asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that recruiting is seriously affected owing to the reserve pay of unemployed men being deducted from their allowance; and whether he is prepared to arrange that such reserve pay is not so deducted?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board regulations are being administered so as to deduct from the amounts payable to-Army reservists one-half of their reserve pay before the assessment of benefit; and whether, having regard to considerations of equity and of the desirability of maintaining the health and physique of the reserve, he will take steps to ensure that the pay of reservists is left out of account in such assessment?

With regard to the matter generally, I would refer to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Mr. F. Anderson), of which I am sending the hon. Members a copy. I would add that I know of no ground for thinking that the board's practice has any adverse effect on recruiting or on the health and physique of reservists, or that it is other than fair and equitable.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not regard it as a scandal that the men's pensions should be taken into account by the committees?

That is the practice in the great majority of committees, and is often more favourable than the local authorities' decisions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that many of these reservists look forward to the money in order to be able to buy boots for their children, and does he not think that their pensions ought to be ignored?

Is not one reason for the decline in the Army the persistent propaganda by many Members of the party opposite?

Is not the chief reason that they are getting margarine?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to take steps to arrange that the value of the recent special advance to the miners is not negatived by the amount of that advance being deducted from unemployment allowances going into the same home?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. C. Brown) on 20th February.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is in accordance with the regulations of the Unemployment Assistance Board for local public assistance committees to take into consideration an Army service life pension and an old age pension when assessing need; and whether he will take steps to make the position clear to all concerned?

The Regulations of the Unemployment Assistance Board have no application to public assistance committees. Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate with me regarding the particular point he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour how a trading estate in the east part of the county of Durham will help the unemployed miners in the South-West Durham area?

The object of the trading estate is to benefit the area in which it is situated as a whole. Except to this extent, I am not aware that it has ever been suggested that its establishment would immediately affect the employment of persons living at a distance from the site selected.

As the trading estate is expected to help the eastern part of the county, will the Minister say what will be done for the south-west part?

Not in this connection.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that the number of insured men and young men constituted in July, 1935, 69.6 per cent. of the total insured persons, as compared with 67.5 per cent. in July, 1931, he can explain how it is that, although the total number of unemployed has during the same period dropped from 2,632,962 to 1,936,216 the number of men and young men unemployed constituted 83 per cent. of the total in July, 1935, as compared with 74.8 per cent. in 1931?

The variation in percentages to which the hon. Member calls attention is explained by the fact that in 1931 there was an abnormal number of women registered as unemployed. At the end of June, in 1928 and 1929, for example, unemployed men, aged 18 to 64, constituted approximately 82 per cent. and 80 per cent., respectively, of the total number of insured persons recorded as unemployed. The hon. Member will see that these figures approximate to that which he quotes for 1935.

Does that not mean that the increase is due to the large number of juveniles who are out of work?

No. I think it is much more likely to be due to the effect of the Act passed by the Labour Government in 193C affecting married women.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workpeople unemployed at the end of February in the area of the Kirkcaldy Employment Exchange; and the number of boys and girls under 16 years of age included in the total?

At 24th February, 1936, there were 2,953 unemployed persons on the registers of the Kirkcaldy Employment Exchange, of whom 212 were boys and girls under 16 years of age.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the providing of medical treatment for young men in accordance with the recommendations of the Special Commissioner?

I am proposing to set up a number of special local centres in the special areas of a non-residential character, in which men will receive preliminary training before entering either a Government training centre or an instructional centre. In any case where young men are in need of remedial treatment of a simple character, arrangements will be made for them to receive it in connection with the centre. Pending the establishment of such centres, where it is necessary I shall hope to arrange, as a temporary measure, for the admission of such cases to one or two of the residential instructional centres, where special arrangements for their treatment will be made.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask whether the suggested arrangement would carry out the recommendations that were made in Mr. Malcolm Stewart's report?

As the hon. Lady knows, I have been going rather closely into this matter, but I would not like to prophesy about it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the real treatment needed here is work?

I am going into that, too.

Will the arrangement come into operation at once?

As soon as we get the practical work done.

asked the Minister of Labour the arrangements in operation at the Bourne training camp for the general cleanliness of the bed mattresses, the washing of blankets, and the washing of pillows and other bedding material?

The bedding issued to men entering the centre is treated in a disinfector before issue, and is withdrawn for disinfection periodically. The mattress cases are laundered before issue, and the pillow slips are laundered once a week. In addition, the blankets are washed regularly, or whenever their condition requires it.

