asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain surface colliery workers set to work in the colliery manager's garden are now regarded as agricultural workers and included in the Unemployment Insurance (Agriculture) Act, 1936; and will he state on what grounds they are so classified?

If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the case or cases to which he refers, I shall be happy to inquire into the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will consider including in the monthly figures relating to employment for each accounting area the percentage which the insured poulation bears to the total population in that area;

(2) whether he will state, as a percentage, the relation of the insured population to the total population in the case of Huddersfield and either Jarrow or, if that is not possible, the immediate accounting area which includes Jarrow?

The only information in the possession of the Department with regard to the insured population in particular areas is that relating to the numbers of insured persons whose unemployment books are exchanged, in July of each year, at Employment Exchanges situated within those areas. As the areas served by particular Employment Exchanges do not correspond with the local authority areas in which they are situated, and as considerable numbers of unemployment books are exchanged at Employment Exchanges situated in areas other than those in which the insured persons are resident, I regret that it is not possible to calculate the ratio between the insured population and the total population of a particular locality.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that in order to obtain a proper picture of the incidence of unemployment some such figure as this should necessarily be included in the monthly statistics relating to unemployment?

When considering this question it is necessary to remember that other factors beside figures come in.

:Is it not approximately true that, whereas in Huddersfield about one-half of the total population are normally occupied in insurable occupations, in Jarrow rather less than a quarter of the total poulation is so occupied?

My hon. Friend knows that in Huddersfield there is a large proportion of women insurably employed.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit and transitional payment allowances, respectively, at the Maesteg, Pontycymmer, Ogmore Vale, Aberkenfig, and Bridgend Labour Exchanges for the years 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, and 1935 to date?

As the reply includes a Table of figures I will, if I may, cir-

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been transferred to date from the Special Areas to the estates of the Land Settlement Association; how many of these men have completed training; how many are still in training; how many have already been joined by their families; what is the total number of men, women, and children thus transferred; and what is the estimated total figure for men, women, and children up to the end of the present year?

I am informed by the Land Settlement Association that up to 30th November, 1936, 486 men had been transferred from the Special Areas to the estates of the Association; of these 14 have completed training and 472 are still in training; 246 have been joined by their families and the total number of men, women and juveniles transferred is 1,419. The Association estimate that about 1,750 men, women and juveniles will have been transferred up to the end of the year.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it important that full

There is another question about that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered recommendation 15, page 163, of the recent report of the Commissioner for the Special Areas; and whether it is the Government's intention to adopt that recommendation and enable the full-time holdings programme of the Land Settlement Association to be steadily expanded and, if so, to what extent?

Recruitment for the present programme of land settlement in England and Wales provides for an experiment based on settling some 2,000 families on full-time small holdings and it is not expected to be completed for about 12 months. The Commissioner's recommendation for expansion is being actively examined.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to tell the House how much money there is in the Unemployment Insurance Fund; whether there is a surplus; and, if so, will he use it to help the unemployed to withstand the rigours of winter?

At 21st November, 1936, the credit balance in the Unemployment Fund was about £37,500,000. No part of this sum can, however, be treated as a disposable surplus unless and until it is so declared by the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee, who are required by statute to report before the end of February next upon the condition of the fund at 31st December, 1936.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a year ago I asked him, seeing that Christmas was coming on, if he would not give a hundredweight of coal to every unemployed family, and he said he had no money to do that? Now that they have money, will he not help the unemployed to withstand the rigours of winter?

I have no power to do that at all. The report of the committee will be in my hands before the end of February, and I shall have to consider any recommendations they may make about such surplus as may be at their disposal, if any.

Is it not a known fact that there is a surplus now?

The issue is not whether there is a surplus, but whether there is a disposable surplus, which is a very different thing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to introduce legislation to carry out the recommendations of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Commission that the salary limit for unemployment insurance for non-manual workers should be raised from £250 to £400 per annum?

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the overtime that is now being worked by Post Office engineers, he will take steps in conjunction with the Postmaster-General, to set up suitable training centres in the Special Areas to teach suitable unemployed men Post Office engineering work, with the object of transferring these men when trained to positions of remunerative employment, and thus relieve the present staff of avoidable overtime and overwork

I have received a communication from my right hon. Friend inviting the assistance of my Department in connection with a proposed scheme at Jarrow for the training, under Post Office auspices, of suitable unemployed men for Post Office engineering work. The matter is at present under discussion between the two Departments.

