asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of persons who have been killed and injured in the mines of Great Britain for each year since 1900?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of relief funds in existence raised for milling disasters; and the amount of money at present in existence for each separate disaster?

I am having prepared a revised return of colliery relief funds bringing up to date the information contained in Parliamentary Paper No. 155 of 30th July, 1925. This revised return will contain all the information which the hon. Member wants and I hope to present it to Parliament in two or three weeks.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in the proposed selling scheme for the mining industry, the miners will have representation on both district and central committees?

So far as I am aware, the proposed selling schemes do not provide specifically for representation of the mineworkers, but I understand that it has been agreed that organised coal selling shall be one of the subjects for consideration by the Joint Standing Consultative Committee representative of the colliery owners and the Mineworkers' Federation.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the high percentage of overtime recently worked in the North Derbyshire coalfield, he is aware that mechanical breakages in mechanised mines elongate the shift working and frequently the period of breakage is not regarded as part of the seven and a-half hour day, resulting in extra work being done without payment; and will he consider giving instruction that, when the time expires, men must leave their work except in cases of extreme urgency and that full rates shall be paid for extra time worked?

I am not aware that the percentage of overtime in the North Derbyshire coalfield as a whole is unduly high. It is obviously impossible in highly mechanised mines not to have mechanical breakdowns at times, but it is the duty of managements so to organise the work that such breakdowns are reduced to an absolute minimum. I feel sure that managers, in general, do all they can to this end. Tinder the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908, the working of overtime is already restricted to certain exceptional circumstances, and I cannot see that amendment of the law in the sense suggested by the hon. Member would materially alter the present position. As regards the wages question, this is a matter for settlement between the employers and workmen concerned, and I am afraid I cannot interfere.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered representations from the Glasgow Corporation asking the Government to arrange for the demolition of Duke Street prison, in the centre of the city, and the conversion of the site into an open space and children's playground; and what action is proposed by the Government to transfer the few prisoners in Duke Street to a more suitable environment and thus enable the scheme desired by the corporation to be put into operation?

I am aware that the Corporation of Glasgow have been considering the question of acquiring the site of Duke Street prison, for a city improvement or other civic purpose, but I have received no specific proposal from them. It is not possible to dispose of Duke Street prison until another prison for women has been provided in or near Glasgow. Difficulties unfortunately are still being experienced in finding a suitable site.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that no offer of reinstatement to a headmastership has yet been made by the Education Committee of the County Council of Dumbarton to Mr. George Murray, lately headmaster at Lenzie Academy; that the decision to degrade Mr. Murray was pronounced as illegal by the Court of Session; and that since that decision Mr. Murray has been employed at a headmaster's salary upon an ordinary teacher's duties; and whether he will draw the attention of the auditors of the accounts of the education committee to the continued payment of two headmasters' salaries in the school in which Mr. Murray is employed?

I am informed that this matter is on the point of being settled in a way which is likely to satisfy all the parties concerned, and in the circumstances I do not think it is desirable that I should intervene. The question of the legality of the expenditure is one for the auditor appointed under section 15 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons have been convicted during each of the past five years for offences in connection with automatic gaming machines in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen?

Year ending 31st December.					Dundee.	Edinburgh.	Glasgow.	Aberdeen.
1931	…	…	…	…	5	9	74	22
1932	…	…	…	…	10	6	71	2
1933	…	…	…	…	2	10	78	14
1934	…	…	…	…	14	12	180	19
1935	…	…	…	…	5	14	106	18

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider making representations to the Government of the Union of South Africa with a view to the removal or reduction of the duty on kippered herrings, which was raised from 1¼d. to 2d. per pound in 1931 when Great Britain left the gold standard, especially in view of the greatly increased imports of South African fruits and wines since 1931?

Representations were made by the United Kingdom industry some time ago to the Union authorities who considered that the position of the local industry would not warrant a reduction in the duty. I will keep the matter in mind in connection with any trade discussions that may take place in the future with the Union Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that imports of zinc are increasing; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the zinc-smelting industry in the United Kingdom?

