asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number by which warrant accountant officers have been substantially increased; the duties which have been transferred to them from commissioned accountant officers; and the reasons why some of the younger warrant accountant officers have not been promoted to pay- master-lieutenant instead of entering reserve officers, in view of the fact that the warrant officers have had up to 20 and more years' experience of the actual duties?

The number of warrant writers has been increased from 50 to 68 since the 9th March, 1936, and that of warrant supply officers from 59 to 68 since the same date. The duties, the transference of which led to these increases, are those of such a character as to be within the competence of warrant officers. The posts to which these duties are attached comprise 10 of a secretarial nature afloat and in various offices ashore, and one accountant and one supply post, both in a depot ship. In answer to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 17th February.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now able to make an announcement about the improved conditions, financial and otherwise, to be offered to executive warrant officers as the result of the investigation completed over two months ago, in order to overcome the breakdown whereby there are 63 vacancies and no qualified candidates to fill them?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 17th February to the hon. Member for the Westhoughton Division (Mr. Rhys Davies) to which, I am afraid, I am unable to add anything at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of commissions to be awarded this year to lower-deck ratings as sub-lieutenant, sub-lieutenant (E), and probationary second lieutenants, Royal Marines, in view of the fact that the number of executive commissions awarded to lower-deck entries in 1913 and 1914 was 44 and 31, respectively, and that if the numbers for the year are announced it will be helpful to commanding and training officers, selection boards, and others concerned; and whether, in view of the need for officers, he will arrange for selection boards to be held more frequently than once a year, as was done during the years 1912 to 1918?

It is not possible to state the number of commissions as Sub-Lieutenant and Sub-Lieutenant (E), which will be awarded this year to ratings, since such commissions will be given to all candidates recommended by the Selection Committee and the number which will be recommended cannot be predicted. The number of promotions to second lieutenant, Royal Marines, is limited by Order-in-Council to two a year. That number will be awarded this year if there are two suitable candidates, and if there are more, amendment of the Order-in-Council, so as to allow of a larger quota of commissions, will be favourably considered. Consideration will also be given to the hon. Member's suggestion that Selection Boards should be held more than once a year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of promotions from the lower deck in the general service and engineering branches, respectively, in each of the years during which the mate scheme was in force?

The information required is as follows:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of promotions from the lower deck in the executive and engineering branches and Royal Marines, respectively, in 1936?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 9th December last, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of naval ratings who appeared before Fleet selection boards, and the number recommended by those boards in each of the years 1929 to 1935?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the information given to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) in reply to his question of 9th December last. Promotions direct from the lower deck to commissioned rank before 1933 were made under the old "Mate" system, and the number of ratings who were recommended by the Selection Committees and who attended the qualifying examinations held under that scheme are not readily available. The numbers promoted to Mate and Mate (E) were, however, as follow:

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement as to the extent to which residents dispossessed from slum-clearance houses have been re-housed at similar rents; and whether local authorities are expected to offer alternative accommodation at substantially the same rent as previously paid?

The powers contained in the Housing Act, 1936, are sufficient to enable local authorities to provide alternative accommodation to dispossessed tenants at rents suitable to their circumstances. I have no reason to suppose that local authorities do not have regard to the rent previously paid, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the intention of the pooling of all the houses owned by the authorities was that the benefit of low rents with the aid of the subsidies and rate assistance should be given to those tenants who need it most.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the average payment made to owners of houses condemned during 1936 under slum-clearance schemes, but which have been regarded by his inspectors as well maintained?

The Housing Acts prescribe the basis on which payments in respect of well-maintained houses are to be made by local authorities, and I have no information as to the actual amounts paid. I am, however, making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend when the information is available.

asked the Minister of Health how many subsidised houses have been built or are being constructed in Leicestershire, each of which is intended to accommodate an elderly married couple without children?

I have approved the erection with Exchequer assistance in Leicestershire of 326 separate small dwelling houses having only one bedroom, which are suitable for occupation by aged persons without children.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what was the number of women employed as air-service clerks, grade III, in the out-stations of the Air Ministry and at the headquarters of the works and buildings department of the Air Ministry as at 1st April, 1936, and how many of those employed on this date fell within each of the following groups: 16 to 20 years of age; 21 to 25 years; 26 to 30 years; 31 to 35 years; 36 to 40 years; 41 to 45 years; 46 to 50 years; and over 50 years?

