asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been directed to paragraphs 184 and 185 of the third report of the Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales); and when he hopes to be able to make a statement on the provision of a river-crossing on the Tyne east of Newcastle?

The hon. Member will have heard the answers I have given since his question appeared on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give figures showing the numbers of persons killed or injured on the roads in town and country districts, respectively, during comparable periods before and after the imposition of the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit?

Following is the information:The numbers of persons killed and injured in town and county police districts respectively during the 52 weeks ended 16th March, 1935, and 14th March, 1936, the periods immediately before and after the imposition of the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit, were as follow.

		Killed.	Injured.
		Number.	Number.
52 weeks ended:		Town Police Districts.
16th March, 1935		3,392	128,951
14th March, 1936		2,761	119,284
Decrease	Number	631	9,667
	Per cent.	18·60	7·50
		County Police Districts.
16th March, 1935		3,957	100,757
14th March, 1936		3,550	97,531
Decrease	Number	407	3,226
	Per cent.	10·29	3·20

I have given my hon. Friend the two comparable periods, but it does not necessarily follow that these ratios are being maintained.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the notices formerly displayed on omnibuses in London indicating the periods when cheap fares were in operation have been discontinued; and whether he will make representations to the London Passenger Transport Board that the practice of exhibiting such notices should be restored?

I understand that the display of notices indicating the periods when cheap fares are in operation was discontinued by the board's predecessors six years ago. Particulars are, however, shown on the fare tables. I have brought my hon. Friend's representations to the notice of the board.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the number and situation of level crossings on the roads which he is taking over in the Trunk Roads Bill; and whether he will give an undertaking to take steps to do away with these crossings at the earliest opportunity after he obtains the necessary powers?

asked the Minister of Transport how many level crossings and toll bridges are situated on the trunk roads which he proposes to take over; and whether he can give an undertaking that these will be eliminated by 1940?

I understand that there are three toll bridges and one toll ferry on roads described in the first schedule to the Trunk Roads Bill; I have not yet obtained a return of the number of level crossings. If the Bill becomes law I shall certainly devote attention to the relative need of improvements of all kinds.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that at Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, a nuisance is being created and wells are being polluted by a piggery, that the rural district council has refused to take any adequate action, and that a councillor has been refused access to a report of the medical officer of health on the matter; and whether he will take immediate steps to investigate the whole circumstances?

My right hon. Friend is aware that complaints have been made and the rural district council have informed him that they are taking steps to provide a temporary water supply to the residents concerned. My right hon. Friend is making further inquiries in the matter and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation to amend Section 14 (1) of the Poor Law Act, 1930, by eliminating the liability of a grandfather and a grandmother for the maintenance of their grandchildren?

My right hon. Friend cannot say more than that the amendment desired by the hon. Member will receive careful consideration in connection with any general revision of the Poor Law which may be undertaken in the future.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to be in a, position to publish his decision in regard to the proposed county review proposals of the West Riding of Yorkshire?

My right hon. Friend has already issued decisions covering about four-fifths of the county and he hopes to be in a position to deal with the remaining proposals of the county council in the early part of next year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can state the number of prosecutions that have been instituted against persons for breach of the regulations in Regent's Park for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and will he give particulars?

During the twelve months ended 31st October, 1936, 736 persons were prosecuted for breaches of the Regent's Park regulations. The particulars are as follow:

	Cases.
Exceeding the 20 m.p.h. speed limit	726
Other motoring offences	4
Forcible entry into enclosed premises	4
Depositing litter	1
Drunkenness	1

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the Fine Arts Commission have been consulted with regard to the proposal to demolish No. 7, Palace Yard?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he proposes to take any further steps in regard to the working of overtime at coal mines?

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend will remember that the recent special inquiry into the working of overtime in Scotland disclosed an exceptionally high proportion of overtime there. From inquiries which I have made, I am still dissatisfied with the position in Scotland, and I have, therefore, appointed a special Inspector who is at present stationed in that district and who will devote his whole time to the overtime problem.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many miners were employed in Yorkshire at the latest date for which statistics are available; and how this number compares with a similar date last year?

