asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of insured persons in the Scunthorpe area at December for each of the years 1920, 1930, and 1936?

Estimates of the numbers of insured persons in particular localities can be made only for July of each year, on the basis of the information derived from the annual exchange of unemployment books. The following table gives for July, 1923, the earliest date for which comparable figures are available, and for July, 1930, and July, 1936, the estimated numbers insured within the area of the Scunthorpe Employment Exchange:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of claims for benefit disallowed by the Court of Referees at the Brixton Employment Exchange during the past year?

The number of claims for insurance benefit and unemployment allowances disallowed by the Court of Referees sitting at the Brixton Employment Exchange during 1936 was 2,769. This figure relates to claims, and statistics showing the number of separate individuals concerned are not available. The total is exclusive of (a) cases considered under the trade dispute disqualification and (b) claims, by persons already entitled to benefit, for an increase in the rate of benefit in respect of dependants.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled ex-service men were registered at Employment Exchanges as unemployed on the last date on which inquiry was made; and what was their then classification for industrial purposes?

The following is the information required:

asked the Minister of Labour what was the percentage of unemployment among disabled ex-service men when inquiry was last made and on what date; and what was the approximate proportion of unemployment among all insured males in approximately the same age groups on the same date?

The number of disabled ex-service men registered as unemployed in Great Britain on the 4th January, 1937, represented 8.1 per cent. Of the estimated number of men in receipt of disability pensions and disability allowances. The percentage rate of unemployment among insured men aged 21ߝ64 in Great Britain on 25th January, 1937 (the nearest date for which figures are available), was 15 per cent. The percentage of unemployment among insured men aged 40ߝ65 is not known, but such information as is available suggests that it is higher than the figure for men aged 21–64.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants who received unemployment benefit in the administrative county of Durham,

asked the Minister of Labour how many employers and local authorities, respectively, were enrolled on the King's National Roll in September, 1936, as compared with September, 1926; how many disabled ex-service men were employed thereunder at each date; and what percentage they approximately represent of men at present in receipt of disability pensions or allowances?

On 6th September, 1926, 27,592 employers were enrolled on the King's National Roll; they employed 378,484 disabled ex-service men. This number represented 87.4 per cent. of the

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th January, 1937; col. 1040, Vol. 319), supplied the following statement:estimated number of men then in receipt of disability pensions and disability allowances. On 5th October, 1936, 23,586 employers, including 22,592 firms and 987 local authorities, were members of the Roll and employed 317,891 disabled ex-service men. This figure represents 79.9 per cent. of the estimated number of disabled men at present in receipt of disability pensions and disability allowances. Separate figures for the numbers of firms and local authorities respectively enrolled in September, 1926, are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many firms in Wolverhampton were on the. King's Roll of Honour on 31st December, 1936, and how many are not on it?

On the 31st December, 1936, 83 firms in the Wolverhampton area, employing 25 or more workpeople, and 40 firms employing less than 25 work-people, were enrolled on the King's Roll. 228 firms in the area, employing 25 or more workpeople, were not enrolled. The number of smaller firms not enrolled is not known.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will provide a statement showing the length of the working-day for mine-workers, above and below ground, respectively, in all coal-producing countries?

Separate particulars as regards underground and surface workers are not available. Information as to hours of work for underground workers is contained on pages 31 and 32 of the Blue-Grey Report entitled "Reduction of Hours of Work" (Vol. V, Coal Mines) published by the International Labour Office in 1935. I am sending

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will provide a statement giving the average daily earnings of mineworkers, above and below ground, respectively, for each coal-producing country and for the latest available date?

The most recent information available from official sources is contained in the following statement:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, in anticipation of his annual report, what changes in rates of wages in Great Britain and Northern Ireland took place in 1936?

Particulars of the changes which took place during 1936 in rates of wages in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are given on pages 3 to 5 of the January issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette."

asked the Minister of Transport whether the constitution of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee provides for representation of road users on the committee other than motorists, motor-vehicle owners, and their employés; and, if not, whether he will make provision for representatives of pedestrians and cyclists to be appointed on this important body?

No provision is made in the Statute for the direct representation of pedestrians or cyclists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability of making some positions in the British Colonial Service in Malaya partly interchangeable with the British Consular Service in Siam and the Dutch East Indies?

The functions of the Colonial Service and the Consular Service differ so widely that it would not be feasible or practicable to give effect to my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the economic burdens placed on Bulgaria by the peace treaties and also in view of the difficulty of Bulgaria to meet her obligations, he will ask the League of Nations' Council to reconsider the conditions laid down in the 1928 protocol on financial assistance to Bulgaria?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the conditions in regard to the service of the Bulgarian 7½ per cent. stabilisation loan of 1928. The Council of the League of Nations has no power to vary the contract governing the service of this loan. But proposals for a temporary reduction in the payments to be transferred in foreign exchange for the service of this and other Bulgarian loans have been made by the Bulgarian Government and the representatives of the bondholders have recommended the latter to accept these proposals. Details will be found in the annual reports of the League Loans Committee in London and of the Council of Foreign Bondholders.