Is the Minister aware that different batches of men who enter these camps from time to time have to use the same blankets the whole way through; is he also aware that the pillows are washed only once a fortnight, and does he consider that to be a satisfactory state of cleanliness?

That is not my information, which is that the pillow slips are laundered once a week, but if the hon. Member has any facts which he would like to bring to my notice I should be glad to have them.

May I press the point about the blankets?

I am told that they are washed regularly.

May I ask very respectfully whether it is not a fact that numbers of these batches of men are there for five or six weeks, and that a second and third batch of men go there without the blankets being washed?

We ate always glad for hon. Members to inspect these places. I shall be very glad to hear of the hon. Member's own experience, if he cares to see me.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are made for the medical examination of men before being sent to training camps, in view of the heavy work performed there; and how many men were rejected as unfit to enter these camps for the three months ended February, 1936?

Men are not admitted to instructional centres unless found on medical examination to be fit for admission. Men not fit for heavy work are passed for light work only. During the three months ended February, 1936, 940 men, or about 17 per cent., were rejected for training on medical grounds.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of persons have had to return from these training camps because they were not strong enough to do the work?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have already given to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward), in which I said that we have that point in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that on 11th and 12th February this year several men had to leave the Bourne training camp owing to declining to work out in the open without overcoats, the weather being exceedingly cold; and whether he will make inquiries with a view to preventing a repetition of such occurrence and to the restoration of these men to unemployment assistance benefit?

I have had a full report of the circumstances in which it was necessary to discharge six men from the centre on account of their refusal to work, and I am satisfied that the manager's action was justified. Although the weather was cold, the remainder of the men were working cheerfully out of doors. The question whether these men failed to satisfy the conditions for the receipt of benefit is one for the statutory authorities, and I cannot intervene.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Easter Adjournment.

asked the Minister of labour whether he is aware of the hardship involved to persons attending at Linlithgow employment office during inclement weather owing to the accommodation being so limited that many of those attending, especially on pay days, are compelled to stand out on the main street; and whether he will take immediate steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I have had special inquiry made with regard to this office, in consequence of a letter which the hon. Member was good enough to send to me. My information is that although the accommodation is somewhat restricted, there is no need for claimants to wait in the open if they adhere to the times allotted for their attendance, but that some of them continue to congregate outside the office before and after their times of attendance in spite of efforts to discourage this practice. The position is being kept under direct review.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman will say something more about this question, and will he be communicating with me or be giving me an opportunity of putting another question on the Paper; and may I also put the point that he might take into consideration the fact that, unfortunately, there may be in the near future an increase in the number of unemployed in Linlithgow, owing to the closing down of the explosives factory in that town?

I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman after the review has taken place.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Government intend to implement their promise, made last year, to deal with the means test?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the many pledges given by Ministers and Members of Parliament during the General Election in connection with the household means test and the great difficulties still being experienced by the unemployed, he will take steps to procure from the Unemployment Assistance Board a report on the subject at the earliest possible date?

I would refer to my reply on Tuesday last to the similar question put by the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery).

Is the Minister aware that at the General Election, in the Government manifesto, the Government made this promise, and how long are we to wait before it is carried out?

We said "in the spring," and that is not finished yet.

Will it be before Easter?

I cannot say in regard to Easter, but it will be in the spring.

Is the delay because the Cabinet are not united about the matter?

No, Sir.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to introduce legislation during the current Session with regard to the recommendations contained in the report of the Unemployment Statutory Committee upon the desirability of raising the wage limit restricting the entry of non-manual workers into insurance?

I can add nothing at present to the reply given on 2nd March to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams), a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

In view of the vital importance of this matter to many thousands of people, could the Minister give a more definite reply?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now state the policy of the Government in regard to the establishment of new industries in the Special Areas and the discouragement of their continued concentration elsewhere, as no definite recommendations were made in either of the reports of the Commissioners?

I am unable to agree that the reports of the Commissioners for Special Areas make no definite recommendations with regard to the encouragement of new industries in these areas. The suggestion that the establishment of new industries in other areas should be actively discouraged or even prevented was debated in the House on the 11th March. At present I have nothing to add to what has already been said on behalf of His Majesty's Government in answer to questions or in debate on both aspects of this problem.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the Government's policy really is as far as these depressed areas are concerned?