I have been asked to reply. The particulars asked for are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many full-time male industrial workers and/or non-industrial workers aged 21 years and over, under the control of his Department, are at present in receipt of wages or salaries of £3 a week or less; and what number of those are employed in the area of London?

On 1st April, 1936, there were approximately 57,000 whole time male non-industrial civil servants, aged 21 years and over, in receipt of wages or salaries of £3 a week or less. Of these approximately 15,000 were employed within the London postal area. So far as industrial workers are concerned, I regret that the desired information cannot be made readily available. Moreover, owing to the operation of piece work in certain establishments, any numbers would be liable to fluctuation from time to time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of the duties levied on imported foreign milk products in this country, both with and without sugared contents, to the latest convenient date?

The total amount of duty collected on imported non-Empire milk products both with and without sugar contents during the year ended 31st December, 1936, was £3,999,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he can prepare a table showing the imports of eggs and egg products separately into this country from the Empire and foreign countries to the latest convenient date;(2) what is the total amount of imported milk products both from the Empire and from foreign countries?

I have been asked to reply. Particulars for the calendar year 1936 are not immediately available, but I will send them to my hon. and gallant Friend during the course of next month.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what duties are levied upon foreign imported eggs and egg products; and what: was the amount of these duties in the last few years?

The table shown below gives the rates of duty levied on imported non-Empire eggs and egg products during the calendar years 1934–36 together with the amounts of duty collected during each of those years:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a danger of a heavy reduction of pedigree stock in the poultry industry; and whether he can, as an interim measure, make a further urgent request to the countries chiefly interested in the export of eggs to again reduce their shipments?

I am aware of the difficulties that have recently been encountered by poultry keepers but my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, has no definite information on the particular aspect of the matter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer to the reply which was given on the 9th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Captain Heilgers).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number and estimated value of the horses, including mules and asses, exported from Great Britain during 1935 and 1936, respectively, showing separately the countries to which they were shipped?

I am sending my hon. Friend tables giving the detailed information which he desires.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of the agreement arrived at recently between the representatives of the steel industry and the steel-scrap merchants; whether the agreement provides for a fair distribution of scrap among the various producers; whether any privileges are accorded to those engaged in rearmament work; and what is the increase in price of scrap as secured by the merchants compared with the prices prevailing in January, 1936?

I understand that the agreement between the steel industry and the National Federation of iron and steel scrap merchants provides that, with a view to the co-ordination of the purchases of scrap, certain scrap merchants shall act as advisers for the British Iron and Steel Federation. I am informed that the available scrap is distributed by the federation amongst steel producers on the basis of consumption in previous years and that no steel makers have particular privileges in this respect. The scrap is purchased at the market price prevailing at the time and place of sale. I am informed that since the first week in January, 1936, the price has increased by some 12 per cent. to 26 per cent. according to the district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the liquidation of the North and South Insurance Corporation, Limited, is so protracted, the order for compulsory winding-up having been made in December, 1933; and when a dividend is likely to be paid by the liquidator?

The liquidation of an insurance company usually takes a considerable time owing to the difficulties incidental to the settlement of the large number of claims and the realisation of the assets. The case to which my hon. Friend refers has been no exception and there has been no undue delay in the matter. As regards the last part of the question, I am informed that a first and final dividend will be paid to the creditors in April or May next.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any further statement to make as to the trade arrangements with the Irish Free State?

In reply to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. 0. Lewis) on 19th January, I stated that it had been agreed to continue, for a further period of one year, the trade arrangement with the Irish Free State concluded at the beginning of 1936, subject to possible modifications of detail. As a result of subsequent discussions it has now been agreed to make minor adjustments in the arrangements for the regulation of United Kingdom imports of cattle and bacon from the Irish Free State during 1937. Further, the United Kingdom Government have agreed to remove the present special duty of 20 per cent. ad valorem on live horses imported from the Irish Free State. The Irish Free State Government, for their part, have agreed to remove the existing emergency duties on sugar and subsidiary products imported from the United Kingdom. Treasury Order removing the United Kingdom special duty on horses will be made at once and come into force on Monday. I understand that the Irish Free State Order removing the emergency duties on sugar will also take effect on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Ottawa Agreements are due for revision, renewal, or abrogation this year, he will state what procedure is to be adopted in order to secure a discussion of these agreements?

