asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed in each of the Special Areas at the nearest date to 13th September in each of the six years 1931 to 1936, inclusive?

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th November, 1937; col. 2014, Vol. 328), supplied the following statement:comparative date in each of the six preceding years?

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th November, 1937; col. 2014, Vol. 328), supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the official announcement on 13th September that there were 20,097 agricultural workers between 14 and 64 years of age reported as unemployed, he can state the exact subdivision of these figures by counties?

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th November, 1937; col. 1817, Vol. 328), supplied the following statement:The table below shows the number of persons, aged 14–64, insured under the agricultural scheme of unemployment insurance, who were recorded as unemployed at 13th September, 1937, in each of the counties in Great Britain. The figures include private gardeners.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the House any information in connection with the appeal made to the Northumberland public assistance committee by the inspector of anatomy for the Ministry of Health, making a request for the bodies of casuals dying in the institution for the purpose of dissection?

The request made to the Northumberland County Council by the Inspector of Anatomy with my right hon. Friend's authority was that in the interests of medical education they should, in exercise of their powers under the Anatomy Acts, 1832 and 1871, permit the anatomical examination in the School of Medicine of the University of Durham at Newcastle-upon-Tyne of the bodies, prior to interment, of any persons under their charge who die without being claimed by relatives for immediate burial. Arrangements of this kind are in operation in many areas, but the matter is one which lies within the discretion of the local authority, and I understand that the Northumberland County Council have, after consideration, decided not to exercise their powers in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now decided upon a date for the further conference of local authorities relative to the Reports of the Royal Commission upon Tyneside local governments?

My right hon. Friend hopes it will be possible to hold this conference in the middle of the coming month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the total excess of imports over exports of merchandise consigned between this country and Germany for the six months ended to the last convenient date?

During the six months ended September, 1937, the total declared value of merchandise imported into the United Kingdom and consigned from Germany was £18,272,000, while the value of the exports, including re-exports, consigned from the United Kingdom to Germany was £15,022,000. The excess of imports was, therefore, £3,250,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, and, if so, in what manner, he 'will invite industrial and commercial interests in this country to submit proposals in connection with the forthcoming negotiations for a trade agreement with the United States of America?

In accordance with the usual practice, representative trade bodies in this country have been asked for their views as to the tariff concessions which might be sought from the United States as part of an Anglo-United States Trade Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Government of Southern Rhodesia has been consulted in respect of any modification of the Imperial preferences on tobacco in the proposed trade treaty with the United States of America?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) on 13th July. As then explained, the general position was discussed with the representatives of Southern Rhodesia in the summer. My hon. Friend can rest assured that there is no danger of the interests of Southern Rhodesia being overlooked if questions affecting them should be raised in the course of the trade negotiations with the United States of America which are now contemplated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the latest figures of imports of carpets from Belgium; and whether these figures continue to show a steady increase resulting in a considerable restriction of employment in the home carpet industry?

The imports of woollen carpets, carpeting, rugs, etc., into the United Kingdom consigned from Belgium during the ten months ended October, 1937, amounted to 2,271,000 square yards as compared with 1,697,000 square yards in the corresponding period of 1936. The number of insured persons in the home carpeting industry recorded as wholly unemployed on the 18th October, 1937, was less than the number on the corresponding date in 1936, but the number of temporary stoppages was greater.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether satisfactory arrangements have been made to ensure that the transport of oranges from Palestine to Great Britain during the current winter season will be carried out to the largest possible extent by British vessels?

I understand that the British shipping interests concerned regard the arrangements made as satisfactory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total quantity in cwts. of Italian plums imported into this country during 1936 and 1937, respectively?

Imports of fresh or raw plums, greengages and damsons into the United Kingdom consigned from Italy amounted to 74,837 cwts. during the year 1936 and to 92,504 cwts. during the 10 months ended October, 1937. Separate particulars of imports of plums are not recorded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in respect of the officers whose appointment was announced last week to control and regulate foodstuffs, they are empowered, or will be empowered, to take immediate steps in the direction of an increased food production?

No, Sir. The divisional officers whose appointment was announced last week will not be concerned with food production. That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions have been issued to British merchant ships advising them not to proceed to Valencia?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state by whom warnings have been given to British merchant shipping not to attempt to enter the port of Valencia; and whether, in consequence, any relief supplies from Great Britain have already been held up?

