asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the text of the Anson by-law and state how many local education authorities have adopted it

All school attendance by-laws include a provision that "the time during which every child shall attend school shall be the whole time for which the school selected shall be open for the instruction of children of similar age." The "Anson by-law" in its standard form is a qualification added to that provisions as follows:

"Provided that, where the parent has notified to the managers in writing his intention to withdraw the child from instruction in religious subjects, such time shall be the whole time for which the school selected shall be open for secular instruction only."

The proviso has been adopted as it stands by 142 local education authorities, and in addition 39 such authorities have adopted it with some variation, designed expressly to restrict operation to cases where the children withdrawn from the school during the period of religious instruction will receive religious instruction elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the number of children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales in the 12 months ended to the last convenient date who Is ere inspected by school dentists; the number who were found to require treatment; and the number who received treatment under the arrangements male by local education authorities?

Complete information is not yet available for the year 1935. The figures for the year ended 31st December, 1934, are as follows:

Number of children inspected by school dentists	3,302,838
Number found to require treatment	2,273,508
Number treated	1,431,775

asked the President of the Board of Education how many women teachers who are in obedience to Roman Catholic and Church of England religious orders, respectively, are employed in grant-aided schools?

I regret that I have no information on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children of Roman Catholic parents received school meals during 1935; and that was the total number of children who received meals?

During the year ended 31st March, 1935, the latest year for which figures are available, 156,448 children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales received free ordinary meals, sometimes with milk in addition, and 245,032 children received free milk only. I have no information about the number of children of Roman Catholic parents included in these figures.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the increase in the number of Roman Catholic schools, elementary and secondary, respectively, and the number of scholars at these schools in 1935 compared with 1913?

On 1st October, 1935, there were 89 grant-aided Roman Catholic Secondary Schools in England and Wales with 26,720 pupils on that date. In the 1912–13 school year there were 47 such schools with 7,088 pupils on the 31st January, 1913. In the year ended 31st March, 1935, there were 1,230 Roman Catholic public elementary schools maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales, and during that year the average number of pupils on the registers was 393,652. For the school year 1912–13 there were 1,089 such schools, and the average number of pupils for that year was 342,873. The figures are given with reference to different dates because the basis of the board's statistics has been altered since 1913.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of applications for unemployment insurance benefit dealt with by the court of referees at Castleford and Pontefract, respectively, during 1935; the number allowed and disallowed; and the number disallowed on the ground that they were engaged in a trade dispute?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th February, 1936; col. 624, Vol. 309) supplied the following statement:The number of claims for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances considered by the Castleford Court of Referees during 1935 was 1,023, of which 183 were allowed and 840 were disallowed. The corresponding figures for the Ponte-fract Court of Referees were 584, 179 and 405, respectively. These figures are exclusive of claims, by persons already en titled to benefit, for an increase in the rate of benefit in respect of dependants. There were no claims disallowed under the trade dispute disqualification during 1935 by these courts of referees. Claims are referred to the Castleford Court of Referees from the Castleford and Nor-manton Employment Exchanges, and to the Pontefract Court of Referees from the Pontefract and Knottingley Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state separately the total number of unemployed men and women over the age of 18, resident in the borough of Southwark and registered at the Wal-worth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange at the last convenient date; and also the statistics of the numbers that were applying for unemployment allowances?

On 20th January, 1936, there were 9,659 men and 2,689 women aged 18 years and over on the registers of the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange as unemployed. Of these 2,650 men and 140 women were applying for unemployment allowances and 5,626 men and 1,823 women were resident in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark. The numbers resident in the borough and applying for assistance are not known.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the case of James Barclay, 13, Spring hill Road, Barrhead, who is in receipt of £22 3s. 4d. per annum as part owner of his house and 18s. per week assistance from the Unemployment Assistance Board, and whose daughter has been obliged to leave home owing to the application of the means test, despite the undertaking of the Government not to break up homes by the application thereof; and whether he will inquire into this case?