The Ottawa Agreements concluded with the Dominions do not terminate automatically this year, but continue in force after August, 1937, subject to six months' notice of denunciation. It is contemplated that any questions arising out of these agreements should be dealt with by discussions between the individual Governments affected as occasion arises. As the House is aware, a new agreement has just been concluded with Canada: copies of it will be available in the Vote Office at 9.30 this evening.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the Burnley Labour Exchange area the means test is being applied not only to the households of applicants for benefit, but to the households of persons, not themselves applicants, who are looking after dependent children of applicants who are widowers; and if he will say whether such practice has his approval, in view of the regulations?

I do not know to what circumstances the hon. Member refers. If he will be so good as to supply me with particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 100 women of 18 years of age and over transferred to industrial employment in Leicestershire in 1936, and of the 5,684 similar women transferred to industrial employment elsewhere in England, excluding Monmouthshire, in 1935, and of the 6,687 similar women so transferred in 1936 were transferred, respectively, from Greenock; how many of these women, respectively, were placed in the woollen industry; how many of the 1,096 girls under the age of 18 transferred to employment in England, other than Leicestershire and Monmouthshire, in 1935, and of the 3,231 similar girls so transferred in 1936, respectively, were transferred from Greenock, and how many were placed in the woollen industry; and what were the total sums spent on travelling expenses and on subsistence allowances, respectively, for these women and girls transferred from Greenock in each of these years?

One woman from Greenock was transferred by the Department to industrial employment in Leicestershire during 1936; this transfer was to employment in the woollen industry. During the years 1935 and 1936, seven and five women respectively were transferred from Greenock to industrial employment elsewhere in England, but none of these transfers was to employment in the woollen industry. I am ascertaining the amount spent on travelling expenses and other allowances in connection with the transfers from Greenock and will communicate this to the hon. Member as soon as possible. No girls were transferred from Greenock to employment in England during 1935 or 1936.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a firm of public works contractors are advertising for 20 good labourers, Irishmen preferred, for employment on a water mains contract at Birchanger, Bishop's Stortford; and whether the Employment Exchange in this district have unemployed workers suitable for this work?

I am having inquiries made into this matter and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of boys and girls from 14 to 16 years of age, and of young persons from 16 to 21 years of age, transferred from South Wales to other areas in each year, separately, since 1930 to date, and the cost of such transference for each year?

Figures are not available showing, separately, transfers under the age groups 14 to 16 and 16 to 21, but the following table shows the number of boys and girls aged 14 to 18 and the number of men and women over 18 transferred by the Department from South Wales, including Monmouthshire, since 1930.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the amount of money paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund and by the Unemployment Assistance Board to persons in Wales for each year from 1921 to date;

asked the Minister of Labour whether, taking the average number of unemployed on any recent given day, he can state the number of persons over 60 of either sex who were included in the total?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd February, 1937; cols. 1663–64, Vol. 320) supplied the following statement:

The latest date for which an age-analysis of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges is available is 2nd November, 1936. On that date out of a total of 1,263,937 men and 247,404 women aged 18 and over on the register, 119,581 men and 8,769 women were aged 60 or over.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of unemployed persons in the whole of the county of Devon, including boroughs, for each year 1931 to 1936 inclusive?

The average numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the county of Devon in each of the years 1931 to 1936, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases in the county borough of Walsall recipients of unemployment assistance have received increased allowances as compared with the amounts they received under the standstill agreement; and in how many cases there have been decreases in the payments made to them?

In Walsall at the latest available dates the number of increases was 1,450 and the number of decreases was nil.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of strikes in the South Wales and Monmouth coalfields between the years 1926 to 1936, inclusive, as compared with the number of strikes in the same industry in the coalfields of England and Scotland?

I am having the figures tabulated and will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among consumers in the Birmingham and South Staffordshire areas with the greatly increased prices now being charged for coal and slack under the awards of the Cannock and District Board, amounting in some cases to 4s. 3d. per ton, while forward contracts are being quoted at fully 33⅓ per cent. advance; whether he will inquire and state what respective interests a are represented on the Cannock and District Board; whether there is on it any representative of the consumers; whether any appeals have been lodged against their decision; and whether he will satisfy himself that the miners are getting a full share of the increased prices?

The control of prices in the Cannock Chase coalfield under the District Scheme in force under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, is administered by a selling committee representative of the coalowners in the district, with an independent chairman. I am aware that in two cases complaints against these prices have been lodged with the committee of investigation for the district set up under Section 5 of the 1930 Act. There are two representatives of consumers on that committee out of a membership of five. The committee did not endorse either complaint. With regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that under the wages ascertainment arrangements in the district, an agreed proportion of the increases in pithead proceeds accrues to the benefit of the mineworkers.