On 7th November, 1936, the number of wage-earners on colliery books in Yorkshire was 137,500, as compared with 135,500 at the corresponding date in 1935.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is the intention of the Government, before introducing legislation dealing with amalgamation of colliery undertakings, to consult representative interests in the coal industry, including the Miners' Federation of Great Britain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 18th May on this subject, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider taking measures to prevent, by means of a quota, any further unnecessary imports of coke from foreign countries and thus encourage the alternative use of dry steam coal and anthracite which are available in this country?

The suggestion of my hon. Friend would involve legislation. The South Wales coalowners have already been informed that if they wish to take action in this matter the proper procedure to be followed is to make application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for an import duty on foreign coke.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is able to do anything to alleviate unemployment in Weardale, county Durham, by assisting the reopening of lead mines which were closed many years ago, but which would pay a financial return if equipped with modern machinery?

I am afraid that there are no funds at the disposal of any Government Department which could be used for the purpose suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed persons at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, have to walk to St. Clears, a distance of five miles, to sign, and that they have to walk 20 miles a week in all; and will he make inquiries to see if some other and better arrangements can be made for the unemployed persons of Laugharne?

A new office has recently been opened in this district at St. Clears, which is the most convenient spot for the majority of workpeople in the area. I am not at present satisfied that an office is necessary at Laugharne also, but the present arrangements are subject to review. I should point out that claimants from Laugharne are, in view of the distance, not required to sign more than once a week.

asked the Minister of Labour the purchase price or rent of the premises in Lansdowne Road, London, W.11, which are to be utilised as a hostel for lads from the Special Areas; the name and address of the owner from whom the premises have been purchased or rented; the number of rooms, etc., of the premises prior to any adaptation for hostel purposes; the estimated total cost of adaptation for hostel purposes; and the estimated cost of the premises, adaptation, etc., per person for whom hostel accommodation is to be provided?

Premises in Lansdowne Road, W.11, have been acquired from Mr. E. Bowes, of 23, Shaftesbury Avenue, Ravenscourt Park, at a rental of £400 per annum, for use as a hostel for boys transferred to employment in London. The number of rooms, excluding kitchens and offices, is 20. Detailed estimates of the cost of adaptation and equipment are not yet available, but the figure will probably be about £2,100. The hostel will provide accommodation for about 58 boys and staff. The estimated capital cost is £36 4s. per place.

asked the Minister of Labour the amounts of money paid out each year, under the several Unemployment Acts, in unemployment benefit, transitional payments, Unemployment Assistance Board allowances, etc., commencing 30th June, 1924, up to 30th June, 1936, for the county borough of Merthyr Tydvil and for the administrative county of Glamorgan, respectively?

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the case stated on Thursday last against the changes proposed in the new unemployment regulations and the operation of the means test by the deputation representing the national hunger marchers; and whether any action is proposed by the Government on the lines of the changes suggested by the deputation?

When my right hon. Friend met a deputation of Members of Parliament accompanied by marchers on Thursday last, he found that there was considerable misunderstanding as to the way in which the new Unemployment Assistance Regulations would work, and he offered to have inquiries made into the individual cases that had been referred to if details were sent to him through the Members. At the same time, he made it clear that the Government had no intention of proposing any change in the Regulations.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that certain officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board are writing on the forms of inquiry to employers of day girls, whose fathers are on transitional pay, asking them to assess for their information the value of any meals supplied to the girls; and will he say for what purpose this information is desired;(2) under what regulation, if any, of the Unemployment Assistance Board the board's officers have acted in demanding from the employer of a domestic servant, whose father is unemployed, the value of any meals she receives in the home of her employer?

The only information in this connection which the board would require is whether or not meals are given. If in some cases inquiry was made as to the value of meals, this was not in accordance with the instructions and the board are taking steps to make this clear to their officers.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers now receiving Unemployment Assistance Board relief in each district under the board's control; the sum paid in each district; the amount paid in administration in each district; and the amount paid in administration at the central office of the Unemployment Assistance Board?