I would refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs yesterday to a question by the hon. Member for the Northern Division of Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the fatal accident rate in the State-owned mines of Holland was only 0.51 per cent. per thousand persons employed during the year 1936, whereas the comparable rate for the same year in the coal mines of Great Britain was 1.02 per cent.; and whether, in view of the fact that the toll of life in the State-owned Dutch coal mines is less than half that of the capitalist-owned mines of Great Britain, the Government will, in the interests of safety, purchase the coal mines of Great Britain and organise the industry as a State service?

I am aware of the fatal accident rates at the mines referred to. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that difficulties have been experienced in securing supplies of anthracite coal for shipment to Canada this year and that those difficulties have been due in part to coal normally shipped to Canada being diverted to the Italian market, which offered larger prices and greater profits; and whether, in view of the fact that this Italian demand is temporary in character and that supplies to Italy had to he stopped some time ago because payments for coal supplied had not been made, he will take steps to prevent the permanent and valuable market for anthracite coal in the Dominion being sacrificed for the Italian market?

I cannot accept the suggestion that the resumption of shipments of anthracite to the Italian market has led to a reduction in supplies to Canada, and I would point out to the hon. Member that the increase in total exports of anthracite this year exceeds the increase in shipments to Italy. It is not the case that there has been any cessation of shipments to Italy since the conclusion of the Payments Agreement of 6th November, 1936. For many years past Italy has been an important purchaser of United Kingdom anthracite, and I think it most desirable in the interests of the country and the mining industry, that we should miss no opportunity of recovering that market.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the debts owing by Italy for the supplies of British coal in the past few years have now been liquidated; if not, what amount is still owing; whether the increased supplies of coal from South Wales to Italy in the past few weeks are being paid for in cash; and, if not, who is assuming responsibility for payments, having regard to the past failure of Italy to meet her obligations for coal supplied?

I am advised that there is every probability that the transfer of practically all arrears of commercial debts, including those for coal, due from Italy before the conclusion of the Anglo-Italian Payments Agreement on the 6th November, 1936, will be completed by the end of this year. Payment for current exports of coal to Italy is being made through the clearing machinery set up for the purpose under that Agreement. With regard to the last part of the question, I regret that the hon. Member should see fit to imply that the Italian Government does not intend to honour its payment obligations under the Agreement.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the indebtedness of colliery undertakings in each district of Great Britain to the banks or other financial houses, the amount of interest paid on such loans for each quarter since 1935, and the average rate of such interest; and whether such charges rank as costs of production or as profits for the purposes of the quarterly ascertainments?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, interest on loans is not included as an item of cost in arriving at the wages payable under the ascertainments.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of royalty owners who paid the levy towards the Miners' Welfare Fund in 1936, and the total amount paid; how many royalty owners have failed to pay the levy; and what is the amount due?

The number of Coal Royalty Owners is approximately 4,300; the total number of assessments to Royalties Welfare Levy for the financial year to 31st March last, was 6,500, and the net receipts of the levy were £182,516. I am informed that, in regard to 43 of these assessments, levy amounting to £773 is still unpaid, but some of them are not yet agreed and may be subject to reduction when finally settled. I may add that the assessment and collection of Royalties Welfare Levy is carried out by the Board of Inland Revenue.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the fact that most coal-producing firms in the country made a distribution of dividends to their shareholders last year, he can offer any satisfactory explanation to the House of the losses regularly reported on the basis of the proceeds of the mining industry?

Figures of profits and losses in the coal mining industry are not available to my Department in respect of individual undertakings, but only for districts. The figures which have been published in the Statistical Summary for the year 1936 show a credit balance of 11½d. per ton disposable commercially for the whole country, and the only area where there was a debit balance was South Wales and Monmouthshire (½d. per ton). The figures for the first two quarters of 1937 show credit balances in every area.

asked the Secretary for Mines (r) the total realised surplus within the coalmining industry as a whole, and separately, in the Monmouthshire and South Wales district, and for each of the last four years;(2) if, in relation to working costs and revenue, he will state the realised losses per ton of coal for the Monmouthshire and South Wales coalfield for the years 1935–36 and the ascertained periods of 1937?

The information asked for is given in the Quarterly and Annual Statistical Summaries of output and of the costs of production, proceeds and profits of the coalmining industry, which are published by my Department as Command Papers. The relevant numbers are Cmd. 4554, 4877, 5142, 5427, 5508 and 5559.

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the amount paid in royalties from coal and other minerals to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in Durham County each year since 1926?

