asked the Secretary for Mines what was the daily average output per person employed in the South Wales coalfield since 1924 and each year to date?

The information is as follows:—

asked the Secretary for Mines the number and names of collieries closed down in the South Wales coalfield; and the number of workmen rendered idle from 1924, each year to date?

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) the number of persons employed in the coal industry of Yorkshire in 1925, and each year to date;(2) the average daily output per person employed in the Yorkshire coalfield in 1925, and each year to date;(3) what percentage of the total output of the Yorkshire coalfield was produced by machine mining in 1925, and each year to date?

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary for Mines the total production of coal for this Country for the year 1936 or up to the latest convenient date, the average pit-head price per ton, and the total amount exported?

It is estimated that the total production of saleable coal in Great Britain in 1936 was 228,524,000 tons and that the average proceeds per ton of coal disposable commercially was 14s. 8d. The quantity of coal exported as cargo during the year was 34,532,777 tons and foreign bunker shipments amounted to 11,947,525 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a yearly or half-yearly Report from the officer dealing with the question of food supplies will be made available to Parliament?

I will bring the suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend to the notice of my right hon. Friend. At the same time I would point out that in common with other aspects of Defence preparations, much of the work of this Department must necessarily be of a confidential nature. Occasion will no doubt occur from time to time for dealing with the work of the Department in the course of Debate.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence what steps are being taken to ensure adequate supplies of fuel oil in the event of war?

A standing Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, over which a member of the Cabinet presides and on which the Service as well as the Civil Departments concerned are represented, keeps under constant review the situation as regards supplies of petroleum products for the needs of the Services, Industry and the Mercantile Marine. This co-ordinating body is responsible for estimating the quantity of reserves that should be maintained in time of peace, for examining the measures that should be taken to ensure security of fuel supplies, for keep- ing under review the question of tanker tonnage for use in time of war, for preparing schemes of control, and for all matters related to oil fuel supplies in time of war. Action to give effect to the recommendations of the Oil Board, after approval by the Committee of Imperial Defence, is taken by the Government Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that prisoners convicted and sentenced at Stirling are handcuffed to police officers and transported by the ordinary omnibus service to Barlinnie prison, Glasgow; and whether he will take steps to have such prisoners conveyed in police conveyances?

I am informed that up to the end of 1936 prisoners sentenced at Stirling to imprisonment were normally conveyed to Barlinnie prison by omnibus and that they were handcuffed to police officers only in cases where this was considered necessary for the safe custody of the prisoner. A van has recently been acquired by the Stirling county police for the conveyance of their prisoners, and negotiations are now in progress for rendering this van available for the conveyance of Stirling burgh police prisoners which would obviate the practice referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that citizens in the licensing area of Ayr, having exercised their statutory right to tender signatures in opposition to the renewal of a particular public-house licence in Ayr, have been visited by a police detective and subjected to interrogation as to their reasons for so objecting; under what statutory authority the chief constable of Ayr has made this interrogation; and whether, as many of the citizens interrogated now feel intimidated from any further exercise of their statutory rights to make representations to the licencing authority, he intends to take any steps in the matter?

I have been in communication with the Licensing Court and the chief constable regarding the matters referred to. I am informed that the petition against the renewal of the licence in question was referred in accordance with the usual practice to the chief constable by the clerk to the Licensing Court and that the signatories were visited by an officer in plain clothes in order that the chief constable might be in a position to make a report on the facts to the court. As regards the last part of the question I do not think that the action taken would reasonably be regarded as being open to the objection mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman. I may add that renewal of the licence was in fact refused by the court after inquiry into the condition of the premises.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that at the time of the death of the late William Dick there was owing to Mr. Dick, who carried on business at 13, Hamilton Street, Greenock, under the firm name of Baine and Johnston, and acted as agents for a firm in Newfoundland, sums amounting to over £11,000 belonging to the said firm; that on 9th July, 1936, there was issued by the Anglo-Spanish Clearing Office a cheque for £5,042 19s. 9d. towards payment of those sums, which cheque was returned with a request that the cheque be made payable to Mr. Dick's executrix; that, though the cheque was accepted back, payment of the said sum has been refused to Mr. Dick's executrix; that serious hardship is being caused thereby to the said Newfoundland firm; and what steps he proposes to take to have this matter settled forthwith?

Owing to the death of Mr. Dick, it became necessary to defer payment until probate had been obtained by his executrix. But, before probate was obtained the Clearing Office had, in view of the civil war in Spain, temporarily suspended payments to persons in the United Kingdom. By the Clearing Office (Spain) Amendment No. 2 Order, 1936, the whole of the funds at the disposal of the Anglo-Spanish Clearing Office were directed to be transferred to a reserve account at the Bank of England until a further Order should be made providing for the distribution of these funds, and at present the Clearing Office has no power to make the payment. I am satisfied that the delay in payment has been unavoidable in the circumstances. The payment is, however, only temporarily suspended and will be effected when the further Treasury Order referred to above has been made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the total amount of money paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund and by the Unemployment Assistance Board and by the public assistance committees to unemployed persons in the county of Durham since the year 1922, up to the latest available date?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th December, 1936; cols. 2145–6, Vol. 318), supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the number of ex-service men in receipt of pensions for war disabilities registered as unemployed; the number in receipt of unemployment benefit, public assistance, and unemployment allowances, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. At 5th October, 1936, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 30,968 ex-service men in receipt of disability pensions on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. This figure included 27,787 men who were applying for unemployment benefit or unemployment allowances. Separate statistics of the numbers in receipt of unemployment benefit and unemployment allowances respectively have not been compiled; and I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, that information is not available as to the numbers in receipt of relief from Public Assistance Authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of old age pensions, and the number of widows in receipt of a pension, respectively, who have had to apply for public assistance in Stoke-on-Trent; and the cost of this during 1934 and 1935?

On 1st January; 1937, the number of persons in the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent in receipt of poor relief (a) who were in receipt of old age pensions under the various Acts was 1,511 and (b) who were in receipt of widows' pensions under the Contributory Pensions Acts was 623. The returns made to my Department do not distinguish the cost of poor relief to such pensioners.

asked the Minister of Health the number of totally and partially disabled workmen, respectively, in the city of Stoke-on-Trent whose compensation is so inadequate as to require allowance from the public assistance committee; and the amount disbursed for the years 1934 and 1935?

I regret that the statistical records in my Department do not enable this information to be given.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many reservists returning from Palestine, have failed to be reinstated in the employment they left on being recalled to the colours?

According to the latest returns received, 464 men have not been reinstated in their former employment. Of this number approximately 30o have found other employment. The reasons given for not reinstating the men are various, temporary work, completion of contracts and slack time accounting for a number of cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when the Arborfield remount depot is closed, any arrangements are being made to find employment for some 130 old soldiers who will in consequence be thrown out of work?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that every effort will be made to find employment for men displaced as a result of any reduction in the remount service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to state the date upon which rifle-firing will be transferred to the new rifle range at Warrington, constructed by his Department; and when the present range situated at the Peninsular Barracks, Orford, will finally cease to be used?

The new rifle range at Warrington is being taken into use this week. Firing on the old range ceased on 20th January.