I am communicating with the board and will circulate these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT so far as they are available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that according to the latest Board of Trade survey 213 new factories were established in Greater London during 1935, and during this same period only two new factories and six extensions were recorded in the whole of the Special Areas; and is it the intention of the Government to deal with the question of the location of industry so that factories will be established in the areas where there are large numbers of unemployed?

I cannot add to the statements on this subject made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself in the Debates on 17th and 18th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether coastal shipping interests are satisfied, from the point of view of navigation, with regard to the design of the two new bridges over the Thames at Waterloo and Chelsea which are due for completion next year?

I am informed by the Port of London Authority that representatives of the coastal shipping interests using the River Thames were consulted by the Authority before the final designs for the new bridges at Waterloo and Chelsea were settled, and that they expressed their approval of the proposals of the London County Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, when last the Chinese members of the crew of the steamship "Glenafforic" were examined as to lifeboat efficiency in the presence of a Board of Trade examiner; whether the- same members of the crew were examined as to their understanding of orders given in English; and, if so, where and by whom were they so examined?

When the vessel last left the United Kingdom in October, 1936, she carried the prescribed complement of fourteen certificated lifeboatmen made up of eight Europeans and six Chinese. In September, 1936, 14 Chinese members of the crew were examined by a Board of Trade examiner in London for certificates of efficiency as lifeboatmen. Of these, six were successful, the remaining eight being rejected mainly because of their inability to understand orders in English.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when last the propelling machinery of the steamship "Aruba," owned by the Hook Steamship Company, Limited, of Hull, was last surveyed; what was the nature of the report; if his department have been made aware of engine breakdowns on the same vessel during gales in the North Sea in recent weeks; what number of certificated engineers are employed on this vessel; and the age of the vessel?

I am informed by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, with whom the ship is classed, that a full survey of the propelling machinery was carried out by them in October, 1932, the boilers were last surveyed in January, 1936, and and the propellor shaft examined in June, 1936. The reports of these surveys were satisfactory. In addition to these surveys, the machinery and propellor shaft were inspected by a Board of Trade Surveyor in the year 1933, following a stranding and a collision, and were found satisfactory. No reports of recent engine breakdowns have been received either by the Board of Trade or Lloyd's Register of Shipping. I understand that two engineers are employed, neither of whom is certificated. The ship is 20 years old.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether all the claims against the Hearts of Oak Assurance Company, Limited, have been dealt with; and whether he can now give a date when the liquidator will declare a dividend?

The majority of the claims against the company have now been dealt with and the first dividend will be paid on the 23rd December. There are, however, a number of "free paid up" policies the owners of which it has not yet been possible to trace, as well as certain juvenile endowment assurances the ownership of which remains to be determined. In these cases dividends will be paid as and when possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when a settlement can be expected by the creditors of the Hearts of Oak Assurance Company, which was wound up in 1932 and placed in the hands of a liquidator?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to-day to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Wakefield), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many local authorities have so far carried through no schemes of reorganisation on the lines of the Hadow Report; and what action he is taking to ensure that in those areas, and in others in which reorganisation has not covered a large proportion of the population, adequate reorganisation shall have taken place by September, 1939?

On the 31st March, 1936, there were nine local education authorities which had no departments of public elementary schools, other than departments for infants only, organised on the lines recommended in the Hadow Report. The attention of local authorities was drawn to the urgent need for pressing on with the completion of reorganisation in a Circular (No. 1444), dated the 6th January last, and to assist them in expediting the work the rate of grant on school buildings was increased to 50 per cent., as from the 1st January, 1936. Substantial progress is being made and the Board are in close touch with the authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many schemes have been submitted to him by local education authorities under Section 86 of the Education Act, 1921, for the provision of buildings on housing estates, and in similar locations, for the use of juvenile organisations committees and their affiliated members; how many such schemes have been approved; and what is the estimated total cost to public funds?

Five schemes have been submitted to the Board by local education authorities under Section 86 of the Education Act, 1921, for the provision of buildings on housing estates or on similar locations. Of these two have been approved by the Board, and the other three are now under their consideration. The total cost of four of these schemes is estimated at approximately £12,000. No estimate has yet been provided for the remaining scheme.