The rate of duty on zinc was revised in August last on the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee. In their report on the working of the agreements regarding lead and zinc which were concluded at Ottawa, the committee referred to the part that an international agreement among producers might take in safeguarding the position in this market, and

The number of persons convicted for offences in connection with automatic gaining machines in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen in each of the five years 1931–35 is as follows:stated that in the absence of such an agreement the duty on zinc might prove inadequate. The committee also stated that in these circumstances they would not hesitate to recommend such measures as might prove to be necessary to protect the home industry against external competition. It is understood that negotiations for an international agreement among zinc producers are now proceeding and if these should prove unsuccessful the Government will not fail to keep in mind the needs of the zinc industry in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the danger to vessels engaged in the coasting trade arising from the fact that the buoy marking the Stone Banks shoal, in the western approach to Harwich from the south, is unlit and that the green light on Walton pier is of poor visibility, he will take steps to ensure that the former is replaced by a lighted buoy and the latter is increased in power, so as to make for the greater safety of the increasing number of those who have to rely upon those aids to navigation when approaching or leaving Harwich by night?

I have ascertained that the Corporation of Trinity House, who are responsible for maintaining the Stone Banks Buoy, will be prepared to consider any evidence furnished to them as to the extent to which the lighting of the buoy could he regarded as an improvement necessary in the interests of general navigation. As regards the green light on Walton pier, it is understood that the duty of the pier company does not extend to the provision of a passing light for the benefit of navigation but is restricted to marking the seaward end of the pier so that traffic can safely avoid it, for which purpose the light, in the opinion of the Elder Brethren, is sufficient.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, under a recent amendment to the dental benefit regulations made pursuant to the National Health Insurance Act, the fee prescribed for administering a general anaesthetic is, in certain cases, as low as 5s.; whether such fees were prescribed with previous consultation with the British Medical Association; whether objections to such fees by members of the medical profession have been brought to his notice; and whether, under the amended regulations, approved societies are entitled to refuse to make any grant at all to their insured members towards the cost of dental treatment, as provided by the Third Schedule to the said Act, solely because, in cases where such members desire to engage as anaesthetist their own medical attendant and themselves to pay to the latter such fee as may be agreed upon between them, such agreed fee is over 5s.?

The responsibility for negotiating a scale of fees for the dental treatment of insured persons entitled to dental benefit rests with the Dental Benefit Council, which is a statutory body representative of approved societies and the dental profession. Under the present scale, which has been included in a schedule to the Dental Benefit Regulations, the fee for the administration of a general anaesthetic ranges from 5s. to £1 1s. in accordance with the number of teeth to be extracted. My right hon. Friend is aware that some medical practitioners have expressed the opinion that the fee is inadequate in certain cases but he would explain that the Dental Benefit Regulations are not binding on medical practitioners and do not impose any limitation on the fees chargeable by them. They merely embody the conditions which in the interests of insured persons as a whole must be complied with before any grant can be made by approved societies towards the cost of dental treatment. One of these conditions is that the dentist is to be responsible for the provision of all necessary treatment (which would include the services of an anaesthetist, if required), and accordingly the Regulations contemplate that, where an insured person desires his own medical attendant to act as anaesthetist the arrangements should be made through the dentist and not by the insured person himself acting independently.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Newcastle-upon-Tyne public assistance committee is refusing, in making assessments, to disregard the amounts of national health insurance benefits and disability pensions prescribed by statute, in cases where the income of the applicant including such benefits or pension is more than the public assistance scale; if he will state whether this practice is generally adopted throughout the country; whether it is contrary to a ruling given by the Ministry of Health; whether the Ministry will bring the matter before the courts to obtain an authoritative decision on the point; and, if not, what action he proposes to adopt to ensure that the statutory provisions are observed and that a uniform practice shall prevail throughout the country?

I am aware that the Public Assistance Committee of Newcastle-on-Tyne are acting on an interpretation of Section 48 of the Poor Law Act, 1930, which differs from that commonly adopted elsewhere. I understand that an appeal to a higher court will in all probability be lodged in a Scottish case raising a similar issue (which was referred to by my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate in an answer of 24th February). The whole position is being carefully examined, but I am not yet in a position to say what action, if any, may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the outbreak of typhoid fever in the village of Langwith, Derbyshire, is reported to be due to a previous water supply which was pronounced by the district medical officer to be polluted; that at a recent date one person died from the alleged effects of typhoid fever; and can he state in what way compensation will be made, as there is much local indignation concerning this matter?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the question of liability to pay compensation is not one on which I can express any opinion. It is a matter which can be determined only by the courts.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the revenue from the Entertainments Duty for the past eight months up to 29th February or the nearest available date; how much of such revenue came from places of entertainment in respect of which certified returns are accepted; and what proportion of the latter amount was respectively received from cinemas and places providing living entertainment?