The Government propose to encourage this movement by example and by influence.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that persons claiming dependants' benefit, who come under the Unemployment Assistance Board, have no appeal against the decision of the insurance officer to a statutory body akin to the court of referees; and whether he will issue a circular advising insurance officers of their responsibilities in this matter, at the same time laying it upon the Table of the House?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the settlement of the appropriate maximum rate of insurance benefit by reference to which supplementary allowances under the Temporary Provisions Act of last year are assessed. Under the Statute this is a matter in the first instance for the officer of the board, who obtains advice when necessary from my Department. If any applicant is aggrieved by a determination in which an officer's decision in such a matter is involved, it is open to him to appeal to the appeal tribunal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the insurance officer cannot raise the amount of money, because it is settled by what is called the notional rate, and therefore the man has no appeal against the decision of the insurance officer? Will the right hon. Gentleman give to the House the terms of the circular that he has issued to his officers in reference to this matter?

I will consider that.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any record is received at, and kept by, the Board of Education of the names of women employed in elementary schools as supplementary teachers?

No record of the names of women employed in elementary schools as supplementary teachers is kept by my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of elementary schools in England and Wales; and what is the number of such schools which are classified as non-provided under the control and management of the Church of England, under the control and management of the Roman Catholic Church, and under the control and management of Nonconformist churches, respectively?

As the answer contains a statement of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

• 9,207 were classified as Church of England school;
• 1,230 were classified as Roman Catholic schools;
• 316 were classified as Nonconformist schools;
• 13 were Jewish schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education by what date the inquiry into the adequacy or otherwise of playing fields and physical training arrangements at elementary schools will be completed?

In January last the Board issued a circular on physical education, in which they expressed the hope that the authorities would survey the needs of their areas for playing fields and facilities for physical training and organised games. The authorities are showing great interest in the circular, but I think my hon. Friend will agree with me that this matter is not one which can be dealt with by means of a survey, subject to a time limit.

asked the Minister of Health whether in the Bill to amend the Local Government and Other Officers' Superannuation Act. 1922, he proposes to make the inclusion of supplementary teachers, whether employed in provided or non-provided schools, compulsory upon the local education authorities?

I cannot at present make any statement as to the scope and details of the contemplated amending legislation, but the hon. Member's suggestion will receive consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications his Department has received for the erection of small and cheap cottages for housing old and aged persons without children who are in receipt of old age pensions, and which will enable them to avoid being sent to public institutions; and whether he can say the number of these applications that have been refused by him and give particulars and the reasons for such refusals?

Since the passing of the Act of 1924 my Department has approved proposals for the erection of about 15,000 houses and tenements of types suitable for aged persons. Records available relate not to applications received but to approvals which have been given. I am not aware of any case in which approval has been refused to satisfactory proposals of this kind, but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of local authorities to the very urgent need for these cottages to be built?

I have already done so.

Have any subsidies been given for the same?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Health what was the amount of financial assistance provided during 1935 towards the erection of small cottages for the special purpose of housing old persons without children and with no substantial means beyond their old age pensions?

Under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, Exchequer subsidy was specifically provided in respect of about 5,000 houses erected for aged persons, and for the year 1935 the Exchequer commitment under the Act in respect of such houses was approximately £25,000. Up to 31st December, 1935, approval had been given under other Acts (mainly under the Act of 1930) to the erection of about 8,000 similar houses. On the assumption that 6,000 of these houses had been completed by the end of 1935 the Exchequer commitment would be about £27,000.

Are we to understand from the answer that the Government are definitely agreeing to provide a subsidy for aged workers' homes on all schemes now before the Department?

Yes, as stated in my answer.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many parts of the country the needs of these old persons are being subordinated to those of other people wanting houses and that the reason given for not providing houses for these old persons is that the facilities are being employed in building other houses; and will he take steps to adjust the balance?

If the hon. Gentleman will send me particulars of any cases, I will gladly make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the course of the next two years, he will investigate the possibility of saturation point being reached in connection with the construction of houses for people who can afford to buy them or can rent them on terms within their means, with the object of ascertaining the residuum of the population which will be left without houses which they cannot obtain unless with State or rate assistance?

The probable course of building supply and demand in the next few years is already receiving my close attention, with particular regard to the need of those who can lot afford to obtain suitable accommodation at an economic rent. The activities of local authorities have already been concentrated on the latter need which will continue to be given priority.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to combating tuberculosis, his Department has adopted the radioscopic treatment to diagnose the disease?