						Number of		Percentage receiving remission of fee.
Area.						Boys.	Girls.	Boys.	Girls.
Halifax	…	…	…	…	…	415	457	62·7	63·4
Huddersfield		…	…	…	…	976	771	67·7	66·0
Bradford	…	…	…	…	…	3,529	2,871	85·8	85·5
York	…	…	…	…	…	1,216	959	62·2	74·8
Leeds	…	…	…	…	…	3,752	3,460	41·5	36·5
Hull	…	…	…	…	…	1,878	1,706	47·0	51·2
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	…	2,756	1,980	71·8	63·9

asked the President of the Board of Education how many schools in purely rural areas in this country possess facilities for listening in to broadcasts; and whether the Board has suggested to the different educational authorities controlling such schools the utility of installation?

According to information supplied to me by the Central Council for School Broadcasting, 1,290 departments in purely rural areas are at present listening in to school broadcasts. As my predecessors and I have said, the Board welcome the increasing use of wireless in schools and the new edition of their Handbook of Suggestions will contain references to the value of broadcasting as an educational medium.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is the policy of the Air Ministry to give the

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the latest available figures showing the total number of secondary places available for boys and girls, separately, for Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford, York, Leeds, Hull, and Sheffield; also the percentage of special places awarded in each of these cases?

On 1st October, 1935, the number of boys and girls in grantaided secondary schools in the areas named, and the percentages of those pupils who were receiving remission of fee (either in whole or in part) were:fullest possible consideration to the needs of areas suffering from prolonged and severe unemployment when direct orders for materials are being placed; and will this be done in the case of contracts for building in Wales where all such materials are produced locally?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but as regards the second part, building materials are usually purchased by the building contractors and are not obtained under direct orders placed by the Department. The contractors would naturally consider all local sources of supply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his arrangements for enlisting aircraft apprentices in the Colonies apply to any besides Malta and Palestine; and whether the practice will also be introduced in Cyprus and Gibraltar?

The arrangements for enlisting aircraft apprentices referred to by the hon. Member apply not only in Colonies but in any country where there is a Royal Air Force command. They are therefore available at present in Egypt, Iraq, India, Palestine and Trans-Jordan, Sudan, Aden, Malta, Malaya and Hong Kong. If a Royal Air Force command were to be formed in Cyprus or Gibraltar, the arrangements would apply there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number and acreage of the small holdings now owned or rented by local public authorities and the State, respectively?

Following is the information so far as England and Wales is concerned. For similar information in respect of Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

	Number of Holdings.	Total Area.
		Acres.
Councils of Counties and County Boroughs.	29,071	459,103
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.	612	7,837
Forestry Commission	*1,660 (approx.)	21,860
Commissioners of Crown Lands.	†323	†15,910
War Department	283	2,061
Air Ministry	8	96
* Includes 1,260 Forest Workers' Holdings (averaging 11 acres each).
† Let direct to smallholders. In addition, the Commissioners lease about 6,500 acres of their property to various bodies for sub-letting in smallholdings and allotments. The number of such holdings is not known, but of the 6,500 acres, 994 are leased to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, on which are 85 of the holdings included in the numbers shown against that Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has had his attention drawn to the advertisement of the sale, on 8th December, 1936, of land adjoining Heston airport; whether he appreciates that the development of such land in accordance with the present town-planning of 12 houses to an acre would preclude any hope of the extension of Heston into a major airport terminal; and whether any action in regard to this situation is contemplated by his Department?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hertford (Sir M. Sueter) yesterday.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the opinion of the Royal Fine Arts Commission was obtained before the design of the new postage stamps was approved, in view of the fact that this was created as an advisory body on all matters of an artistic nature?

No, Sir. It has not been the practice to consult the Commission in regard to the design of postage stamps, which involves technical as well as artistic considerations. I am, however, reviewing the position.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can inform the House of the method adopted in the selection of the increased staff necessitated by the increased work at the post offices during the Christmas and New Year season?

