asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken to give effect to the recommendations of the United Provinces Unemployment Committee, especially with regard to the financing of enterprises and the development of the social services?

I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of a Debate in the Legislative Council of the United Provinces and would direct his attention to the speech of the Finance Member in which he indicated the policy of that Government in regard to these matters.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement on the memorandum on educational reconstruction and unemployment submitted to the Central Advisory Board of Education by the education commissioner of the Government of India?

I have not seen any such memorandum but the Central Advisory Board of Education at its last meeting passed resolutions regarding employment, to the importance of which the Government of India have drawn the attention of the provincial governments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state the number of military officers who drew pensions through the India Office chargeable to Indian revenues for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the amounts paid during that period in respect of those pensions?

The numbers of military officers, including departmental and warrant officers, officers of the Indian Medical Service, and of the Royal Indian Marine (now Royal Indian Navy) who drew pensions through the India Office chargeable to Indian revenues during the year ended 31st March, 1936, and the amounts paid during the year in respect of these pensions, were as follow:—

—	Numbers.	Amounts.
		£
Military officers(including departmental and warrant officers).	4,053	1,785,965
Officers of the Indian Medical Service.	587	335,143
Officers of the Royal Indian Marine (now Royal Indian Navy).	157	56,650
	4,797	2,177,758

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of pensions issued in this country to retired members of the Indian Civil Service for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and the amounts paid in respect of those pensions?

The number of pensions issued in this country to retired members of the Indian Civil Service for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1936, was 791, and the amount paid in respect of those pensions was £696,210.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the average price per cwt. live-weight of fat cattle sold at Smithfield for the six months before, and the six months after, the coming into force of the deficiency payment under the Cattle Industry (Subsidy) Act, 1934?

Payments under the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1934, were made in respect of eligible animals and carcases sold on and after the 1st September, 1934. The informa- tion required is given in the following table.

Monthly Average Prices per cwt. live-weight of 1st and 2nd Quality Fat Cattle (Shorthorns) at the Metropolitan Cattle Market from March, 1934 to February, 1935, and six monthly Average Prices March-August, 1934, and September, 1934-February, 1935.
(Compiled from the Agricultural Market Report.)
Month.	1st Quality.		2nd Quality.
	s	d.	s	d.
March, 1934	43	0	38	0
April	42	4	37	0
May	42	11	37	7
June	42	4	37	0
July	43	4	38	8
August	44	6	38	5
Average	43	1	37	9
September, 1934	39	8	36	8
October	37	7	35	4
November	36	0	33	4
December	41	9	37	1
January, 1935	41	7	37	10
February	39	8	35	0
Average	39	0	35	10

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many creameries and factories making milk products are situated in Lincolnshire and the total number of gallons of milk with which they are capable of dealing?

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that the number of premises making milk products in Lincolnshire which have been approved by the board for the supply of milk at

Statement showing the acreages under Wheat, Barley, Oats and Sugar Beet in the United Kingdom in respect of agricultural holdings above one acre in extent in each of the years 1930–1935.
—			1930.	1931.	1932.	1933.	1934.	1935.
			Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.
Wheat	…	…	1,404,600	1,249,760	1,343,276	1,744,933	1,865,751	1,882,143*
Barley	…	…	1,128,942	1,118,526	1,030,502	812,640	959,282	871,272*
Oats	…	…	2,947,118	2,772,406	2,733,514	2,638,624	2,498,301	2,518,221*
Sugar Beet	…	…	348,920	234,174	255,648	365,774	403,884	374,753*
* Subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will intervene on behalf of the owner-occupiers of houses

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres in the united Kingdom under arable cultivation for the years 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936?

Figures for the present year will not be available until some time in August. For the years 1930 to 1935 inclusive the information required is as follows:

Statement showing total area of arable land on agricultural holdings above one acre in extent in the United Kingdom.
	Total Arable Land.
Years.	Acres.
1930	14,144,568
1931	13,839,443
1932	13,574,933
1933	13,449,056
1934	13,370,218
1935	13,488,237*
* Subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the number of acres under cultivation, respectively, for wheat, oats, barley, and sugar-beet for each of the years 1930 to 1936?

Particulars for this year are not yet available. The following table gives the required information for the years 1930 to 1935.on the Bevendean Estate, Brighton, Sussex, to secure that an open space may be left round these houses to prevent them from being depreciated in value?

I have no information on this subject but will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the reasons why the rents of council houses at Northfield Road, Cobham, under the Esher Urban District Council, are kept so high, whilst the rents of the houses under neighbouring authorities are much lower, the difference being as much as 3s. 10d. to 4s. 10d. per week for similar types of houses; and will he try to influence the Esher Urban District Council to lower the rents of their houses?

It is a matter for the local authority concerned to fix the rents to be charged for houses belonging to them, after taking into consideration the rents ordinarily payable by persons of the working classes in the locality. I understand that the Esher Urban District Council have recently had under consideration the general question of the rents charged for their houses and that, as a result, the rents of the houses in Northfield Road, Cobham, were reduced from 12s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. a week, exclusive of rates, as from the 1st April last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his Department will agree to pay compensation to Mrs. Aitchison, 45, South Glencraig, Fife, who, as the result of a wrongly transmitted telegram, was compelled to spend a considerable sum of money in taking a taximeter-cab from Fifeshire to Glasgow to meet an Anchor liner, there being no train that would get her to Glasgow in time?

My inquiries as regards this matter are not yet complete. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have had an opportunity of considering the facts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will communicate with local authorities as to the most urgent claims for playing fields in their respective areas; and will he consider favourably the claims of depressed areas for special treatment?

Yes, Sir. I am always willing to communicate to local authorities on complaints made to me of the inadequacy of playing field provision in their areas. I am aware that in the Special Areas financial assistance is in suitable instances being given under the Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act, 1934, but if the hon. Member desires further information perhaps he will put a question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of medical practitioners undertaking National Health Insurance work in this country for 1935; and the total amount paid for such services out of National Health Insurance funds?

The number of medical practitioners under agreement with Insurance Committees in England and Wales in 1935 was 16,552, and the total amount paid to them from National Health Insurance funds in respect of the year was £7,345,338. Up to the 30th June the amount payable was subject to an economy deduction of 5 per cent. of the capitation fees.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a series of fatal and non-fatal accidents have recently occurred in Haydons Road and Wimbledon Broadway; and will he explain the delay in announcing his decision to confirm or not to confirm the order for a speed limit of 20 miles per hour made by the Wimbledon Council, and which was the subject of a public inquiry on 21st and 22nd January last?

My decision not to confirm the order for a speed limit of 20 miles per hour on the two roads mentioned by the hon. Member was communicated to the Wimbledon Borough Council on the 9th July. Before arriving at this decision, I took all relevant facts, including the number of accidents, into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the representations from the Cotton Trade League protesting against the inadequate reductions in Indian import duties on British textiles, and the omission of prints, yarns, and rayons from the operation of the reductions; and whether he will take steps with the Indian authorities to reconsider their decision in this connection?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 9th July to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Rowson).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the importation of eggs for the 12 months ended 1st June or 1st July for each of the years 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936, showing total imports under the two categories of foreign and Empire countries?

The following table shows the quantity of eggs in shell imported into the United Kingdom during the undermentioned periods and consigned from (a) British countries and (b) foreign countries.

	Eggs in shell consigned from
Period	British Countries.	Foreign Countries.
Twelve months ended 31st May:	Great hundreds.	Great hundreds.
1931	5,877,297	19,758,958
1932	6,085,328	17,583,902
1933	5,910,104	13,008,480
1934	5,694,124	12,830,226
1935	5,479,184	13,101,481
1936	4,765,199	17,363,651

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of works closed down in Lancashire in the cotton, coal, iron and steel in- dustries, during the years 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935; stating the number of persons who have lost their employment as a consequence in each case, separately;(2) the number of new industries that have been established in Lancashire during the years 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, and 1935, stating the nature of such industries and the number of persons employed?

(pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th July, 1936; col. 1016, Vol. 314) supplied the following statement):The number of coal pits closed in Lancashire in each of the past five years, and not subsequently reopened is shown below, together with the number of workers displaced:

	Pits closed.	Workers displaced.
1931	16	3,572
1932	14	1,268
1933	12	1,303
1934	17	1,114
1935	12	756

As regards the remainder of the information desired, the only particulars available are those collected since 1932 in connection with the Survey of Industrial Development, which relate solely to factories employing 25 or more work-people.The following table shows the number of such factories engaged in the trades specified which were reported as closed in Lancashire during each of the years 1932 to 1935, distinguishing those which were reported as closed in connection with a scheme of reorganisation. Particulars of the number of workpeople displaced by these closures are not available.

	Number of factories closed (a)(b).	Of which closed under schemes of reorganisation.
Cotton trade (spinning and weaving)—
1932	59	16
1933	41	—
1934	82	1
1935	88	—
Iron and steel trades—
1932	3	3
1933	2	2
1934	—	—
1935	1	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the amounts paid by the city of Glasgow in respect of able-bodied unemployed within the scope of the Unemployment Act, 1934, and outside the scope of that Act, respectively, also for temporary sick, i.e., persons who would be in those categories but for temporary sickness; for administrative expenses in respect of able-bodied unemployment in relation to the categories mentioned; and the amount of Government grants paid to the city of Glasgow in respect of each of the said categories, all for the year ended 31st March, 1936?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amounts paid by the Burgh of Motherwell in respect of able-bodied unemployed within the scope of the Unemployment Act, 1934, and outside the scope of the Act, respectively, also for temporary sick, namely, persons who would be in those categories but for temporary sickness; for administrative expenses in respect of able-bodied unemployment in relation to the categories mentioned; and the amount of Government grants paid to the Burgh of Motherwell in respect of each of the said categories, all for the year ended 31st March, 1936?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will state the amounts paid by Hamilton Burgh in respect of able-bodied unemployed within the scope of the Unemployment Act, 1934, and outside the scope of the Act, respectively, also for temporary sick, namely, persons who would be in those categories but for temporary sickness; for administrative expenses in respect of able-bodied unemployment in relation to the categories mentioned; and the amount of Government grants paid to Hamilton Burgh in respect of each of the said categories, all for the year ended 31st March, 1936;(2) whether he will state the amounts paid by the County of Lanark in respect of able-bodied unemployed within the scope of the Unemployment Act, 1934, and outside the scope of the Act, respectively, also for temporary sick, namely, persons who would be in those categories but for temporary sickness; for administrative expenses in respect of able-bodied unemployment in relation to the categories mentioned; and the amount of Government grants paid to the County of Lanark in respect of each of the said categories, all for the year ended 31st March, 1936?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amounts paid by Coatbridge in respect of able-bodied unemployed within the scope of the Unemployment Act, 1934, and outside the scope of the Act, respectively, also for temporary sick, i.e., persons who would be in those categories but for temporary sickness; for administrative expenses in respect of able-bodied unemployment in relation to the categories mentioned; and the amount of Government grants paid to Coatbridge in respect of each of the said categories, all for the year ended 31st March, 1936?

Exact information as to the expenditure by the local authorities

—	City of Glasgow.	Burgh of			County of Lanark.
		Motherwell.	Hamilton.	Coatbridge.
(a) Estimated expenditure on outdoor relief to the able-bodied unemployed during the year ended 31st March, 1936:	£	£	£	£	£
(i) On those within scope of the Act	1,336,142	3,469	25,857	6,777	84,300
(ii) On those outwith scope	175,428	1,407	850	1,569	12,996
Total	1,511,570*	4,876*	26,707*	8,346*	97,296*
(b) Estimated expenditure on administration of able-bodied relief during year ended 31st March, 1936.	47,000*	12*	143*	420*	5,093*
Estimated saving to the local authority when those within scope of the Act are transferred to the Unemployment Assistance Board.	19,424	10	110	90	1,000
(c) Specific Government Grant under the Unemployment Assistance (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1935, for year ended 31st March, 1936 in respect of persons with in the scope of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934:
Gross Grant	1,397,290	6,411	29,272	10,005	107,526
Less local authority's contribution under Section 45 of the Unemployment Act, 1934.	406,292	2,506	11,674	4,156	33,521
Net Grant	990,998	3,905	17,598	5,849	74,005
*These sums are included within the local authority's "rate and grant borne expenditure" which is met partly out of the rates and partly by Block Grant. The figures do not include the cost of assistance to those able-bodied unemployed who have already been taken over by the Unemployment Assistance Board.

I regret that no information is available as to expenditure during the year on persons who, but for temporary sickness, would have been classed as able-bodied, but the amount would be small and would not materially affect the estimated figures given above.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the scholarship facilities to African students to study at the Imperial Agricultural

Colonial agricultural scholarships at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, are awarded by a process of selection. I am aware of the case of a Nigerian student referred to in the question. His academic attainments were not con- sidered adequate. It is open to him to make a further application, but I am advised that his chances of success are not good, as the number of applicants is considerable and the standard is high. Scholars are recommended for selection entirely on their respective merits by an Advisory Selection Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the numbers of unemployed persons, and the percentage thereof in relation to the numbers employed, in each of the industries of the sheltered type, including those industries relatively unexposed to foreign competition, at the most recent convenient date in 1936 and at a corresponding date in 1935, respectively?

Statistical tables showing the numbers and percentages of insured persons, aged 16–64, recorded as unemployed in each of the 104 industries for which figures are available, are published regularly in the monthly issues of the Ministry of Labour Gazette, and percentage comparisons are given for the previous month and for the corresponding months in each of the past two years. The latest figures, relating to 25th May, 1936, will be found on pages 216–219 of the June issue of the Gazette, and figures relating to 22nd June will be given in the next issue, to be published on 18th July. There is no generally accepted classification which would enable me to group the industries according to the extent to which they are sheltered from or exposed to foreign competition.