The complete figures range from £220,800 to £360,500.The gross rents, royalties, etc., received by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners from their estates in the County of Durham in respect of all minerals (including mineral wayleaves) during the ten years to 31st March, 1936 (the accounts being made up to each 31st March and no later figures being available) were as under:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, according to the latest Belgian records, there are 3,000 old British war horses in Belgium, often under working conditions that would not be permitted in this country, while the number of such horses in France is computed at 7,000 at least; and what steps he proposes to take with a view to sharing the responsibility for the welfare of these old horses, all of whom were used in the War?

The wide variation between the figures now quoted of numbers of old British war horses in Belgium and France and those quoted in my hon. Friend's question on this subject on Tuesday last, suggests that the calculations which have been made require examination by those who put them forward. As I indicated in my reply on Tuesday last, I cannot check their accuracy. No substantial evidence has been furnished to me in support of the allegations in the question, which imply an unwarranted doubt as to the humane treatment horses receive in France and Belgium.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the Royal Tank Corps Depot was built at Bovington, and the number of officers and men, respectively, stationed there, both then and at the present time; and when it is proposed to reconstruct this camp, and at what cost?

The Royal Tank Corps Depot at Bovington occupies temporary buildings commenced in 1914, and subsequently adapted for the purpose for which they are now used. There are at present some 76 officers and 2,128 men at the Depot and School. I am unable to state the numbers who originally occupied the accommodation, which was used as a training camp in the Great War. The reconstruction of the Depot has already started. I cannot say what the ultimate cost of reconstruction will be.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many doctors and surgeons are attached to the Royal Military Hospital, Bovington Camp; how many beds are provided for officers and men, respectively; and whether, in view of the fact that Bovington Camp is now the headquarters of the Army Armoured Fighting Vehicle School, it is proposed to meet such necessities as may arise by increasing the number of beds?

The answer to the first part of the question is three doctors, including one surgeon. There is also a doctor in charge of soldiers' families who gives assistance at the hospital when necessary. The answer to the second part is three beds for officers and 6o for men; and to the last part, that the necessity for further hospital accommodation will be examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the date of enlistment in His Majesty's Forces, and the length of service with the colours, of No. 7881059, Corporal Charles Frank Griffin, Royal Army Pay Corps, and the corps in which he served; whether during his service he was found guilty of any, and if so, what, military or other offences; whether on being transferred to the Reserve he had qualified in any Army trades and, if so, which; whether he had attained any educational certificates and, if so, of what standard; what was his assessment of military conduct; and what testimonial he was given?

The particulars asked for are mostly to be found in Mr. Griffin's Certificate of Service which he can show to anyone he desires. It is well understood that such personal particulars as those asked for in the question are only disclosed with the man's consent.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to ensure that new entrants to the Army Education Corps are conversant with technical and mechanical matters, in order to deal with the increasing responsibilities and wider outlook for which they are called upon to accept responsibility?

Officers and noncommissioned officers entering the Army Educational Corps undergo a ten weeks' course at the School of Education to train them in the art of teaching. The Army Educational Corps deals with general education and not with mechanical or technical instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of persons who have enlisted in His Majesty's Army during the years 1935, 1936, and to the most recent date during the current year, and whose homes were in South Wales and Monmouthshire?

Recruiting statistics are kept according to the areas in which men enlist, and not according to areas in which their homes are situated.

asked the Home Secretary the number of local authorities which have submitted schemes relative to air-raid precautions and of those who have failed to do so, respectively, in response to the Home Office circular letter of 9th July, 1935?

The number of schemes which have been submitted to the Home Office or are known to be in course of preparation is 160.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered a circular or letter, issued by the Master Painters' Association, sent to him by the honourable Member for Maryhill, indicating that the building and allied industries have a separate committee to assist the Glasgow progressive party during municipal elections; and whether he will inquire into the legality of this expenditure by this committee under the law relating to corrupt practices?

I have passed a copy of this letter to the Lord Advocate for investigation of the question whether any offence has been committed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will favourably consider applications for the commutation of life disability pensions in cases where such pensions are small and the recipients out of work, but able to show that such a lump sum payment would set them up in businesses of their own?