The additional staff required during the Christmas and New Year season is recruited as far as possible through the local Employment Exchanges. The minimum age limit is 18 years, and, while there is no maximum age limit, preference is given to men under 50. Disabled ex-service men are employed for work for which they are suitable and other ex-service men are given preference over non-service men. Married men are given preference within each category.

asked the Postmaster-General when the transference of all the telephone systems in Manchester to the automatic service will be completed?

Of the 34 exchanges within the seven mile circle of Manchester Town Hall, 25 have already been converted to automatic working. The conversion of the remaining exchanges in Manchester should be completed within the next four or five years.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider providing better telephone facilities for the village of Oakridge, Gloucestershire, by providing a public telephone at Oak-ridge Lynch, Water Lane and Bournes Green?

There is a public telephone call-office in the Post Office at Oakridge Lynch. The provision of call-office facilities at Water Lane and Bournes Green would not be justified under the normal rules; but a kiosk could be provided at each of these places under the terms of the Tercentenary Concession, namely, that the local authorities should undertake to pay in each case a fixed rent of £4 a year for five years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that since May, 1936, the appropriate staff association has sought to secure from the Board of Admiralty proposals regarding the future conditions of service of women staffs in His Majesty's dockyards; that, although on 23rd July the Admiralty indicated that it hoped soon to be able to make those proposals known, the association is still without this information; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the proposals are made available without further delay?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to an application now before the Shipbuilding Trade Joint Council for Government Departments for a restoration of a cut of 2s. a week, made in 1933 in the pay of women workers in Admiralty Industrial Establishments. The matter will be discussed at the meeting of the Council to be held to-morrow.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the system of dual firing is being continued in any warships now under construction; and, if not, for what reason?

The system of dual firing is not being adopted in any ship now under construction for His Majesty's Service as dual firing would necessitate a larger and more expensive ship for the same military characteristics.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the 20,000 other ranks who are transferred annually from the Regular Army to the Reserve pass through vocational centres; and how many of these obtained employment within three months of their discharge, in respect of the years 1933, 1934 and 1935?

The number of men, transferred annually to the Army Reserve varies in accordance with the recruit intake six or seven years before, and has recently not been so high as my hon. and gallant Friend assumes. During the three years in question the numbers who underwent a course of vocational training were 2,298, 2,608, and 3,095 respectively, and the percentages these figures bore to the total were 12.9, 18.8 and 19.6. The numbers who are known to have obtained employment were 2,017, 2,211 and 2,340 respectively. The great majority of these obtained employment immediately on leaving the centres.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps have been taken to add to the training area in the Aldershot Command in view of the restricted facilities existing at present?

The shortage of land suitable for training in the Aldershot Command has long been a source of anxiety to the War Office, and occasion has therefore been taken of the opportunity to acquire a further 2,500 acres by the acquisition of an estate known as Minley Manor, negotiations for the purchase of which have just been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to state the number of persons to be engaged on preparatory work or in permanent employment, respectively, at Bridgend; and what proportion of the number will be drawn from the mid-Glamorgan area?

I regret that I am unable to add to the answer given to a similar question by the hon. Member on 8th July last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that building materials for certain contracts manufactured in other districts are being imported into the distressed areas of South Wales; and whether he will insist, seeing that prices and quality equal those quoted by outside manufacturers, upon local products being used when placing contracts under the Government's programme?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to War Department buildings. The amount of building work being carried out in South Wales under War Department contracts is at present small, and it is unlikely that building materials have been imported in appreciable quantities. I have, however, recently made an arrangement under which an appeal is made to firms who are invited to tender for building work in a distressed area to give the fullest consideration to obtaining their supplies of materials from works and firms situated in that area. I do not consider it practicable to insist that contractors should obtain the whole of their materials from this source.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of Regular Army other ranks, on being discharged with good-conduct certificates obtain suitable employment in Government Departments?

I regret that I am unable to do more than refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to a somewhat similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Blackburn (Sir W. Smiles).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of land in England and Wales now in the ownership of local public authorities, the Forestry Commissioners, and other State Departments, respectively?