The examination of the chest both by radioscopy and radiography forms part of the procedure advocated by my Department in connection with the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis under the schemes for which local authorities are responsible.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has considered the metalix-portable X-ray apparatus for early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, as used in the medical examination of factory workers and recruits in Holland?

I can assure my hon. Friend that improvements in X-ray apparatus, including the portable varieties, are constantly under review by my medical advisers.

Has my right hon. Friend's Department considered the method adopted in Holland for the diagnosis of tuberculosis?

I will look into the matter, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendation contained in No. 73 of Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects for the total prohibition of antimony in enamelled hollow-ware?

I have under consideration the question of legislation on this subject, but I am not at present able to say when it will be possible to introduce a Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention had been drawn to the recent death of a farm labourer at Wainfleet as the result of drinking so-called concentrated vinegar concocted from acetic acid; and, in view of the fact that the sale of acetic acid as vinegar, whether diluted or undiluted, is prohibited by law in almost every country in the world, will he take steps to protect the public from the obvious risks of poisoning which they are running at the present time by prohibiting the sale of acetic vinegar?

Yes, Sir. As my hon. Friend may be aware, the case referred to has been the subject of a coroner's inquest. The question of the designation of acetic acid mixtures has been noted in connection with the issues, at present under my consideration, which were raised in the report by the Departmental Committee on the Composition and Description of Food.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that instructions have been issued by the public assistance committee of the Staffordshire County Council to the masters of all Poor Law institutions within their area to search all inmates on returning to the institutions after leave of absence; whether he has approved such instructions; and, if not, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

These instructions have been issued by the local authority in the exercise of their administrative discretion, and do not require my approval.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that searching is regarded as a personal humiliation used to restrict criminals; and does he agree that persons who are inmates of Poor Law institutions through no fault of their own, should be called upon to undergo this kind of personal search?

This is a matter, as the hon. Gentleman knows, for the local authorities themselves, and is not one in which I can intervene.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman responsible for the control of all Poor Law institutions under the Poor Law Act, 1930?

Yes, but not in this particular matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he contemplates introducing a Bill this Session to consolidate the various Public Health Acts; and, if so, will he take the opportunity to make the necessary amendments consonant with technical progress?

The Bill to which my hon. Friend refers was introduced in another place in the early part of this week. Within the limits applicable to a Bill whose principal object is the consolidation of the existing law, I hope my hon. Friend will find in the Bill an affirmative answer to the second part of his question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that about half of the 16,000 registered clubs are of the nature of proprietary institutions; and whether he will give an estimate of the loss of revenue which accrues from charging Club Duty at an average of only one-fifth the rate of that which the owner of a club would pay if his premises were properly licensed?

I understand that the description in the first part of the question is applicable to a number of registered clubs; with regard to the second part, no data are available for such an estimate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the average Club Duty, paid is about £10 per club per annum, whereas if the Licence Duty of £40 to £50 were imposed the right hon. Gentleman would secure an additional revenue of a further £250,000?

I have no data available for such an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the revenue from Entertainments Duty on living entertainments amounts to, approximately, 17 per cent. of the total annual revenue from that tax, or less than £1,250,000, and that such sum is at present expended on the annual cost of unemployment benefit and assistance awarded to the 23,000 actors, actresses, stage hands, musicians, and other theatrical employés who are now out of work, he will consider abolishing at an early date the remaining tax on living entertainments?

My hon. Friend must not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman receive a deputation in order to lay all the facts before him?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in considering the proposals to be embodied in the forthcoming Budget, he will bear in mind that the lowest class of Income Tax payers have not so far been relieved of the extra burdens placed upon them by the changes in taxation introduced in 1931?

I cannot anticipate my Budget statement, but I would remind the hon. Member that the Income Tax relief given in last year's Budget was so devised as to accrue mainly to taxpayers of small income.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury particulars of the amount of losses definitely known to be irrecoverable in fulfilment of the guarantees given by the Government under the Trade Facilities Acts; and what further steps ate being taken to recover the net total of £5,910,580 still outstanding on Government guarantees given under these Acts?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the particulars asked for in the first part of the question in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In reply to the second part of the question, the steps taken by the Treasury are those usually taken by a secured creditor to protect his security and obtain repayment of his debt; and with this object the cases in which advances made by the Treasury are outstanding are kept under close and constant review by the Treasury, in consultation with Lord Plender, the chairman of the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee.