expressed by local authorities in London suburban and other districts because of the future effect on the rates of the large and increasing number of unoccupied highly-rented flats in their areas; and whether means can be devised to check the speculative building of new luxury flats and encourage the provision of the low-rented houses that are needed?

My attention has not previously been called to this matter, though I have seen references to it in the Press. As regards the second point raised by my hon. Friend, local authorities already possess under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, extensive powers to control development. The output of houses for letting at low rents is being, and I trust will continue to be, increased under the Government's housing policy.

May it not become a very serious matter for the local authorities as regards rates if the erection of these unoccupied super-flats continues?

I should hardly think they would be erected in such circumstances as the hon. Gentleman suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the demand for more family houses at low rentals would be largely met in many rural centres at a minimum cost to the public if smaller houses suited for aged couples and the like were included in new housing schemes; and whether he will impress this fact upon rural housing authorities following upon the resolution passed at the last annual conference of the Rural District Councils Association of England and Wales?

Yes, Sir. In a memorandum on the Housing Act, 1935, issued on 22nd October last, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend, the attention of local authorities has once again been drawn to the advantage of including in housing schemes special homes for aged persons.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that on many publicly-owned blocks of flats and housing estates which have been built at separate times, varying rents are charged by the municipal authorities for similar accommodation; and whether he will consider introducing legislation that will enable housing authorities in future to amalgamate or pool all such properties, which will permit them to charge equal rents for equal accommodation?

The Housing Act, 1936, which received the Royal Assent in August of this year, gives housing authorities the powers which the hon. Member desires.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider recommending to the tenants in the older flats who are paying very much higher rents that they should transfer to other flats at lower rents?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to make any announcement of the Government's intentions in regard to the next instalment of the American debt shortly due for payment; and what steps, in the event of his intention not to pay, will be taken to allay American suspicions that her money is being employed for the promotion of an armaments race?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The anxiety expressed by the hon. Member in the second part of the question is without foundation, and in that connection I would refer to the communications between the two Governments, contained in Command Paper 4210 of 1932.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman inform us if the usual half-yearly dunning letter has been received yet?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the manner in which industrial development is being assisted by the policy of cheap money; and whether, in order to secure that the benefits of the policy may continue, he will declare his intention not to relax the measures of control at present being applied to foreign lending?

My hon. Friend correctly implies that the Government policy is proving its value to industrial development; he may rest assured that the Government will continue to do everything in their power to maintain and enlarge the industrial interests of the country.

Would the hon. and learned Gentleman mind replying to the second and important part of the question?

I would ask my hon. Friend to rest content at this stage with the more comprehensive assurance I have given him.

Will my hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that foreign lending has been in the past and may be again in the future of great assistance to our export trade?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for additional duties have been granted in the past 12 months; and what were the intervals between the date of the application and the date of the order in each case?

During the last 12 months 33 Orders have been made by the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee, for the variation of additional duties. I am advised that it is difficult to say in many cases at what date tentative inquiries become a definite and documented application by the industry concerned. Moreover, an application may be held in abeyance by the applicants, or by the Import Duties Advisory Committee, on the ground that the time is not ripe to take a definite decision either to reject it or to make a recommendation. I do not think I should be justified in asking the Committee to undertake the lengthy research that would be involved in endeavouring to estimate periods and which could not, for the reasons just given, convey any useful information.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that a number of applications are indefinitely held up without any decision having been given?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind in which he thinks I could be of assistance, I shall be very willing to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects to be in a position in the near future to take the House into his confidence regarding the position of the Fund, from the point of view of credit or loss, which is being used for the purpose of ensuring the stability of the exchanges?

I cannot see my way to modify the practice which has so far prevailed.

Is the hon. and learned Member aware that there is great anxiety in this House to know the true position of this vast sum of public money?

No, Sir; I am not aware of that anxiety.

May I convey it to him now?

My right hon. Friend has made it a practice in recent years to make a statement concerning the state of the Fund when he opens his Budget. I think that that practice is deemed fit to be followed at the present time.

The right hon. Gentleman has never said anything about it.

How many times has the Fund been used to rescue France during the last 12 months?

I am afraid I could not answer that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of money which he anticipates will be raised in the two new issues announced on Tuesday last; to what purpose it is proposed to devote it; and what will be the immediate effect on the interest payable on the debt?

I am glad to be able to inform the House that both the recent issues were successful, the subscription lists for the 1 per cent. bonds having been closed an hour after being opened and the lists for the 2½ per cent. loan about two hours later. The total amount of cash raised when the loans are fully paid will be £291,000,000. Out of this sum £238,000,000 will be applied in providing for the redemption of £150,000,000 2 per cent. bonds, redeemable on 2nd March next, and £88,000,000 3 per cent. bonds, of which one half was redeemed in April last and has since been represented by a temporary increase in floating debt, and the other half will be redeemed on 15th April next. The remaining £53,000,000 will be available for reducing ordinary floating debt. The immediate cost of interest on the National Debt will not be substantially changed. The value of the operation lies in funding for a considerable period a large body of short indebtedness at an exceedingly favourable rate.

Might I ask whether this would have been possible under a Socialist Government?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average rate of interest on the floating debt for the current financial year up to the present time?

The average rate is 5d. per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether fathers employed in India who maintain residence in England to enable their children to be educated and brought up with as little handicap as possible from the absence of their parents, are charged English Income Tax for the whole year whenever they come home to see their children during summer or other holidays?

Any person employed abroad who maintains a place of residence in this country is liable to tax as a resident in any year in which he visits this country. The liability normally extends only to the income actually remitted to this country, and I may remind my hon. Friend that, in the years in which there is no visit, there is no liability in respect of remittances from the earnings abroad.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the nature of the discussions which have taken place between representatives of the British Government and the Free State Government for the transference of the National Stud in county Kildare to the Free State; and whether any decision has been reached?

I am not able to add anything to the official announcement on this subject which appeared recently in the Press. I am sending a copy of this announcement to my hon. Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, if any transference takes place, the only possible place for the Stud in this country is Newmarket?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the advisability of providing in an amending Bill to the 1930 Land Drainage Act for reducing by at least half the liability in respect of drainage rates in built-up areas?

I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farmers that have refused to sign contracts with the Pigs Board for 1936, and the reason why the farmers have refused to contract; whether additional imports have been allowed into this country; and, if so, what was the total amount above the normal quota?