My right hon. Friend has referred the matter to the board and will write to my Noble Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of persons in receipt of un employment benefit and unemployment allowance, respectively, as registered at the Maesteg, Pontycymmer, Ogmore Vale, Aberkenfig, and Bridgend employment exchanges?

The table below gives the information desired in respect of 20th January, 1936, the latest date for which figures are available.

Insured persons with claims admitted.
Employment Exchange.	Insurance Benefit.	Unemployment Allowances.
Maesteg	528	2,111
Pontycymmer	172	750
Ogmore Vale	172	651
Aberkenfig	209	553
Bridgend	494	761

asked the Secretary for Mines what percentage of her total supply of oil during the last three months of 1935 was imported by Italy from each of those countries which are her chief sources of supply?

This in formation will be found in Appendix II of the Report of the Committee of Experts (Cmd. 5094).

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any definite assistance is ever given to British manufacturers of broad casting apparatus to tender for contracts for establishing broadcasting installations abroad; and how many such foreign broadcasting stations have been equipped with British broadcasting plant?

The Department of Overseas Trade has, on a number of occasions, rendered assistance to British manufacturers when tendering for con tracts for the installation of broadcasting apparatus in foreign countries. As far as my information extends, the number of foreign broadcasting stations which have been, or are being, equipped with British broadcasting plant is 112.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the number of persons who paid Income Tax and Super-tax during the last full year; and the incomes, stated in groups, on which same were paid"

The hon. Member will find statistic s of the numbers of persons assessed to Income Tax and Surtax in Tables 43, 55 and 56 of the Seventy-seventh Annual Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmd. 4739). The last table shows the numbers assessed to Surtax in ranges of total in come from £2,000 upwards, but no similar classification by ranges of total income is available for persons with incomes not exceeding £2,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the average original gravity of beer produced in England and Northern Ireland and Scotland, respectively, during the calendar year 1935, and the average original gravity of beer imported into the United Kingdom in the same year?

The average original gravity of beer produced in England and Northern Ireland and in Scotland during the calendar year 1935 was as follows:

	Degrees.
England and Northern Ireland	1040.91
Scotland	1042.16

The average original gravity of beer imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1935 was 1052.85 degrees.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any con tracts have been made by his Department with aeroplane manufacturers supplying the machines required under the circum stances of the present increases in establishments on the basis of cost plus a percentage agreed for profit; and whether this method is to be generally adopted in place of tenders of the former kind?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative—which is not to say that, having regard to the great variety and complexity of the contracts to be placed, resort may not be had to this method in some cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will place in the Library of the House a copy of the daily transcript of the evidence given before the Royal Commission on local government on the Tyneside?

I have been asked to reply. Arrangements are being made to meet the hon. Member's wishes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information regarding the negotiations for an air service to the island of Lewis; and whether he can give an assurance of his assistance in speeding up those negotiations, in view of the fact that the smaller islands of North and South Uist have already secured a regular service?

The proposed aerodrome site at Steinish, Stornoway, is not at present large enough to be licensed. The Air Ministry has advised as to the work that is necessary, and is ready to do all it suitably can to facilitate the inauguration of an air service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the difficulty of obtaining small change out of business hours, he will arrange for the discontinuance of the present slot machines delivering single halfpenny stamps on the insertion of a halfpenny, and substitute in place thereof machines which, on the insertion of one penny, will deliver two halfpenny stamps, similar to that now provided for the convenience of Members in the Library of the House of Commons?

I have considered this question, but I do not think there are sufficient grounds for undertaking the change suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many owner-occupiers have had their houses condemned under the 1930 Housing Act; what amount of money would have been involved in compensating them to the full value of their property; how many of those whose houses have been condemned under the above Act have been left with mortgages to pay; and what is the total amount of those mortgages

I have no information with regard to the second, third and fourth questions put by my hon. Friend. To ascertain the number of owner-occupiers referred to in the question would necessitate a lengthy investigation which, in view of the expense' involved, I should not feel justified in undertaking.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the published reports of his Department do not supply full statistics as to the numbers of vaccinated and un vaccinated cases of, and deaths from, smallpox which occurred in England and Wales during the years 1922 to 1934, he will supply a statement in respect of each of the years in question, showing, so far as possible, the cases and deaths which were recorded in the hospital registers as vaccinated, unvaccinated, and doubtful, respectively?