The statutory regulations governing commutation do not permit me to commute any part of a Great War disability pension of 16s. a week or less. Subject to the terms of these regulations commutation would be allowed in any case where the Ministry was satisfied that the pensioner could be set up in a business in which his experience gave a reasonable guarantee of success. I may say, however, that in the experience of my Department it is rarely to the permanent advantage of a pensioner to sacrifice any part of his secure life pension for the purpose of establishing himself in a new business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether, in view of the number of complex returns which the milk producers are required to make to the Milk Marketing Board, he will represent to the Board that the cost of all clerical assistance utilised by these milk producers in compiling the returns shall be refunded to them out of the funds of the Board;(2) whether he is aware of the resentment among the 68,000 producer-milk retailers of England and Wales at the detailed nature of the returns they are compelled, under penalties of £100 for each offence, to make to the Milk Marketing Board, and that such work needs far more time and labour than any producer-retailer can afford; and whether he will consider making representations to the Board in favour of a reduction of much of this clerical work;(3) whether he is aware that, owing to the number of detailed returns which are now required by the Milk Marketing Board from the producer-retailers of milk, the dairyman's business is being very seriously hampered; and whether he will inquire from producer-retailers the exact effect on their industry of the time taken to compile all these returns, with the object of ultimately making representations to the Board in favour of their reduction?

I have been asked to reply. The matters raised by my hon. Friend are primarily the concern of the Board and their registered producers, and my right hon. Friend does not feel able to intervene in the manner suggested. I understand, however, that, as a result of discussions between the Board and representatives of producer-retailers, certain adjustments have been made concerning the record to be kept by producer-retailers, which it is hoped will remove the difficulties. I am sending a copy of the Board's resolution on the subject to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government would consider taking steps to permit an increased acreage of potatoes for the purpose of producing feeding-stuffs for pigs without the payment of the 5 an acre excess acreage levy of the Potato Marketing Board, as an acreage under any variety of potatoes improves the weeding of the fields of this country and would also decrease the amount of imported feeding-stuffs required by this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 18th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of meetings held by the Jamaica Nutrition Committee during the past eight months?

I have not got this information, and as numerous committees are sitting in various Colonies on this and other subjects, I do not feel justified in asking Governors to report on their day-to-day activities. I have no doubt that the Governor of Jamaica will furnish me with any report which may be issued by the committee to which the hon. Member refers, when its work is concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the opposition in Jamaica to the building of a tuberculosis hospital adjacent to the Jamaica College; what representations have been made to him on the matter; and what action he proposes to take?

I have received certain representations on this subject, but I am not aware of any general opposition in Jamaica. I understand that the site was selected after exhaustive examination of the possibilities and was unanimously approved by the Legislative Council as well as by expert medical opinion. I do not, therefore, propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Arabs are now in prison at concentration camps in Palestine; and how many of these have been tried and found guilty of crimes?

At the beginning of November there were 520 persons detained under the Emergency Regulations, of whom 360 were in the concentration camp at Acre, and the remainder in gaols or lock-ups throughout the country. I am unable to state how many of these persons were Arabs. As these are cases of preventive detention, no question of trial or conviction arises.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many balloons constructed for defence work have been destroyed by fire at Cardington and elsewhere; and how many have broken away from their moorings?

Since 1st January, 1935, ten balloons have been destroyed by fire at Cardington and none elsewhere, three balloons have broken away from their moorings at Cardington and two elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the traffic congestion caused by fixing tramcar and omnibus stops on the near side of traffic lights; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to a change of policy?

Full examination of this question and practical experience have shown clearly that, save in exceptional circumstances, the approach side of traffic lights is definitely to be preferred for tramcar and omnibus stops from the point of view both of public safety and of convenience of the movement of traffic. If my hon. Friend has any special case in mind, I shall be pleased to inquire info it.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many men are employed at Kidder who come from Haltwhistle, being the only Special Area within 15 miles?

No men are employed by the Forestry Commission at Kielder who come from Haltwhistle but 26 men from that town are employed at Warke Forest adjacent to Kidder.

asked the right hon and gallant Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many men are employed at Kidder whose normal occupation is agricultural?

Thirty-nine men whose normal occupation was formerly agricultural are employed by the Forestry Commission at Kidder.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many men are employed at the Slaley Forest; and how many of these have been recruited from a Special Area?

Three men are employed by the Forestry Commission at Slaley Forest at present. None of these has been recruited from a Special Area but all come from the district covered by the Commission's Special Areas afforestation scheme.

asked the Minister of Health how many deal and dumb people there are in the United Kingdom; and whether consideration could be given to putting them on the same footing as the blind as regards State benefits?

The number of deaf and dumb persons in the United Kingdom has been estimated at about 40,000 but no accurate figures are available. The suggestion in the latter part of my hon. Friend's question has been considered but for the reasons contained in the exhaustive report of the late Dr. Lichholz, published in 1932, my right hon. Friend is not satisfied of the necessity of the legislation which would be required to give effect to it.