Will assistance be given wherever possible?

Full consideration will be given to the question in the discussions to which I have referred.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total estimated sum that will be saved per year in the county of Cumberland as a result of the new Unemployment Assistance Board regulations and the application of the means test?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rhondda, East (Mr. Mainwaring) on Tuesday last.

asked the Minister of Labour by how much the estimate of £15,000,000 per year, given by his predecessor, has been reduced, as the estimate which was being saved owing to the means test?

The estimate to which the hon. Member refers was related to transitional payments, which had regard to benefit rates and conditions. This is not generally the case with unemployment allowances, and I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 16th July last to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) in which I pointed out the reasons why it is not now possible to give an estimate of the amount saved by the operation of the means test.

If the Minister's predecessor could give an estimate, surely the Minister can?

The hon. Member has had a letter explaining to him the difference between the two things. I could not argue it at Question Time, but I gave a long explanation which he will find in the answer to which I have referred him.

I will raise that on the Adjournment, too.

asked the Minister of Labour, as on the last convenient date prior to 16th November, how many of the allowances paid by the Unemployment Assistance Board exceeded the amount which would have been payable to the same applicants under standard benefit?

This information could not be ascertained without an examination as to eligibility for unemployment benefit and a computation in each individual case which I should not feel justified in undertaking.

As this practice is increasing, can the right hon. Gentleman look into it with a view to getting some information?

I have looked very carefully into it, and save on the terms contained in the answer, I do not see the possibility of any results.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, at the same time, inquire in how many cases the amounts payable by the Unemployment Assistance Board were less than what would have been payable under standard benefit?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he can supply particulars of the number of applications for unemployment benefit and the amount paid at the Employment Exchanges in Monmouthshire for the years 1929 to 1935; and similar information to the most recent date of the year 1936;

(2) whether he can supply particulars of the number of applications for transitional payments and unemployment assistance and the amount paid at the Employment Exchanges in Monmouthshire for the years 1929 to 1935 and similar information to the most recent date for 1936?

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether the report expected by the Commissioner of Special Areas in regard to new industries, and now in the possession of the Government, recommends that the Government should themselves establish new industries or financially assist in the establishment of new industries in the distressed areas?

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is his intention to publish the results of the investigation of the inquiry by an expert firm on the question of possible industrial development in South-West Durham, which investigation was undertaken at the request of Mr. Malcolm Stewart when he was Commissioner for the Special Areas of England and Wales?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the report made to the Commissioner as a result of the investigation mentioned in paragraph 145 of the third report of the Commissioner for Special Areas, England and Wales. I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) on 16th November.

Does not the Commissioner recommend that the Government should give assistance in starting new industries?

It is not for me but for the Commissioner. If he thinks it necessary, he can embody the substance of any report sent to him in a report to me, and it is then only that the question of publication would arise.

I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce an amended Special Areas Bill, and whether he can say when it will be introduced?

It is hoped that the proposed Bill to amend the Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act, 1934, will be introduced soon after the House meets in January.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask why he made an important announcement in public last night rather than to the House of Commons, particularly in view of the debates and discussions on this matter in recent days?

It was in the public interest.

Is it not the recognised practice and custom of the House of Commons that Ministers should make statements of that kind in the House of Commons before making them outside?

It is not the invariable rule.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the petition presented to this House from the South Wales distressed area was a representative one of all the local public bodies, large industrial concerns, churches, and public men; and will he give some indication of the action he proposes to take in response to the prayer?

I fully accept the hon. Member's description of the signatories to this petition. Its object is one which was fully debated in this House on 17th November, and I can add nothing to the undertaking which was then given that the Government would again give serious consideration to all the proposals which have been made by the Commissioners for the Special Areas.

Are we likely to have the Government's proposals in regard to this area available to the public and the House of Commons before Christmas?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new industries have been established in the Special Area of West Cumberland since the inauguration of the Special Areas Reconstruction Association, Limited; the total amount loaned; and how many additional people have been employed?

As I indicated to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. A. Jenkins) on 5th November, the Special Areas Reconstruction Association must consider each individual application on its merits and it would not be in the interests either of the association or of potential borrowers that the benefits received by various areas should be the subject of competitive comparisons. I am informed that the association has under consideration 12 applications for the establishment of new businesses or extensions to existing businesses in the West Cumberland area, but I am not in a position to state the amount of additional employment involved in these applications. I would remind the hon. Member that the association was established for the purpose of assisting small businesses and that the employment capacity of such businesses is necessarily limited.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a report arranged for by the Commissioner for the Special Areas, and which has now been received by the Government, in regard to public works, recommends that the Government should now encourage and financially assist in the carrying out of public works in the distressed areas?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish the findings of the survey in South-West Durham as to the possibilities of public works in that area in the interests of public health and economic development, which survey was undertaken at the request of Mr. Malcolm Stewart when he was Commissioner for the Special Areas of England and Wales?

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) on 16th November.

Surely if there has been a report in regard to relief works the House ought to know what it is?

If the matter is of public interest, the Commissioner for Special Areas will make up his mind on what lines he shall report to me. It is quite impossible to have confidential reports made, and information received on that basis, if publication is to follow and Members ask questions in the House.

This is a matter in which the House is interested and has a right to know what is in the report. I will include that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are opportunities for employment in the North Norfolk and South Lincolnshire areas owing to a shortage of farm labour; and will be ascertain where men are wanted and then notify the unemployed in the distressed areas, and invite and, if necessary, train and assist suitable young men to transfer?

I am aware that there ha been some difficulty in obtaining work-people for seasonal agricultural work in the districts to which my hon. Friend refers. My Department has endeavoured to assist the farmers in meeting this difficulty by every practicable means but efforts to transfer men from the depressed areas for this type of work have encountered serious obstacles.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this shortage goes further than seasonal work on farms? There is also a shortage of labour for Government work in the same district?

Is it not the case that the reason for the shortage of labour in Lincoln is the scandalous wages paid to the agricultural labourer?

There are a number of reasons.

asked the Minister of Labour in view of the fact that many men who have been unemployed for long periods will be employed for a few days at Christmas time by the Post Office, by local authorities, and by other persons, whether he will suspend the operation of the Unemployment Regulations with regard to temporary employment so that the men so employed may receive the maximum financial benefits arising from such employment?

I have no power to alter the Regulations. I should point out that the Regulations already provide for a proportion of the applicants' earnings to be disregarded.

Surely, the Minister must realise that there are thousands of people in this country who at Christmas time provide an extra day's work for unemployed men, and that not only the unemployed but the people they employ themselves offer strenuous resistance to the Regulations, and that it creates real hardship to the unemployed in this country?

As I pointed out to the hon. Member, it is for that reason that a special disregard was put into the Regulations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is taking any steps to ascertain the needs of boots and clothing of the school children of the unemployed persons in Glamorgan; and whether he will give some direction to supply them with the necessary comforts during the winter months?

I understand that following a report made to the education committee of the Glamorgan County Council, a discussion took place between representatives of the council and of the Board of Education and the Unemployment Assistance Board, at which arrangements were made for an inquiry into the facts. If any of the children should prove to be dependents of persons in receipt of unemployment allowances, I have no doubt that the Unemployment Assistance Board will take any action that may be found to be necessary so far as their powers permit.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present percentage of unemployment for Halt-whistle and Jarrow, respectively?

The number of insured persons, aged 16–64, recorded as unemployed at 26th October, 1936, at the Haltwhistle Employment Exchange represented 41.4 per cent. of the estimated total number insured of those ages in the area of that Exchange at July, 1935. The corresponding figure for the Jarrow and Hebburn Employment Exchange was 31.1 per cent. Comparable figures for Jarrow alone are not available.

May I take it from that answer that the position of Halt-whistle is far worse than that of Jarrow, and will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Haltwhistle has gone in for no spectacular methods of publicity, and will he see that there is no preferential treatment?

My hon. and gallant Friend must realise that the percentage is not the only thing: there is also the question of the numbers concerned.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider the fact that Haltwhistle is not represented by a Labour Member is due to lack of initiative on its own behalf?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will approach the employers' organisations with a view to discussing ways and means of establishing the custom of an annual holiday with pay?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider calling a conference of trades unions and employers' organisations for the purpose of discussing the possibility of increasing agreements for annual holidays with pay to employés?

