asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make available to Members of the House the circular issued for the setting up of advisory committees under the Unemployment Assistance Act?

I am arranging with the board to place copies of this circular in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total expenditure during 1935 on schemes approved by the Unemployments Grants Committee; what was the average number of men employed throughout the year on these schemes; and what was the cost per marl-year of employment given?

The Unemployment Grants Committee ceased to exist on the expiry in August, 1932, of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929. Twenty-five schemes approved by the committee were in progress in January, 1935, and 10 were still in course of execution at the end of the year. The average number of men directly employed on the works during the year was 4,742. The expenditure of authorities during 1935 on the schemes still in progress is not known and it is accordingly not possible to arrive at any estimate of the cost per man-year of the employment afforded. The committee, however, after making a survey of the position, stated in their final report (Crud. 4354) that they felt that, over the whole field of public works of the character approved by them, it could safely be accepted that capital expenditure of £1,000,000 provided fully 2,500 man-years of direct employment. The committee hesitated to suggest a corresponding figure to represent indirect employment, but stated that such employment was clearly substantial.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the country of origin of the 2,129 typewriters and 369 adding and calculating machines purchased during the year ended 31st March, 1935, by His Majesty's Stationery Office; and will he give particulars?

Of the 2,129 typewriters purchased by the Stationery Office in the year ended 31st March, 1935, 2,108 were British machines wholly manufactured in the United Kingdom; 19 came from the United States of America and two from Germany. The 21 foreign machines were of special types not manufactured in the United Kingdom. In the case of adding and calculating machines, there were purchased during the same period 197 of United States of America origin (of which 59 were partly assembled in the United Kingdom), 35 German and eight Swedish. No suitable British machines were available, though 10 British machines were purchased experimentally in that period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many handbag frames were imported into Britain from foreign countries during the last 12 months?

I regret that the desired information is not available, as such imports are not recorded separately in the United Kingdom trade returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that children, from Palacerigg village, Cumbernauld, require to walk daily a distance of at least three miles to school in Cumbernauld village along dangerous roads, particularly during the winter months; and is he prepared to advise the county council of Dumbarton to supply a conveyance for the use of these children?

I am informed that three children from Palacerigg village attend, Cumbernauld public school, and that the distance by the nearest road is approximately 2.6 miles. The education authority do not regard the road as dangerous for the children, the youngest of whom is over 11 years of age. On the information before me, it does not appear that I should be justified in questioning the discretion of the responsible local authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps to educate and train deaf boys and girls to some suitable vocation and make it compulsory upon education authorities to equip all adults in some industry?

Vocational training is given in special schools for the deaf to children under 16, and five vocational courses for deaf students over 16 are recognised by the board. I am not at present satisfied that a sufficient case exists for making it compulsory for local education authorities to provide such training for deaf adults.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he contemplates taking steps to make it compulsory that deaf children should be at school from five years to 16 years of age instead of seven years to 16 years of age?

I am prepared to consider the introduction of legislation for this purpose, if I am assured that such legislation would be entirely uncontroversial, and would have the full support of the local education authorities and of the organised bodies concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Education what number of deaf boys and girls there are in England and Wales, separately, between the ages of five and 16; what number are being educated; what number of schools there are for this purpose; what number are attending schools; if there is higher education available; and, if so, where in England and where in Wales?

The number of deaf children under the age of 16 included in school medical officers' returns of exceptional children for the year 1935 was 3,120 in England and 171 in Wales. No separate figures are available for boys and girls, and it is not possible to say how many of these children were under five years of age. There are 44 special schools for the deaf in England and two in Wales, and 2,988 of the children ascertained were attending these schools, while 153 were being educated at other schools or institutions. Five full-time courses of higher education, giving vocational training for deaf students over 16.y are recognised by the board; two of these are situated in London, and the others at Margate, Manchester and Liverpool.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will indicate the nature of the instruction given to school children with reference to traffic dangers; and whether similar schemes operate in London and the country?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the recently published report of the Inter-departmental committee on Road Safety among School Children. Copies of this report have been distributed to all public elementary schools, and I am confident that the recommendations made in it will receive the earnest consideration of all school authorities and teachers.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the experiment was last tried of making a charge for admission to the Victoria and Albert Museum; for how long the experiment lasted; the amount charged for admission; and the days on which this charge was made?

