asked the Minister of Labour the number of females unemployed and signing at the Reading and Weston-super-Mare Exchanges between the ages of 16 and 30 years for the period January to June, 1936?

The precise statistics asked for are not available. A special analysis relating to 18th May, 1936, however, showed that the numbers of unemployed women aged 18 and under 35 years, registered at the Reading and Weston-super-Mare Employment Exchanges, were 223 and 87, respectively. Particulars were not obtained of the numbers of unemployed girls, aged 16 and 17 years, registered at that date, but at 25th May the numbers were 20 at Reading and five at Weston-super-Mare.

asked the Minister of Labour, according to the last survey taken, how many Employment Exchanges require considerable rebuilding and/or reconditioning on account of being unsatisfactory; and when it is proposed to commence work on the Walworth Road (Borough) Exchange?

Of the 449 Employment Exchanges, there are 147 which are at present scheduled for rehousing in due course. As regards the second part of the question, I am unable to add to the information given on 29th May.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied with the progress that is being made; and when will he be able to give us some information with regard to the Walworth Road (Borough) Exchange?

These matters are being dealt with according to a programme, and we are satisfied with the progress that is being made.

Is there no difference between the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Department and the Office of Works over the Walworth Road Exchange?

asked the Minister of Labour when the trading estate, which was promised to be started in the county of Durham, will be in operation?

I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, given to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. W. Joseph Stewart) the day before yesterday.

Is the Minister aware that there is nothing in that answer which says when this trading scheme will be in operation? May I put that question to him again: When will this trading scheme, which was agreed to eight months ago, be in operation?

The company is being formed, and the board are at present looking for a suitable site.

After eight months.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a person employed as collector of contributions by an association of unemployed persons is treated by his Department as compulsorily insured under the unemployment insurance scheme?

It is not possible to answer this question without precise particulars of the individual case. If such particulars are furnished, the Minister, in accordance with Section 4 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935, would be prepared to give a decision on the question whether unemployment insurance contributions are payable.

If a person is employed for the purposes of collecting contributions for an association of this kind under a contract of service, under similar conditions to an insurance agent collecting the same amount, is he not then entitled to be included under the unemployment insurance scheme?

I could not be expected to answer a question of that kind off-hand, and it would not be right for me to do so. The Minister has a particular statutory obligation in this matter.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I sent him this case three weeks ago, and have not had a reply?

indicated dissent.

asked the Minister of Labour the average amount per applicant for benefit paid by the Unemployment Assistance Board for each area covered by that Board?

I regret that these statistics are not available.

In view of the fact that the allegation is made that the average receipt of money from this Board in Lancashire is lower than elsewhere, will the hon. Gentleman get the figures out?

It is not very easy to get the figures out, because the money is paid through the exchanges, and the exchange districts overlap the areas covered by the Board.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the premises of the Edgware Road Employment Exchange are, owing to their lack of ventilation and unhygienic conditions, unsuited for the work of his Department; that they are having a detrimental effect upon the health of his staff, as witnessed by the high percentage of sick leave; and whether he is taking any step to remedy this state of affairs pending the erection of the new premises?

This ex change will be re-housed as soon as possible. The existing premises were erected in 1924 and are admittedly not satisfactory under present conditions, but I do not think the somewhat higher percentage of sick leave can properly be attributed to the state of the premises.

When may we expect that the works will be put in hand?

I could not give a date.

Will it be before or after Walworth Road?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the higher mortality rates prevailing among workers in the licensed trade than among those engaged in other occupations, and of the many protests against the long hours and difficult conditions which were received from these workers when a Bill to lengthen the hours of sale was recently before Parliament; and whether he will now consider the withdrawal of his approval and contributions to the scheme of a private company for training unemployed from the depressed areas at potmen and bar-tenders, in view of the fact that the company has publicly stated that the improvement of public house conditions is no longer a matter for its concern?

No, Sir. According to my information the improvement of conditions of service of public house staff remains one of the main objects of this association.

As the mortality is so much higher in this trade than in most others, why train people for a trade so dangerous to health and morals?