The revenue from the Entertainments Duty for the eight months ending 29th February, 1936, was approximately £4,854,000; of that amount £4,246,000 came from places of entertainment in respect of which certified returns are accepted; of the latter amount approximately 67 per cent. was received from cinemas and 17 per cent. from places of entertainment qualifying for the reduced rates of duty provided by Section 1 (3) of the Finance Act, 1935, for "living entertainments."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, whilst requiring officers of the Territorial Army to include their pay as such as part of their emoluments, do not admit as professional expenses the incidental costs of attending camp, such as mess bills, uniform, and costs of attending parades; and whether he will require them to review their practice in these matters in the light of national needs and make a public statement on the subject which can be transmitted to Territorial officers in the immediate future?

An officer of the Territorial Army receives in addition to his pay certain allowances for expenses. In the assessment of his pay to Income Tax he is allowed a flat rate deduction of £7 10s. for uniform expenses; and tax s not charged on the allowances. It would be contrary to the general principles of the Income Tax Acts to grant any further relief, but I may refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State for War in introducing the Army Estimates for an account of the improved financial arrangements now to be made in connection with the Territorial Army.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware that the present differential duties on imported milk products are not worked out on a liquid milk gallonage basis, with the result that foreign and Dominion producers divert their milk into a product which carries least duty; and if he will consider taking steps to protect the home manufacturers and producers from this form of competition;

(2) whether, in view of the importance of the home manufacturing industry of dairy products arm of the increasing supply of milk in this country, he will receive a deputation representing the manufacturers in regard to the matter relating to imports of dairy products?

Dominion milk products are not at present subject to import duties and it is impracticable to make a comparison of the hay on foreign milk products on the b sip suggested by my hon. Friend. Foreign and Dominion producers no doubt use their milk for those products that accord best with their particular system of farm economy, e.g., in Denmark the manufacture of butter is closely associated with the use of skimmed milk for pig feeding. In any case, the cost of the liquid milk is only one item in the cost of the final product.

A general indication of the policy of the Government in relation to imports of milk products was given in a statement made on 25th July last, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. The position of the home industry is safeguarded for the present by the provisions of the Milk Act, 1934, and the assistance provided by that Act is being continued under the Milk (Extension of Temporary Provisions) Bill now before Parliament. The dairy produce situation, with special reference to butter and cheese imports, will be fully reviewed by the Government in the light of the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Milk for Great Britain, which is expected to be available in May, or soon after.

As regards milk powder and condensed milk (skimmed and whole) an application for increased duties has been submitted by the manufacturers and producers to the Import Duties Advisory Committee and is now under consideration. Any representations regarding duties on those products should therefore be addressed to that Committee. In these circumstances I do not think that any useful purpose will be served by my receiving a deputation at the present time, but if during the forthcoming review the manufacturers of dairy products desire me to receive a representative deputation, I shall be glad to make the necessary arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made by the Milk Marketing Board with its investigation on the health and diet of schoolchildren; and when a report may be expected?

The investigation which the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales are conducting in conjunction with the Scottish Milk Marketing Board and Government Departments with a view to ascertaining the benefits derived from the consumption of the milk now being made available under the Milk-in-Schools Scheme is proceeding satisfactorily, thanks largely to the co-operation of the education authorities and the teachers concerned, and will be completed by the end of July. A report on the results of the investigation will be issued in due course, but the expert committee in charge of the investigation are unable to give any precise date for its publication. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the statistical analysis of the data will be a task of considerable magnitude.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of subsidy paid out for the year 1934–35 by the Treasury for the growing of sugar beet; and how much was paid to the growers of beet and how much went to the factories?