The information is as follows:

LAND IN THE OWNERSHIP OP LOCAL PUBLIC AUTHORITIES, THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS OP STATE.
	Acres.
Local Public Authorities:
County Councils and County Borough Councils.
For purposes of small holdings (at 31st December, 1935)	399,596
Local Authorities.
For purposes of allotments (at 31st December, 1934)	*21,496
County Councils.
For purposes of agricultural education (excluding certain small demonstration plots, sites of houses, etc., which in the aggregate would not total more than 100 acres) (approximately)	6,500
Admiralty	7,690
Air Ministry	41,000
Ministry of Agriculture	8,959
Crown Lands	220,000
Royal Parks (Office of Works)	5,620
Home Office	2,465
Forestry Commission	957,000
Ministry of Labour	†—
War Office	207,906
Total	1,886,090
* In addition 7,167 acres of land owned by Local Authorities for other public purposes were in use at 31st December, 1934, as allotments.
† The Ministry owns no land. 691 acres have been acquired in the name of Commissioner for Special Areas.

The above figures do not cover land in the ownership of local authorities, except land held by them for agricultural education, small holdings and allotments. The figures for the areas of public buildings under the jurisdiction of the Office of Works and for certain small areas held by other Departments for special purposes, such as roads, are also excluded from this statement. These could not be supplied without disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. Certain foreshores are owned by the Commissioners for Crown Lands, the Admiralty and the Board of Trade on behalf of the Crown. It is not possible to compute their area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking, in pursuance of the policy initiated by His Majesty's representatives at the League of Nations Assembly, to relax progressively the system of quota restrictions on trade in the Colonies?

The hon. Member will be aware from recent announcements in the Press that the Government have agreed to an increase in the quota of exports of tin and rubber.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that during the past 30 years the number of occupied prisons has been reduced, approximately, by half; and will he state whether there has been a corresponding reduction of prison commissioners or assistant commissioners at the Home Office; and, if so, how many are employed compared with the number of 30 years ago?

The hon. Member will appreciate that the work now falling within the scope of the Prison Commission includes Borstal institutions and other features which had not been developed 30 years ago. I am glad to say that the number of separate establishments controlled by the Prison Commission, which was 62 in 1906, is only 39 today, but, for the reasons I have indicated, the reduction in the number of establishments does not entail a, corresponding reduction in the work of the headquarters staff.

asked the Home Secretary how many male and female candidates for the prison service, posted to a training class, to prisons on instruction or probation, have been considered unfit and discharged during the last 12 months to the nearest convenient date; if these candidates are interviewed and their credentials examined; if so, by whom; and whether he will take steps to avoid taking men and women out of permanent posts, sending them back to unemployment, and causing hardship and unnecessary expense?

During the 12 months ended 30th October, it was found necessary to dispense with the services of 46 men and three women who had been posted to training classes, and to terminate the engagements of eight men and one woman who were under further instruction or on probation. The credentials of all candidates are examined by the Civil Service Commissioners and also by the Prison Commissioners, and all candidates are interviewed. It is, of of course, the aim of all concerned to accept only those candidates who appear likely to become efficient officers, but some candidates who in the first instance make a favourable impression are found after trial to be unsuitable, and I know of no means of avoiding this consistently with the high standard which it is necessary to maintain in the prison service. All candidates are warned in explicit terms that their engagement is liable to be terminated at any time during the period of 12 months' probation.

asked the Home Secretary whether the present governors in charge, respectively, of Bristol and Bedford prisons had any experience of handling ordinary men or inmates of prisons or institutions previously to their appointments as governors; and, if so, what was that experience and the respective ages of the governors?

The governor of Bristol Prison was appointed to be a governor 13 years ago, at the age of 46 and had previously been a master in a large industrial school and a house master in a Borstal institution. The governor of Bedford Prison was appointed to be a governor 10 years ago at the age of 33 after service as a house master in a Borstal institution. He had previously served as a commissioned officer during the War and had subsequently held a commission in the Indian Army.