Does not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think the present position gives rise to certain misgivings and does not he think this arrangement takes the form of an indirect subsidy to a trade which can well afford to recognise reasonable hours of labour?

No, I do not agree with that. I do not think it gives rise to misgiving. It is simply part of the general training scheme which the Ministry of Labour operates.

Is it the policy of the Ministry of Labour to train people to be employed in sweated occupations?

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that long hours and low wages are extremely common in this trade?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes for the employment of the unemployed in mining areas, particularly the long-term cases?

As to the Government's general policy on this matter, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave a week ago to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell). I would also remind the hon. Member of the general activities arising out of the policy of the Commissioners for the Special Areas, including the opportunities offered for land settlement, and of the facilities for training and transference offered by my Department. In any cases where men are employed on schemes assisted by the Special Area Commissioners, preference is given to men in those areas who have been unemployed for long periods.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, apparently, transference is the only practical solution, and do not the Commissioner and the Board find that transference has now arrived at a stage where it is devastating the areas?

I will quote as an instance the trading estate in the North-East area. I think it is generally agreed that there is at the moment an increased amount of industrial activity in the North East area.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that, as far as the mining areas of the Special Areas are concerned, nothing is being done and employment is getting less and in Wales and Durham the position is really getting tragic? Have the Government no concrete proposals for work for people in these areas?

I think it is agreed that the general industrial improvement throughout the country tends to have a favourable reaction on the mining industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of the permanent posts in the Unemployment Assistance Board were given to ex-service men; and whether, other things being equal, ex-service men were given priority?

Excluding 274 in grades reserved for women, the number of permanent posts at present filled under the Unemployment Assistance Board is 1,534, of which 933 or 61 per cent. are occupied by ex-Service men. Apart from a limited number filled as the result of open competition, these posts were filled by the transfer of suitably qualified officers already in the permanent service of the State or of local authorities, and in such circumstances the question of ex-Service priority did not arise.

In fulfilling this condition about ex-service men is it not true that efficiency has to give way to it?

I cannot agree to that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is his intention to introduce legislation to amend the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934, during the present session?

No, Sir.

Are we to assume that it will be possible to introduce new regulations without any modification of the Act of 1934?

As I have stated in the answer, it is not intended to introduce legislation in the present session.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the plan submitted to him earlier in the session for the creation of a national labour reserve in which the unemployed could enjoy a more satisfactory status than they enjoy at present; and whether he will take advantage of the opportunity offered by the revision of the unemployment assistance regulations to substitute for the dole a form of reserve pay, such as the plan proposes, without additional cost to the State?

The plan has been carefully considered by my right hon. Friend, but he regrets he cannot see his way to adopt it.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that considerable sympathy exists for this idea in responsible quarters?

I think a great deal of sympathy exists for a lot of ideas.

Is it not the case that, if an unemployed man does a little work and receives 5s. or 10s., he is discouraged by having the whole of it taken off his unemployment pay? Is not that altogether wrong?

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the statement in the report of the Unemployment Assistance Board to the effect that firms in the Sheffield district have been recruiting and training young men but leaving on the market the older men; and what steps he proposes to take to secure fair treatment in regard to employment to men on the list of the Unemployment Assistance Board who have a good record?

I am aware of the passage to which the right hon. Member refers. Applicants for unemployment allowances are required to register at the Employment Exchanges for employment, and are considered, equally with other persons registered, for submission for vacancies notified to the Exchanges for which they appear to be suitable. The Department have, however, no means of controlling the final selection of workpeople for engagement, which rests with the employer.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman call for a special report from the Sheffield Exchanges as to the statement in the report, and will he undertake that there shall be no dilution of labour in skilled trades in connection with the Government's other proposals until these men are properly absorbed?

I will consider both suggestions, but I can give no undertaking on either point.

Does not this show that the question of skilled labour has become a great problem owing to the success of the National Government policy? But can my hon. and gallant Friend assure the House that the question of skilled labour is being carefully reviewed owing to the urgency of strengthening our national defences?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the question is being most forcibly kept in mind.

Are there not hundreds of skilled men on the register in Sheffield who are definitely being refused employment?