From the opening of the museum in 1852 until the 30th June, 1914, charges for admission were regularly made to visitors other than students on three days a week. The normal charge was 6d. a visit, but period tickets were also available at reduced rates. From 1908 to 1914 the days on which fees were charged were Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

asked the President of the Board of Education what additional cost would be involved by keeping the Victoria and Albert Museum open until 8 p.m. on three week-days in each week?

It is estimated that the additional annual cost involved by keeping the Victoria and Albert Museum open until 8 p.m. on three week-days in each week is approximately £1,500. This figure includes an estimate of some £150 for charges such as lighting and heating, which would fall upon the Vote of the Office of Works.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is proposed to appoint a High Commissioner for Burma, resident in London, separate from the control of the High Commissioner for India, in accordance with the wishes of the Burmese people and the separate political existence of Burma?

Information as to the volume of work that would fall to be performed by a High Commissioner for Burma in this country is as yet insufficient to justify a decision to incur the cost which a separate office and establishment would impose on the revenues of Burma.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the approximate strength of the Army and the shortage of men in July, 1899, July, 1914, and January, 1936?

The approximate strengths of the troops on the regimental establishment of the Regular Army, and the corresponding deficits for the dates mentioned, were:

		Strength.	Deficit.
July, 1899	…	223,300	16,300
July, 1914	…	233,400	11,000
January, 1936	…	191,000	7,500

I should add that the figures for January, 1936, cover a number of troops from overseas awaiting transfer to the Reserve, etc., and the present deficit is in excess of 11,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the decision of the legislative assembly of Manitoba to arrange for the settlement on the land of 500 British families with guaranteed economic disposal of the produce raised by the settlers; and whether he can make a statement on the subject?

I have only seen Press reports in regard to the attitude of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in the matter referred to, and am not therefore at present in a position to make a statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can assure the House that in all future naval construction the advice of expert aeronautical designers will be sought for stream lining and wind resistance?

The resistence experienced by warships is due almost entirely to that of the underwater form, in the design of which the Admiralty have carried out tank model experiments continuously since 1870. Air resistance forms only a very small percentage of the total resistance, but the Admiralty is constantly in touch with the results of recent aeronautical research. It is not, therefore, considered necessary to seek direct advice from aeronautical designers on the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether the office of secretary of the Metropolitan Police is an appointment filled from the Civil Service at the discretion of the Commissioner or Receiver of the Metropolitan Police, or whether the appointment is open to applicants from the Army, Navy or Air Force services; and whether he will state the salary and pension conditions of the appointment?

Any appointment to the post of Secretary of the Commissioner's Office would be made on the recommendation of the Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary of State, and the best available candidate would be selected whether from inside or outside the office. The salary attached to the post is £1,650 a year, and the pension conditions, which are laid down under the Metropolitan Police Staff (Superannuation) Acts, are similar to those applying in the Civil Service.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is part of the duties of the secretary of the Metropolitan Police to issue orders or exercise control over or in any way interfere in connection with the duties of the regular police?

The officer referred to is a member of the Commissioner's staff and as such it is part of his duty to give directions on behalf of the Commissioner on any matters assigned to him in the scheme of work at Scotland Yard.

asked the Home Secretary the number of police in the Metropolitan police area engaged upon traffic duty as at the last convenient date, as compared with the corresponding date in 1931; and whether he has any proposals under consideration for an alteration in the present strength of traffic police?

A special investigation held over a period of a week last autumn disclosed that 642 police officers were employed exclusively on traffic work and that part-time traffic duties occupied the equivalent of the whole time of 2,389 officers. No comparable figures are available for 1931. No proposal for altering the strength of police on traffic duties is under my consideration at the moment.

asked the Home Secretary what is the policy of the Government with regard to the death penalty?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 19th December last and to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day) on 21st April.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce, at an early date, legislation to amend the Police Pensions Act?

There is no possibility of legislation at present, but the question is not being overlooked.

asked the Home Secretary whether his Department has any statistics showing the number of accidents to children caused by the high combustibility of celluloid, especially in connection with celluloid toys; and whether his advisers consider that any further precautions are essential?

I have no such statistics but accidents of the kind have been brought to the notice of the Home Office from time to time. I am afraid that further precautions would be very difficult to secure and would refer to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Bradford Central (Mr. Leach).