I regret that I have no fuller information in respect of the years 1922 to 1933 than that contained in the annual reports of the chief medical officer of my Department. As regards 1934 the appended table gives such information as is available in my Department.

England and Wales.
Taccinal Condition of Cases of Smallpox occurring in the year 1934 in towns of 150,000 population and over.
Ages.	Vacciual Condition at time of Infection.
	Successfully vaccinated.	Unvaccinated.	Doubtful.
Under 1 year	—	1	—
1 year	—	Nil	—
2 years	—	1	—
3 years	—	7	—
4 years	—	2	—
5 years	—	Nil	—
6 years	—	4	—
7 years	—	4	—
8 years	—	6	—
9 years	—	10	—
10 years	—	2	—
11 years	—	4	—
12 years	1	6	—
13 years	—	6	—
14 years	—	6	—
15 years	2	26*	—
20 years	—	16	—
25 years	2	8	—
30 years	1	4	—
35 years	2	2	—
40 years	3	4	—
50 years	4	—	—
60 years	5	—	—
70 years	1	—	—
80 and upwards.	1	—	—
Totals	22	119	—
* Including one fatal case in a youth of 16 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make inquiries in order to ascertain on whom responsibility rests for the posting of a notice on the steamship "Largs Bay," in December, 1932, which stated that on account of a suspected outbreak of smallpox at Colombo passengers desiring to go ashore at that port must be vaccinated?

I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of cotton spinning companies in Lancashire, giving separate figures for private and limited companies?

My Department have no official statistics on this question, but an estimate supplied by the industry is that there are about 320 concerns engaged entirely in cotton spinning or in cotton spinning and doubling, and that a further 150 concerns are engaged in both spinning and weaving. It is further understood that the great majority of these concerns are public limited companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of additional workers employed in the 26 new works established in Scotland during the past year and the number of workers displaced by the closing of the 18 other works; what numbers in each case are men and what number women; and how much juvenile labour is involved?

Complete information as to the employment afforded by the 26 new factories established in Scotland during 1935 is not yet available, but this information will be published in due course in the Survey of Industrial Development for 1935. It is not possible, however, to furnish employment figures for factories closed, which are comparable with the employment figures of the new factories opened, and the reports obtained for the purpose of the Survey do not distinguish precisely between male, female and juvenile labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any work is done for private firms, as ordinary prisons tasks, in Scottish prisons?

Some work for private firms is undertaken in Scottish prisons, but this is gradually being discontinued in favour of work for Government Departments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the composition of the committee which is to inquire into fixed trusts?

The following is the composition of the Departmental Committee which I am appointing to inquire into fixed trusts in all their aspects and to report what action, if any, is desirable in the public interest:

• Sir Alan Anderson, G.B.E. (Chairman), hon. Member for the City of London.
• Sir Thomas J. Barnes, C.B.E., His Majesty's Procurator-General and Treasury Solicitor.
• Mr. Harold G. Brown, LL.B., Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
• Sir H. Ernest Fass, C.B., O.B.E., Public Trustee.
• Mr. H. D. Henderson, Research Fellow in Economics, All Souls College, Oxford.

—		Gross Capital Expenditure.	Amounts written off to Revenue during; the year and cash received for sale of Equipment, etc.	Net Capital Expenditure.
		£	£	£
For period to 31st December, 1929	…	538,183	—	538,183
For year ended 31st December, 1930	…	1,488,834	—	1,488,834
For year ended 31st December, 1931	…	233,325	—	233,325
For year ended 31st December, 1932	…	14,811	3,908	10,903
For year ended 31st December, 1933	…	50,828	7,771	43.057
For year ended 31st December, 1934	…	31,641	7,391	24,250
		2,357,622	19,070	2,338,552

The Capital Expenditure amounting to £2,357,622 gross includes an amount of

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of men established and hired, respectively, in each of His Majesty's dockyards at the latest available date?