Will my hon. and gallant Friend also bear in mind that the report states that there has been practically no skilled labour unemployed in Rotherham during 1935?

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the reluctance of non-agricultural workers in receipt of a high scale of public assistance to take up agricultural work in which there is a lower scale of unemployment benefit; and whether his Department has any specific recommendations as to how these difficulties are to be avoided?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has not been drawn to the circumstances which my hon. and gallant Friend mentions, but if he cares to send me particulars, I will consider the position.

In view of the seasonal demand for labour on the land, will my hon. and gallant Friend make special investigation?

Does the Minister know of any agricultural districts where there is a high scale of unemployment assistance? Can we have an idea what a "high scale" means?

Would not the difficulty disappear if they paid decent wages for agricultural work?

Would it not disappear if they removed tithe from the land?

asked the Minister of Labour whether any action has been taken during the past eight years to limit the freedom of managers of Employment Exchanges in encouraging unemployed persona to join the fighting Services; and whether he will now consider amending the instructions given to managers enabling them to give information to unemployed persons with regard to the fighting Services in suitable cases whether or not they request such information?

There has been no change in practice since 1919. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 18th June, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the introduction of unemployment insurance for agricultural workers is working smoothly; whether contributions are being paid without question; and whether any unanticipated difficulties have been encountered?

The unemployment insurance scheme for agriculture has started well and I have no reason to believe that in general the contributions are not being paid. Some temporary difficulty is being experienced in certain areas in giving full effect to the provisions relating to the refunds of contributions in cases of long hirings, but I hope that this will soon be resolved.

Can the Minister say whether the difficulties come from the men or from the employers?

It is what you might call a common difficulty.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases of transferred labour which have proved successful and the number which have not done so, with the reasons so far as they are known which explain these failures?

During the three years 1933, 1934 and 1935, 25,540 men, 14,808 women, 7,643 boys, and 11,100 girls have been transferred from areas of heavy unemployment to employment available for them in more prosperous districts. During the period mentioned, 5,674 men with dependants were assisted to remove their households to their new areas. Precise information as to the numbers who have remained permanently in the new areas is not available, but there is no doubt that a large proportion have settled successfully.

Is there any foundation in the Welsh complaint that transferees from the Principality are compelled to come to London instead of to places nearer home?

That is a separate question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a committee to re-examine the ground explored by, and the various recommendations of, the Whitley Committee and to report what modifications are necessary as a result of the experience which has since been obtained?

No, Sir. The ground covered by the Whitley Committee is under continuous review in the course of the ordinary duties performed by my Department, and my right hon. Friend does not think that a committee such as that suggested by the hon. Member is required.

If the Minister is satisfied that there is a considerable demand throughout the country for a fresh inquiry, will he be good enough to reconsider his decision?

I think that, if the Minister were satisfied of that, he would be quite prepared to reconsider it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any scheme for the supplying of milk to expectant mothers has ever been submitted by Mr. Malcolm Stewart?

I know that the Commissioner is anxious to assist a scheme of this kind, but no formal proposal has so far been submitted to my right hon. Friend. The matter is still under consideration, but it has not as yet proved possible to complete satisfactory arrangements with the organisations concerned in the supply and distribution of milk.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say for what reason the scheme failed to come to maturity so far as informal conversations were concerned?

If it has taken so long to get this done, would it not be a practical step to appoint a few women to go up there and see that these things do get done?

It has not proved possible to make satisfactory arrangements with the organisations concerned for the supply and distribution of milk. I think hon. Members will realise that very often preliminary conversations are perhaps more important than actual formal negotiations.

Could my hon. and gallant Friend say what organisations stood in the way?

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent employés of the central Government and local authorities, respectively, receive holidays with pay?

In the case of the administrative, technical, clerical and manipulative grades of the Civil Service and of workers in Government industrial establishments, holidays with pay are granted, varying according to grade and, in some instances, length of service. My information is that paid holidays are also usually granted to the administrative, technical and clerical grades in the local government services. As regards manual workers employed in such services, recommendations have been made by the various national and district joint industrial councils that annual holidays with pay should be granted, and I understand that these recommendations are widely observed.

