asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered for employment in the hosiery and underwear trades who were, respectively, unemployed, wholly or partially, at the end of October, 1936; corresponding figures for similar dates of the last three years; and separate figures for the city of Leicester?

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons, in the hosiery industry and the shirts, collars, underclothing, etc., industry, recorded as unemployed (a) in Great Britain, and (b) at Leicester, at a date in October, 1936, 1935, 1934 and 1933.admitted to this country as

The number of permits issued in respect of foreigners to reside here on an "au pair" basis was:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the undertaking given by His Majesty's Government on 3rd February, 1935, that they, His Majesty's Government, consider themselves to be among the Powers which will, as provided in the Rome agreement of January, 1935, consult together if the independence and integrity of Austria is menaced, is still operative; and whether he will state the Powers with which such consultations are to take place?

The answer to the first part of the question is Yes, Sir. As regards the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the text of the two statements in question. The Powers in question are initially France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Austria with the possibility of an extension to other Powers as provided in the final sentence of the Rome Protocol of 7th January, 1935, regarding Central Europe and, in particular, Austria.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Imports Advisory Committee will in future be guided by the desire of the Government to maintain their efforts to promote the freer exchange of goods through the world?

I have no doubt that the committee, within the terms of reference given them by the Import Duties Act, are fully alive to all relevant considerations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fatal accident to motorists on a railway level-crossing near Bridlington on 15th November; and whether he will take steps to have such level-crossings which are not operated or controlled by signalmen bridged?

An inquiry into the circumstances of this accident is being held to-day by one of the officers of the Ministry and I am awaiting the report of the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will have inquiries made into the causes of a fatal accident which occurred at Harpham level-crossing on Sunday, 15th November, which resulted in the deaths of two persons; and, seeing that the Harpham level-crossing is not controlled by a cabin signal, will he take steps to compel the railway company to provide the safeguards necessary for the safety of the public at this level-crossing?

I have directed an inquiry to be held into the circumstances of this accident, and I am awaiting the inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by drivers of motor vehicles in seeing pedestrian crossings at night-time, due to inadequate lighting; and, in view of the dangers caused by this present state of affairs, what steps are being taken to improve their visibility?

While the best procedure in most cases is to illuminate both the crossings and the pedestrian using them, we are watching with interest certain experiments which are being made by highway authorities to make the studs and curbs at such crossings more visible at night.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the total mileage of trunk roads in Wales which it is proposed to take over under the Trunk Roads Bill?

Approximately 370 miles.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has purchased any building material from distressed areas; and will he give the quantities and material supplied, and give the particulars for South Wales separately, for the years 1931, 1934 and 1935, and the latest available date in 1936?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): The quantity of building material purchased by my Noble Friend's Department direct is negligible. The Department's building work is normally executed by lump-sum contracts and the sources from which materials are purchased are matters for the decision of the contractors, except that they must be British unless otherwise specified.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in some rural areas with the fact that, although it is 10 years since the Electricity Board was set up, they are still without electricity service for lighting and other purposes; and will he take steps to accelerate the provision of electricity in rural areas?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 9th November to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what is the cost per unit for electricity used in lighting and for power supplied to the House of Commons?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): My Noble Friend does not consider that it is in the public interest that unit prices for supplies to Government Departments should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when direct telephonic communication will be established between London and Malaya?

Arrangements for the establishment of telephonic communication between this country and Malaya are proceeding, and I hope that a service will be opened within the next few months.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he can state the amount of rates in the pound levied for public assistance in the counties of Glamorgan, Monmouth, Durham, Surrey and Middlesex; and the average cost for public assistance for England and Wales?

Following is the answer:Since 1st April, 1930, it has not been possible to state what is the equivalent rate in the pound of the cost of any particular service included in the total rate levied, inasmuch as in arriving at the latter figure account has to be taken of the Block Grant under the Local Government Act, 1929, which is applicable to local government services generally and which cannot be allocated between individual services. The estimated requirements for public assistance, expressed as a rate in the pound, before making any allowance for the Block Grant are given in column 2 of the following statement. For the sake of completeness the total amount of the Block Grant paid to the various authorities in the administrative county (i.e., the county apportionment) is shown as a rate in the pound in column 3.