The numbers on the 15th February, 1936, were as follow:

	Established.	Hired.
Portsmouth Dockyard	2,975	11,403
Devonport Dockyard	2,403	9,705
Chatham Dockyard	1,905	7,731
Sheerness Dockyard	684	1,523
Rosyth Dockyard	104	431
Portland Dockyard	86	545

asked the Home Secretary what has been the total capital expenditure of the Betting Control Board for each year since its inception and the annual sum set apart for depreciation?

I am informed by the Racecourse Betting Control Board that the capital expenditure of the board for each year since it was established is as follows:£299,358 in respect of "Preliminary Development and General Expenditure" which, as stated in paragraph 94 of the Board's Annual Report for the year 1930, falls to be written off out of the profits available in future years. The amount also includes the sum of £398,269 in respect of "Redundant Assets" an explanation of which was given on pages 15 and 16 of the Board's Annual Report for the year 1933.As was stated in the Auditors' Report appended to the Balance Sheet at 31st December, 1934, no provision has been made for depreciation of Buildings, Equipment, Motor Vehicles, Furniture and Fittings or Expenditure on Lease hold Premises, and the value placed on each of these items in the 1934 Balance Sheet represents the actual cost of pro viding the Board's working plant, all obsolete plant having been transferred to Redundant Assets Account. The working plant has been, in the opinion of the Board's technical staff, properly maintained and the cost of such maintenance has been provided from the revenue of

Year.			Number of persons convicted of murder and sentenced to death.	Number reprieved.	Number of sentences quashed on appeal.	Number certified insane and removed to Broadmoor.	Recommended to mercy.
							Number.	Result.
1931	…	…	18	7	1	1	4	All reprieved.
1932	…	…	15	6	—	—	5	All reprieved.
1933	…	…	19	9	—	—	10	8 reprieved.
								2 executed.
1934	…	…	24	12	2	1	12	9 reprieved.
								3 executed.
1935	…	…	21	8	2	1	8	6 reprieved.
								1 executed.
								1 conviction quashed on appeal.
Total for five years 1931–1935.			97	42	5	3	39	32 reprieved.
								6 executed.
								1 conviction quashed on appeal.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Clarence Guy Gordon Haddon, who was convicted at the Old Bailey on the 17th January, 1935, for breach of recognisance under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907; and whether, as this prisoner was not brought into court by an ordinary summons

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of persons convicted of murder and sentenced to death for the five years ended to the last convenient date; the number reprieved; the number of sentences quashed on appeal; the number of per sons certified as insane and removed to Broadmoor; and the number so convicted that were recommended to mercy by the jury, and with what result?

The particulars are as follow:as provided by Section 6 of the Act, but by an irregular form of notice containing insufficient particulars, he will inquire into the case with a view to remission of the sentence?

I am aware of the facts of this case, but I know of no ground for any action on my part. The prisoner in question has served his sentence and has been released.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, for the purpose of his Estimates, the expectation of life of war pensioners is calculated according to a normal table or on a table which gives to war pensioners an expectation of life shorter than the normal?

The mortality rate of disabled pensioners is and will for some years to come be greater than the normal and in framing the Estimates of the Ministry of Pensions this and all other relevant factors are taken into account?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the nature of the questions to be submitted by the British representatives at the forthcoming conference on inter national copyright?

The Bureau of the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works circulated in July, 1934, certain draft amendments of the Copyright Convention, which was last revised at Rome in 1928. A Departmental Committee was appointed by the Board of Trade to examine these proposals, and the report of the committee, rendered in November, 1935, has been published by His Majesty's Stationery Office. Additional or counter proposals, based on the recommendations contained in the report were submitted on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in December, 1935, for discussion at the forthcoming conference at Brussels. I am forwarding to the hon. Member a copy of the Departmental report and of the proposals submitted on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that a definite political levy is being charged, by carefully disguised means, to the members of a certain trade union, which levy is imposed upon members regardless of their political opinions; and whether he is prepared to take special precautions to put an end to such practices?

I am not aware of any such charges. If my Noble Friend will inform me of the facts to which he refers, I will consider them.