Will the Government take steps to see that, as far as the ground is not covered in this matter, it will be in the near future, and that all Government employés shall receive holidays with pay?

Is it not true that, when the British Government promise a thing, they do it; and is it not also true that in other countries the people have been promised this but have not got it?

asked the Minister of Labour why his representative at Geneva voted against the draft 40-hour week conventions for public works and buildings and civil engineering adopted by the conference on 17th June?

The vote in question was given in accordance with the policy of His Majesty's Government as explained in my right hon. Friend's speech delivered at Geneva on 9th June. Copies of the speech will be found in the Library.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that the line taken by the Government in this matter makes it quite impossible for anybody to believe in the genuineness of their desire to reduce unemployment?

No, Sir.

Is it not a fact that many of the difficulties and obstacles mentioned by the Government in regard to bringing this proposal into operation have been proved to be unreal and imaginary by the action of the French Government; and will the Government face this issue with courage and put it into operation?

Have not the National Government reduced unemployment, whereas the Socialists only increased it?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men fully employed in agriculture, in mining, in engineering, and in shipbuilding in the United Kingdom in the years 1913, 1925, and 1935, and the average wages in each of these years; and whether he can give the figures relating to Scotland separately?

I am having the available information collected, and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement as to the circumstances of the trade dispute at the Michelin Tyre Company, Stoke-on-Trent?

I understand that the immediate cause of this dispute was the dismissal of two workmen for disciplinary reasons and the refusal of the firm to enter into discussions with the trade union of which these men are members. My Department have been in communication with the firm and with the union, and should any opportunity present itself for assisting towards the settlement of the dispute they will not fail to take advantage of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial contribution will be made by the Racecourse Betting Control Board during the current year to promote the welfare of light-horse breeding in this country; and whether he will ensure that this contribution is allocated in such a way as to include pony breeding as well as horse breeding?

A grant of £5,000 is being made to the Hunters Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Society for the award of premiums for thoroughbred stallions, and a further grant of £300 is being made to the National Pony Society for premiums for stallions of the breeds of ponies indigenous to this country.

Can my hon. Friend say whether these grants will have any effect either in increasing or diminishing the debt due from the board to the bank?

asked the Home Secretary how many men were convicted of being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle during 1935?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Return of Offences relating to motor vehicles for 1935, which was presented to Parliament on the 25th May. The return shows that the number of charges of driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle when under the influence of drink or a drug which resulted in a conviction was 1,966.

Is the right hon. Gentleman of opinion that the magistrates in general are observing the law in regard to this highly serious offence?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Joseph Hill, aged 20, of Bilston, who was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour for stealing a 3d. bottle of milk to give a drink to his wife who is expecting a baby; and whether he will consider the remission of this sentence?

My hon. Friend's question does not state the full circumstances which the Justices in this case had to consider, and unless those circumstances are understood they are exposed to unwarranted criticism. Hill had previously committed a much more serious theft, but instead of sending him to prison he had been bound over and placed under the supervision of a probation officer earlier this year. The present offence was a breach of the conditions of his probation, and to deal with him again under the Probation of Offenders Act would hardly have been appropriate. In these circumstances the Justices, after making arrangements for his wife to be assisted, decided that they must impose a term of imprisonment on him. After inquiry and full consideration, I have decided, without reflecting on the course which the Justices thought it their duty to adopt, that the prisoner should now be discharged.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the law governing conditions of labour is being observed in the British Aluminium Company's works at Inverlochy, Inverness-shire, where the workers are on strike in protest against conditions of labour; and if he is not satisfied, what action he proposes to take?

I am informed that this firm maintains a high standard of compliance with the requirements of the Factory Acts. It was last inspected early this month, and I am not aware of anything requiring any action on my part.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been brought to a recent case at the Ongar Police Court, when a Mr. Arthur William Wingar, of Fairfield Road, Ongar, a baker's roundsman earning 28s. a week, out of which he had to pay 15s. 6d. for rent and keep a wife and child on the rest, was charged with embezzlement and was fined £12 and one guinea costs; and whether, in view of the fact that the man's wages were so low, he will take steps to remit the fines imposed on him?