I am examining the steps which could most usefully be taken in this matter, and will bear in mind the suggestion made by my hon. Friends.

asked the Minister of Labour how many centres for the treatment of physical disabilities among adolescents have been established; and how many cases have been dealt with?

No centres have been established expressly for the treatment of physical disabilities among adolescents, but two centres, known as junior transfer centres, have been established in County Durham and Glamorgan for unemployed boys considered to be in need of a preliminary course. 477 boys passed through these centres between July, 1935, when the first centre was opened, and October, 1936. A third centre near Huddersfield, with accommodation for 42 boys, will be opened early in 1937, and a fourth is under consideration. It is hoped shortly to provide additional facilities at such centres for youths found to be in need of the simpler forms of medical treatment. Accommodation for 20 girls has been put at the disposal of the Ministry at a centre in Norfolk, but, so far, no girls have taken advantage of these facilities. Apart from the provision of junior transfer centres, local education authorities have power to provide medical and dental treatment for unemployed boys and girls attending junior instruction centres. I have no statistics of the number who have received treatment.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether adolescents obtaining work at juvenile instruction centres are entitled to eye treatment as well as dental and other treatment?

I should like particular notice of that question. They are entitled to medical and dental treatment, but I am not sure about ophthalmic treatment.

Is it not a fact that the Secretary of State for War opened one of these centres at Aldershot on 13th October for men who could not pass for the Army?

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the exact location of the centre to be established near Huddersfield has yet been determined?

I will let my hon. Friend know.

Should not services of this kind come from the Ministry of Health and the local authorities; and are we to understand that the Ministry of Labour is setting up an independent service?

There is no setting up of an independent service. This is a survival of the most successful work of training centres. Attention was called to this matter many months ago by my hon. friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) and other hon. Members, and we are taking active steps to see if the need can be met.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether, when children are placed in training classes and their fees are paid by the Unemployment Assistance Board, and when they attend the classes, they are prevented from taking advantage of them because their sight is defective and will he take steps to remedy what obviously is a very serious matter?

I have already suggested to my hon. Friend that she should put down that question precisely; or if she wishes I will look into the point and let her know.

asked the Minister of Labour how many draft conventions and recommendations dealing with the conditions of labour have been adopted by the International Labour Office from 1931 to date; and how many of such draft conventions and recommendations, respectively, have been ratified or put into operation by His Majesty's Government?

From and including 1931 12 conventions and four recommendations dealing with the conditions of labour have been adopted by the International Labour Conference. Of these, two conventions have been ratified, and one recommendation accepted, by His Majesty's Government, and steps are being taken to ratify three further conventions and to accept one further recommendation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there are any draft conventions or recommendations made by the International Labour Office since 1931 which have not yet been brought before Parliament; and, if so, which such draft conventions and recommendations are?

All the conventions and recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference since 1931 and communicated to His Majesty's Government have been brought before Parliament in the form of Command Papers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of persons committed to prison in default of payment of rates, of wife's maintenance allowance, of bastardy arrears, and of fines in the first nine months of the years 1935 and 1936, respectively?

The total number of persons in these categories who were committed to prison during the first nine months of 1935 was 12,547, and during the corresponding period of 1936 was 8,701. As the details involve a number of figures, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is my hon. Friend aware that since the passing of the last Act, unless magistrates clerks have very great facilities they are unable to find out whether husbands are or are not in a position to maintain their wives, and therefore these men cannot be sent to prison, and that this is having a most serious effect in the case of many married women?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any later information, since the statement made in this House on 30th July, 1936, with regard to medical opinion on the question of the substitution of alumina for flint as the bedding medium for English china ware; and whether the doctors are now of the opinion that alumina is not in itself productive of serious disease?

The Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee of the Medical Research Council, who have been investigating this matter, have prepared a report indicating that they have been unable to find any evidence that the inhalation of alumina dust has caused fibrosis of the lungs, and the council are about to publish the report for the information of the industry and others concerned.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the county of Warwick there is one constable to every 959 people, as compared with one officer per 1,137 persons in the county of Derby, and one officer per 1,245 persons in Leicestershire; and whether he will inform the House as to the reason for this disparity?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the figures quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend. The strengths of the county police forces are fixed by the respective standing joint committees, subject to his approval. My right hon. Friend's duty is to satisfy himself that the strengths are sufficient for the proper carrying out of the duties of the police and that, if augmentations are proposed, they are reasonably necessary for this purpose. Population is only one of the factors to be taken into account; crime and traffic are other factors, and some disparities in the proportions of police to population are only to be expected.

Does not this show quite clearly that the people in my constituency are much more law-abiding than the people in that of my hon. and gallant Friend?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Chief Constable of Warwickshire has asked for additional help in the strength of the constabulary; and what reasons he has given for this request?

I do not know whether the Chief Constable has made any such application to the standing joint committee: they have not applied to my right hon. Friend recently for approval to an increase of strength.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Percival Peck, of Leyton, who was acquitted at the Chelmsford Quarter Sessions, on 20th November, after having been previously sentenced to imprisonment at Stratford Police Court; and whether, in view of the evidence and the circumstances of the case, he will secure compensation for this man both for his loss of earnings and for wrongful imprisonment?

My right hon. Friend has obtained particulars of the case to which the hon. Member refers, but he can find no sufficient reason for recommending any payment to the defendant from public funds in respect of his conviction, which was subsequently set aside on appeal to quarter sessions.

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise the gross unfairness and injustice that have been done to this particular man; and is he also aware that he was arrested on 8th October, was not allowed to have any legal assistance and was sentenced on 9th October, the very next day, to three months' imprisonment, served eight days of that imprisonment, and was then released on bail because by that time the police had come to understand that there was a very grave doubt whether the man was guilty; and, in those circumstances, does he not feel that a very grave injustice has been done and that this man is entitled to compensation?

The facts were placed before my right hon. Friend, who does not take the view that this is a case for reimbursement.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that there is a feeling that if this man had been of a different social class he would have been treated differently?

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information in connection with the accident to a youth of 17 years who was caught in a dynamo at the Empire Cinema, Bethnal Green; and whether the dynamo was properly guarded in accordance with the regulations?

I understand that the boy was caught on an unfenced coupling. He was sent to hospital but returned home the same night and is now an out-patient. The Factory Acts do not apply to the plant in question, but I understand that guards will be fitted on the coupling.

Does not that show that the employers were negligent and that they ought to be prosecuted?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can inform the House as to the proportion of police prosecutions per constable for motoring offences in Warwickshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire, respectively, for the latest comparable period of 12 months?

Taking the number of such offences which were dealt with by

The Factory Acts do not apply to the plant in question.

Are not these cases dealt with under another Act?

asked the Home Secretary the number of appeals made to him from the decisions of the discipline board under the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, that were successful?

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it not a fact that the reason why some of the appeals were not successful is that the people were not legally represented?

Following is the information:

police prosecution during 1935 and the approximate average daily police strength during that year, the figures for each of the counties mentioned are: Warwickshire, 38.3; Derbyshire, 15.7; Lancashire, 9.9.

Does my hon. Friend attribute this high percentage to the criminal proclivities of the Warwickshire motorists or to misplaced zeal on the part of anti-motorist police?

asked the Home Secretary when the Factories Bill will be introduced?

I regret that I cannot give a date at present.

May I take it that there has been no change in Government policy in regard to the introduction of this Bill?

Certainly.

Is there any intention on the part of the Government to shelve the Bill?

No, Sir.

Has not this Bill been promised before Christmas?

asked the Home Secretary the amount that the Racecourse Betting Control Board will devote to worthy objects during the next year?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the Racecourse Betting Control Board that they anticipate that a sum of about £120,000 will be available for distribution next year for purposes conducive to the improvement of breeds of horses or the sport of horse racing, or the advancement and encouragement of veterinary science and education.

asked the Prime Minister when the Trial of Peers (Abolition of Privilege) Bill will be brought forward for the Second Reading?

I am not in a position to state whether the Bill referred to by the hon. Member will be brought forward again this Session.

As the Peers themselves are anxious that something should be done about this question of Privilege, cannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way to accede to their request, and put them in the same position as an ordinary civilian?