asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the latest available figures showing the quantity and value of grapes produced in this country?

The latest information as to the output of grapes in England and Wales relates to the year 1930–31, when the estimated production was 1,150,000 lbs. valued at £90,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have now been checked; and what is the present position?

The outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the counties of Cheshire and East Sussex confirmed on the 26th November and 27th November respectively, have fortunately each been confined to the single case. If no further outbreaks occur it is proposed to reduce the areas under restrictions in those counties to one of five miles radius from the 11th December in the case of Cheshire and 12th December in the case of East Sussex, and to release the two areas altogether about a week later.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement showing the total annual subvention to agricultural interests in this country during the last calculable 12 monthly period, including the wheat deficiency payments, sugar-beet subsidy, meat subsidy, local taxation relief, milk grants, and any other payments or relief through the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, the Development Commission, or any other body; and whether, in view of the declared policy of the Government, it is the intention that any future payments will be made subject to some family or individual means test?

I will give a table showing the amounts paid in the last completed year under the Wheat, the Cattle

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the need for a sub-post office on the new housing estate of Hag Fold, Atherton, Lancashire; that a petition has been signed by over 1,000 people residing there asking for a sub-post office; and will he have inquiries made to see if the request can be granted?

The question of the best position for a Post Office on the Hag Fold estate is receiving attention, and I will communicate with the hon. Member when a decision has been reached.

asked the Postmaster-General what quantity of foreign bent-wood chairs were purchased by his Department during the first nine months

No foreign bentwood chairs have been purchased by the Post Office during the periods mentioned. Furniture for Post Office use is obtained through His Majesty's Office of Works.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what quantity of foreign bentwood chairs were purchased by his Department during the first nine months of the years 1933, 1934, and 1935, respectively?

No foreign bent-wood chairs were purchased by my Department in any of the years mentioned.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons now in receipt of allowances from the national Board?

At 21st October, 1935, there were 703,926 persons, aged 18 to 64, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain with applications for unemployment allowances authorised for payment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of unemployed registered in the exchanges in the special areas; the number in receipt of allowances from the National Board; and the number of nil determinations?

At 21st October, 1935, there were 423,129 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Special Areas; of these 226,479 were persons with applications authorised for unemployment allowances, and 6,003 were persons whose needs were held not to justify the payment of allowances.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons applying for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances at Birkenhead, New Ferry, Employment Exchanges and clearing house, have been unemployed for periods in excess of six months, one, two, and three years, respectively, as on the last convenient date?

The following table gives the information desired:NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Birkenhead

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of persons registered at the Walworth Road, Borough of Southwark, Employment Exchange during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; the number during this period authorised for transitional benefit; and the number that came under the means test during that period?

Statistics are not available as to the aggregate number of separate individuals who have registered for employment at the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange, or for whom transitional payments or unemployment allowances have been authorised, during any period of 12 months. The number of unemployed persons on the registers of that Exchange at 21st October, 1935, was 11,372. Of these 2,612 were applying for unemployment allowances, and would be subject to a needs test; and the total included 116 persons whose needs were held not to justify the payment of allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration to amending the National Health Insurance Act so as to enable wives of insured contributors to draw a pension when the husband reaches 65 years of age even though they may not have reached that age themselves?

As the hon. Member is aware, similar proposals have been made in the past from time to time but it has not been found possible to adopt them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many persons in a small business of their own are anxious to become contributors to the national health insurance scheme for the purpose of becoming entitled to a pension at the age of 65; and will he examine this question to see if it can be made workable?

The Government have indicated their intention of introducing a scheme of voluntary insurance for pensions purposes. The details of this scheme are now under consideration, but it is intended that the scheme shall be open to certain classes of persons, including the class referred to by the hon. Member, which are outside the scope of the compulsory scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, while developing trading estates in distressed areas, he will regard it as equally urgent to find tenants for derelict mills and factories, often modern buildings, in Blackburn and other Lancashire cotton towns where unemployment remains a grave problem?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which was

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the respective balances of trade with all countries with which agreements have been negotiated since the dates thereof up to the nearest convenient time?

The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with the undermentioned foreign countries during the periods specified, together with the balance of imports or exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that importers of textiles have been assured by an Italian manufacturer that in spite of the embargo they can rely on delivery of Italian textiles through Austria; and whether the consent of the British Government has been given for this procedure?

I am aware that allegations have been made in the sense of the first part of the question. His Majesty's Government instituted on 18th November a system of certificates of origin in respect of all goods consigned from Austria to the United Kingdom; and I have no reason to suppose that this measure is not having the desired effect.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has approved any recommendations by the Racecourse Betting Control Board for a grant to assist veterinary colleges?

I am informed by the Racecourse Betting Control Board that they are at present in consultation with the Agricultural Research Council on this question and will consider whether to include in schemes to be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval any grant in respect of research into disease among horses.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the figures of accidents to young persons in factories have gone up from 17,000 in 1934 to over 21,000 in 1935, largely owing to the lack of concentration brought about by long hours of work; and if he will take steps to deal with this evil?

The accident figures quoted are those for 1933 and 1934. There was also a large increase in 1934 in accidents to adults, and both increases were, I am advised, due mainly to more extensive employment consequent on the greater industrial activity. I am aware that in some cases this has led to longer hours, but how far fatigue has contributed to accidents among young persons it is not possible to say. As stated by the Prime Minister in Debate on the 3rd instant, it is the hope and purpose of the Government to introduce in their second Session a Bill to revise and consolidate the Factory Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of children on the registers of the public elementary schools in the city of Leicester at 31st October, 1935, or the latest convenient date?

The number of children on the registers of public elementary schools in Leicester County Borough on the 1st October, 1935 (the latest date for which information is available), was 34,126.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the increasing persecution of Jews in Germany, steps will be taken immediately to increase the Jewish quota of immigration into Palestine and to give the benefit of such increase to Jews constrained to leave Germany on account of the economic and social boycott enforced against them for racial reasons alone?

As regards immigrants coming to employment in Palestine, 500 of the 1,000 immigration certificates recently issued to the Jewish agency for Palestine as an advance on account of the current half-yearly Labour Schedules will be allocated to German Jews. The Palestine Government is, I understand, investigating the possibility of further facilities for the entry of German Jewish immigrants of other categories. It will, however, be appreciated that the amount of immigration at any time into Palestine must be determined by the High Commissioner in relation to the economic absorptive capacity of the country.