My attention had not previously been called to this case. I find on inquiry that the defendant pleaded guilty to six charges including embezzlement and falsification of accounts. I understand that the Justices took a serious view of the matter, but it was represented that the defendant would have an immediate opportunity of obtaining further employment, and having regard to this the Justices decided to deal with the case by fines, and imposed fines of £2 on each charge and allowed three months for payment. If the sum due is not paid within the time allowed, steps will be taken to bring the defendant before the Court with a view to inquiry as to his means in accordance with the Money Payments (Justices Procedure) Act, 1935. There is no occasion for me to intervene in the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the increased poverty that such fines impose upon a family, of the fearful mental worry it causes to the whole of the home, and that this means that the punishment is far in excess of any offence that has been committed?

I think that the hon. Gentleman is not doing justice to the position. He will remember, I am sure, because he took part in it, that last Session the House passed the Act about fines, the very object of which is to secure that people are not punished because of poverty when fines cannot fairly be paid. It is surely right to visit these offences with punishment, and if the fines are not paid inquiry will be made.

Has the Home Secretary inquired whether the magistrates are thoroughly conversant with that Act?

I am quite sure that they are. We circularised all the magistrates, and the terms of my original answer have now called attention to it; but I will make quite certain.

Will the Minister send a pamphlet to the Ministry of Labour pointing out the urgent need of a Minimum Wage Bill?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the British Empire Boys' Band has been refused permission by the Home Office to tour South Africa; and the reasons for this refusal?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Permission has been refused not by the Home Office but by a magistrate of the Metropolitan Police Courts in Bow Street in the exercise of his statutory discretion under Section 25 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933.

Is there any method by which this statutory discretion of the magistrate can be reviewed by the Home Office?

No, I do not think so. The Section in question provides that persons under the age of 18, like these children, may not be taken abroad for the purpose of singing, playing, etc., for profit without a licence from a police magistrate, who is required by the Section to be satisfied as to the arrangements made for the treatment of the young persons when abroad.

asked the Home Secretary the number of recommendations he has received for the deportation of aliens during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; the number that have been repatriated; and the number of aliens whom their Governments refused to accept?

I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

With regard to the last part of the question as to the number of aliens whom their governments refused to accept, are those aliens allowed to remain in this country, or are they deported to another country?

I hope that the supplementary question of the hon. Gentleman does not imply that he does not give his consent to my circulating the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT. If he does, I hardly think a supplementary question arises.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that existing police action has failed to prevent the growth of Jew-baiting in Hackney; and what further action he intends to take?

As I have informed the House, special steps are already being taken by the police to deal with this matter. I am, moreover, at present in consultation with the Commissioner on the question whether any further measures are necessary, and can be devised to put a stop to incidents which we all agree cannot be tolerated.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, in spite of the efforts that have been made up to the present, this practice is growing, that deplorable incidents are of daily and nightly occurrence in Hackney, and would it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to deal with the central organisation which inspires all these wretched activities?

I think the hon. Gentleman knows that I do not take this matter lightly at all. Very great attention is being paid to it both by the Commissioner and by myself, and I think that the consideration now being given to it must be left to produce its results.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at a recent meeting of the Stepney Borough Council a resolution was passed calling attention to the fact that the police in the district showed a partiality towards the Fascists and, as far as possible, allowed them to do exactly what they liked?

No, Sir, I was unaware of that, and if such a resolution as tint were sent to me, I should have an answer to make to it. We may feel very gravely disturbed about this situation, but there is no justification for saying that the police are partial in the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that if the police protection were withdrawn, this organisation would peter out completely?

I think that if police protection were completely withdrawn—[Interruption.]—May I ask the hon. Member to attend to my answer? I think that he will appreciate that, if police protection were entirely withdrawn, there might be a riot, and I am sure that he does not desire that to happen.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the recent development of aircraft, he will consider the appointment of a committee further to examine and investigate the technical, engineering, and economic problems involved in building a Channel tunnel at the present time; and can he make a statement as to His Majesty's Government's position regarding the same?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. There is no change in the attitude of His Majesty's Government.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is taking any steps to promote the increase of nursery schools and can be explain the slow rate at which such schools are expanding?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Board's Circular 1444 issued last January, in which local education authorities are asked to survey the needs of their areas. I think that it is too early yet to come to any conclusion regarding the rate at which nursery schools are increasing.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it necessary to accelerate the efforts now being made by his Department in regard to new nursery schools, and particularly in view of the fact that the Government have refused a really genuine increase of the school-leaving age? Would it not be better for them to attend to the problem of getting the children to school a bit earlier?

