asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the fee payable by each candidate for Civil Service examinations; the exact nature of the expenses incurred in holding such examinations; and why, considering the large number of examinees, the cost of holding examinations should be more than the fees received?

The fees payable by candidates at Civil Service examinations range from 2s. 6d. in the case of candidates for such situations as postman and telephonist to £8 in the case of candidates for appointments of the administrative group. The amount of the fee charged varies according to the salary and prospects attached to the situation concerned. The chief expenses incurred in holding the examinations are for the preparation of question-papers and the valuation of candidates' work, the conduct of oral and practical tests, and the provision of accommodation and supervision at the various centres of examination throughout the country. To ensure that receipts from fees should be sufficient to cover the whole cost of the Department, including overhead expenses, would involve increases in the fees payable by large numbers of candidates for the subordinate classes of, for example, postmen, messengers, workmen, in whose cases the fees charged are not fixed on a strictly economic basis.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Civil Service pre-war pensioners are suffering hardship in consequence of their low rate of pensions; that their pensions are much smaller than those of post-war pensioners; what is the approximate percentage difference of the pensions of the two classes; and whether he can reconsider generally the case of pre-war pensioners?

As regards the first part of the question, Parliament enacted provisions for the increase of these pensions in the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1924, since which year there has been a material fall in the cost of living. As regards the second and third parts, it is not possible, in view of the extensive reorganisations and other changes which have taken place since the War, to calculate the average difference between a Civil Service pension as increased by the Pensions (Increase) Acts and the pension which would have been awarded at a later date. I may point out, however, that when the percentages of increase were raised in 1924, it was found necessary to limit the increase by reference to the amount of the award which would have been made if retirement had taken place in 1923. As regards the fourth part, it has been repeatedly stated by successive Governments that further legislation to amend the Pensions (Increase) Acts cannot be contemplated, the last occasion being the reply given on the 31st January, 1935, by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Armagh. I can hold out no hope that the matter can be reopened.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of accidents, fatal and otherwise, which occurred in the mines of Yorkshire during 1935, specifying the names of the mines involved?

137 fatal accidents, resulting in the deaths of 169 persons, and 406 serious non-fatal accidents resulting in injuries to 441 persons, occurred in mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, in Yorkshire during 1935. Information as to the number of other accidents is not yet available. Considerations of space prevent me from printing a list giving the individual particulars in a district which contains some 240 mines.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any concrete proposal for the operation of trans-Atlantic air services has been placed before the Air Ministry by the Irish Trans-Atlantic Corporation; and what aircraft, and of what type, this Corporation possesses?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. There are no machines belonging to the Corporation on the United Kingdom aircraft register.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state an approximate date when the town-planning scheme, which was commenced in the year 1927, for the district of Epping will be completed; and can he give the reasons for the delay in completing it?

I understand that considerable delay has been involved by prolonged difficulty in fixing the site of the North Orbital Road without which the remainder of the plan could not be settled, and it has been necessary as a result of the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, to reconsider the planning proposals and adjust them to meet the provisions of that Act. The Rural district council have recently agreed to relinquish their planning powers to the county council who will have to prepare a new draft scheme. It is hoped that the draft scheme will be ready for adoption within eighteen months from the date when the county council have received the necessary powers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the present position as regards the proposed compulsory purchase of Wylam bridge, Northumberland; and if he can say when he proposes to take action in the matter?

I understand that the county council have suggested to the owners of the bridge that the terms of acquisition might be settled by the official arbitrator without recourse to the exercise of compulsory powers. I can take no action pending a decision on this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the agreement just entered into between the Government of New Zealand and public works employés wherein their working week is reduced from 47 to 40 hours without any reduction in pay, whilst all such employés shall have a fully-paid annual vacation; and whether he would consider the application of a similar scheme to Government and municipal employés in this country as a means of absorbing a proportion of the unemployed and increasing the opportunities for leisure of a large section of the population?

I have seen reports in the Press on the subject to which the hon. Member refers, but the nature of the action taken is not clear from those reports, and no official information is yet available. The question of the value of a reduction of hours of work to 40 a week as a means of absorbing unemployed is a matter of policy which is not capable of being dealt with by way of question and answer. I must ask the hon. Member to await the Debate on the subject which is due to take place at an early date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cows were examined in each of the Milk Marketing Board regions of England and Wales each month in 1935 under the accredited scheme so as to qualify for the ld. a gallon bonus and how many qualified; what was the approximate estimate of the total number of cows in each of the above areas in those months; and what percentage, in terms of gallonage, accredited milk presents to the total output for each region during each month of the accredited scheme as above?

I regret that the information asked for in the first and

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what was the total area and the area afforested of the Forest of Dean when it was taken over by the Forestry Commission in 1924;

When the Forest of Dean was taken over by the Forestry Commission in 1924 the total area was 23,241 acres and the area afforested was 19,640 acres. The total area of this unit to-day is 23,688 acres and the total area afforested is 19,582 acres. The total area planted or replanted since 1924 is 3,108 acres.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what was the total number of persons employed in connection with the Forest of Dean in 1924 and the total to-day; and what is the total number of workers' holdings attached now to this forest?

The total number of persons employed by the Forestry Commissioners in the Forest of Dean in 1924 was 138 and the total to-day is 115. The total number of workers' holdings attached now to this forest is 23.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what was the total area and the area afforested of the New Forest when it was taken over by the Forestry Commission in 1924; what is the total area of this forest unit to-day and the total area afforested; and what is the total area planted or replanted since 1924?

When the New Forest was taken over by the Forestry Commission in 1924 the total area was 64,707 acres and the area afforested was 19,919 acres. The total area of this unit to-day is 64,707 acres and the total area afforested is 23,845 acres. The total area planted or replanted since 1924 is 3,007 acres.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what was the total number of persons employed in connection with the New Forest in 1924 and the total to-day; and what is the total number of workers' holdings attached now to this forest?

The total number of persons employed by the Forestry Commissioners in the New Forest in 1924 was 252 (including men employed on an unemployment relief scheme) and the total to-day is 130. The total number of workers' holdings attached now to this forest is 25.