The total amount of subsidy paid in respect of the 1934–35 manufacturing campaign was £4,429,565 9s. 3d. The subsidy was paid to the manufacturers of home-grown sugar and no subsidy payment was made direct to the growers. Any apportionment of the benefits of the subsidy between factories and growers would necessarily be highly speculative, since it would involve an estimate of what would have been the price of sugar beet had no direct Exchequer assistance been afforded to the industry.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether factory inspectors are authorised in present conditions to examine the equipment, such as ladders and safety-belts, of window cleaners;

(2) whether he proposes to bring window cleaners within the provisions of the new Factory Act;

(3) how many fatal and non-fatal accidents have occurred among window cleaners during each of the last five years?

My Department has no statistics of accidents among window cleaners, and I am afraid that window cleaning, except on factory premises, lies far beyond the scope of the Factory Acts and of the factory inspectorate.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. F. G. Mansbridge, a former attendant at Broad-moor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, was not given a day off duty or pay in lieu of the Jubilee of last year; and whether any other attendants have been treated in this manner for that or any other special holidays officially conceded?

This attendant retired on medical grounds on 31st May. Though he served for only part of the year, he had then taken his full period of summer leave. Other attendants who remained in the service were in due course granted a day's leave in lieu of Jubilee Day, but not until after 1st July.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number

Local Office.				Three months ended 28th December, 1934.		Three months ended 27th December, 1935.
				Average weekly number of transitional payments made.	Average amount paid.	Average weekly number of unemployment allowances paid.	Average amount paid.
					£		£
Alston	…	…	…	99	111	136	158
Aspatria	…	…	…	410	504	399	494
Brampton	…	…	…	114	131	79	96
Carlisle	…	…	…	1,181	1,292	1,303	1,441
Cleator Moor		…	…	1,624	1,964	1,516	2,002
Cockermouth		…	…	396	466	416	482
Harrington	…	…	…	322	375	306	371
Keswick	…	…	…	22	24	27	31
Longtown	…	…	…	56	61	55	66
Maryport	…	…	…	1,389	1,729	1,395	1,811
Millom	…	…	…	348	423	351	444
Penrith	…	…	…	141	145	116	137
Silloth	…	…	…	48	55	48	56
Whitehaven	…	…	…	1,364	1,619	1,337	1,729
Wigton	…	…	…	152	178	153	176
Workington	…	…	…	1,467	1,808	1,290	1,472

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of cases of influenza or similar complaints which have occurred within the last month in the Brompton Barracks, Chatham; what has been the death roll; and why in the case of normal colds the mortality has been relatively high?

During the last month there have been 25 cases of influenza, five

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL RETORT, 5th March, 1936; cols. 1592–3, Vol. 309) supplied the following statement:

Statement showing the average number of transitional payments and the average amount paid weekly at local offices of the Ministry of Labour in the county of Cumberland in the three months ended 28th December, 1934, and corresponding figures in respect of unemployment allowances for the three mouths ended 27th December, 1935.of pneumonia, three of bronchitis and 198 of common cold at Brompton Barracks, Chatham. Four deaths have occurred, three being the result of bronchopneumonia, influenzal in origin, and the other of lobar-pneumonia. Every possible precaution has beer taken to prevent the spreading of the outbreak, and reports show that, since the beginning of this month, there has been a steady reduction in the number of admissions to hospital and of barrack treatment.

asked the hon. Member for Montgomery, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether the staff in the office of the Charity Commissioners is able properly to examine the accounts which are required by law to be submitted to them by trustees of charities; and whether the recent proposals as to the staffing of the Charity Commission have the full approval of the commissioners and will be reconsidered in the light of the fact that the accounts form the basis of inquiries concerning charities?

The Charitable Trusts Acts require that a copy of the accounts of every endowed charity shall be sent to the office of the Charity Commissioners annually, where it is open to public inspection, but the Acts do not require detailed examination or audit by the commissioners of the accounts as and when received. The report of the Select Committee on Estimates (1935), made certain comments upon the organisation and method of the Accounts Department of the commission, and recommended that a review should be undertaken by the commissioners in consultation with the Treasury. Following the review which was accordingly undertaken, a scheme is under consideration with a view to the improvement of the departmental organisation for securing the regular production and any necessary examination of the accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a further statement as to the present position in Egypt?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday on this subject to a question asked by the hon. Member for Shore-ditch, of which I am sending him a copy.