The progress is not unsatisfactory. Since the issue of the Circular I have had 28 proposals for new schools and six proposals for enlargement of existing ones, a much greater development than has ever been experienced before.

Two hundred and eighty would not be excessive.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that certain schools in the County of Derby are prevented from availing themselves of the milk provision owing to the refusal of head teachers to arrange for supplies; and what steps the local authority should take with his approval in such cases, with a view to realising the recommendations of Circular 1443?

I have no information that head teachers in Derbyshire have refused to arrange for supplies of milk on payment under the milk-in-schools scheme, and I should of course regret any such refusal. The scheme, however, is a voluntary one, and requires for its efficient working the whole-hearted co-operation of all parties concerned. As regards the second part of the question, the Derbyshire local education authority exercises its powers under Section 84 of the Education Act, 1921, to supply free milk to under-nourished children, in accordance with the recommendations of Circular 1443. This has no connection with the voluntary arrangements referred to above.

Is not one of the reasons for wishing to supply milk that the milk supplied is pasteurised milk, which is devitalised milk, and its condition is disguised under the name of pasteurised milk?

asked the President of the Board of Education what are the standard requirements laid down in regard to the premises of elementary schools in order that they may be approved as efficient; whether the same standard is applied in the case of non-provided as in the case of provided schools; and what are the particular requirements as regards water supply, sanitation, lighting, and ventilation, respectively?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Code of Regulations for public elementary schools, and she will see that Article 5 makes certain requirements regarding the condition of the premises of a school. No specific standards applicable to all existing schools are, or could be, prescribed in respect of water supply, sanitation, lighting and ventilation. Each case is considered on its merits in relation to the circumstances and possibilities. As regards new schools, the Board will shortly be issuing detailed suggestions for the planning of elementary school buildings which will deal with the matter to which the Noble Lady refers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make perfectly certain that all schools have proper light and proper sanitary arrangements?

You cannot lay down general standards for all schools, but every school is inspected by one of the Board's inspectors. Particular attention is paid to these matters, and any deficiencies are being put right.

asked the President of the Board of Education how far the reorganisation of elementary

asked the President of the Board of Education on what grounds he cannot recognise expenditure on the part of the Barnsley local education authority in respect of unemployed juveniles attending the authority's school camp during two weeks in 1935?

The hon. Member is misinformed. The Board's recognition of the expenditure in question for the purposes of their grant was given in a letter to the Barnsley local education authority on the 15th of this month.

Is not education in a school camp—not a holiday camp of this nature—in the best interests of unemployed juveniles?

I have no doubt that it is in the best interests of the people who are doing training, and that is the reason why a grant is given.

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am not in a position to answer the last part of the question, but I can assure my hon. Friend that substantial progress is being made.

Is it not a fact that the Barnsley local education authority approached the Minister, and complained, and am I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that the cause of the complaint no longer exists?

As far as I know there has been no complaint from the Barnsley education authority to the Board of Education.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will bring up to date the information given on 12th April, 1934, in regard to the period during which school meals are provided?

As the answer involves a considerable amount of detail, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the increased death rate from tuberculosis of women in Durham and Northumberland; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the cause or causes of this increase from 124 to 152 per 100,000?

I am unable to identify the death rates quoted by the hon. Member. The death rates of females from all forms of tuberculosis per 100,000 of the female population in Durham and Northumberland was 90.5 in 1934 and 82.8 in 1935, and the decline has been continuous during the past five years.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the view of

The National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Act, 1935, enables an unemployed person who became a voluntary contributor after 31st December, 1932, and fulfils certain conditions, to revert, as from the beginning of this year, to the employed contributor class. If he so reverts he will remain hovered for all pensions, without paying any contributions, so long as he continues to prove unemployment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the cost per annum of raising non-contributory old age pensions from 10s. per week to 15s. per week?

It is not possible to give the cost of an increased rate of old age pension applicable only to non-contributory pensions. Among other reasons is the fact that a large number of contributory pensioners could satisfy the conditions for a non-contributory pension if there was anything to be gained by their so doing. The cost of increasing all pensions' to persons over 70 (or 50 in the case of blind persons) from 10s. to 15s. a week would be about £22,000,000 a year at the present time.

Will the Minister consider increasing the pensions to old people when they reach the age of 80 or 85? There cannot be a great number of them. They suffer great hardship and can do nothing for themselves.

Does the Financial Secretary consider that 10s. a week is sufficient for old people?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider introducing amending legislation with a view to raising the maximum allowance of earned and unearned income of £49 17s. 6d. in the assessment for old age pensions under the 1919 Act, as in the experience of many public assistance committees hardship is at present being caused to a large number of old persons?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th May to questions by the hon. Members for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) and Sedgefield (Mr. Leslie).

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to take any action concerning the Peace Pledge Union, which has 100,000 individuals pledged to resist participation in war under all circumstances and contemplates special training for the purpose?

No, Sir.

Does not the Prime Minister appreciate that this movement is now becoming serious from the national point of view, that Members of both 'Houses of Parliament are associated with it and that it is receiving the utmost encouragement from the present foreign policy of the Government?

Is the House to understand that the special training to resist participation in war is of a military character?

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Fuel Research Board have yet been asked to report upon the new carbonisation process of the National Coke and Oil Company, Limited; and whether the report, if any, is regarded as satisfactory?

No application has been received from the National Coke and Oil Company, Limited, for a test of their process. If and when any such application is made, the Director of Fuel Research will be prepared to carry out a test. In that case a full report will be issued in accordance with the published conditions.

Are we to understand that there is no guarantee to the ordinary investor that the process referred to is consistent with modern requirements?

I made no such observation. I said that no application had been made.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is any dietary scale fixed for the children in Poor Law homes in England and Wales; whether he can explain why the cost of feeding varies in some instances by over 300 per cent., as disclosed in the costing returns for the year ended 31st March, 1935; and whether he will place these costing returns and dietary scales, if any, in the Library?

The Public Assistance Order, 1930, requires local authorities to prescribe dietaries for the children in homes maintained by them. These dietaries do not need my sanction, but specimen dietaries for children's homes are included in a report by the Advisory Committee on Nutrition which was circulated to local authorities in 1932. Differences in the cost of feeding can be accounted for to some extent by such factors as the size of the home, and the proportion of occupied to unoccupied beds. Special inquiries are being made into cases in which there are wide divergencies from the average cost. I am arranging for copies of the advisory committee's report and of the costing returns to be placed in the Library.

While thanking the Minister, may I ask whether he will publish later the result of the investigation?

If necessary, but I was referring to inquiries which are made from time to time by my officers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has inquired into the alleged excessive hours of work in the central children's homes, New Malden, Surrey, to which his attention has been called recently; and, if so, what he proposes to do?

I have had inquiries made in this matter. Additions were made last month to the domestic staff of the homes which should reduce substantially the amount of household work required of the children. I am arranging for a further inspection to be made at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has inquired into the alleged cruelty to children in the children's home at Leominster, to which his attention has been called recently; and, if so, what he proposes to do?

I have been in touch with the Herefordshire County Council through the general inspector for the district and I do not think that any action on my part is necessary in supplementation of the action already taken by the council, who have accepted the resignation of the matron of the home on grounds of ill-health and are arranging for the transfer of the children to a voluntary home, certified by me under the Poor Law Act.

As this is apparently a good Conservative council, will the right hon. Gentleman make the same inquiries into its activities as he does into the activities of Labour councils?

I do not think the hon. Member is aware of the circumstances or he would not put that question.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to a recent judgment in the Court of Appeal which places on the tenants of controlled dwellings the onus of proof of such control; and whether he will take immediate steps to introduce amending legislation?