asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many children in how many schools will be included in the liquid milk tests in Scottish schools; and what experience of the nutritive value of liquid milk food has led to this educational experiment?

A total of 20,000 children in 68 schools of the Lanarkshire education authority will be included in the present investigation into the value of an additional daily ration of milk in the dietary of the school child. Of these children 10,000 will receive milk and 10,000 will receive no ration but will be weighed and measured for comparison. The present investigation follows the two years investigation on a small scale eon-ducted in 1926–1928, and reported in the annual report of the Scottish Board of Health for 1928. The results of that investigation showed that the addition of milk to the diet produced a marked improvement in the physical condition of children of all school ages and justifies an investigation on a scale sufficiently large to give conclusive results.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a protest from ratepayers in Port Glasgow against the action of the town council in coming to an agreement with the harbour trust whereby boatmen who hold under Royal Charter the right to the use of the harbour have been given notice to quit, and whereby the ratepayers of Port Glasgow are to take over undefined financial responsibility for the repair and upkeep of the quay wall and to make an annual monetary payment to the harbour trust in perpetuity; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

I have received a protest on the lines indicated in the question and have communicated with the Town Clerk. The rights of the boatmen referred to are the subject of dispute which I have no authority to decide; I understand, however, that the boatmen have been offered alternative berths. The town council have decided to acquire and fill in the harbour for the purpose of forming an open space and recreation ground, and under the terms of sale they are to pay the Harbour Trust a ground annual of £l25 per annum, and to be responsible for the maintenance of the portion of the quay facing the river and in- cluded in the subjects purchased. They are acting within their statutory powers, and I have no authority to intervene in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will furnish a Return showing annually, from 1919 to 1929, the number of local authorities in Scotland who erected houses by direct labour and the number erected?

The following Return gives the particulars desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses provided in the Camlachie Parliamentary

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will furnish a Return showing at 1st January, 1929, and 1930, respectively, the number of houses completed and the number authorised but not completed under each of the Housing Acts by local authorities and private enterprise in Scotland, distinguishing between burghs and county districts?

The desired Return is appended.Division of Glasgow under any of the housing or slum-clearance schemes and the number of such houses now in occu- pation; and when the provision of such houses will be completed?

I am informed that the number of houses built in Camlachie Parliamentary Division by the Corporation of Glasgow under their Housing and Slum Clearance Scheme is 312. Ali these houses are occupied. In addition 714 houses are under construction, and it is hoped that these will be completed by the end of the current building season.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of steel houses completed in Scotland since the inception of the Government scheme, the number authorised but not completed, and the total cost to the Exchequer?

The total number of houses completed in Scotland under the Government scheme for the erection of steel houses is 2,552. All the houses authorised by the scheme have been completed. The final cost of the housing has not yet been ascertained, but up to 31st December last the total sum advanced by the Department of Health for Scotland to the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust), Ltd., in respect thereof was £1,038,688.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what extra staff, if any, has been engaged for the purpose of dealing with claims under the new Pensions Act; and whether he expects all claims to be settled by the appointed day?

Up to date an addition of 81 clerks has been made to the staff of the Contributory Pensions Division of the Department of Health for Scotland consequent on the passing of the Act of 1929. As regards the latter part of the question, it is anticipated that the timeous claims submitted under

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of money borrowed for housing by the municipalities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively; the total interest paid; the amount of money still owing; and the number of houses built?

I am informed that in respect of the period from 1919 to 15th November last the figures desired were as follow:the Act other than a percentage of difficult and doubtful claims will be disposed of before the commencing day. I would take this opportunity of emphasising the desirability of the submission of applications at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of prosecutions instituted in Scotland in each of the last five years against persons charged with being drunk while in charge of motor cars or other mechanically-propelled vehicles, including charges of culpable homicide; the number of cases in which convictions were obtained; and the penalties imposed in each case?

I regret that I have been unable to obtain these figures in the time available. If the hon. Member will repeat his question on a later date, I hope then to be in a position to furnish the information desired.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the representations made to the Fishery Board for Scotland by the East Fife and other Firth of Forth fishermen as to the effects of the use of the ring net and seine net for the capture of herrings in the Firth of Forth, he will institute an inquiry into the subject?

The representations made are receiving the considera- tion of the Fishery Board for Scotland who are making inquiries on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for grants from the Fishermen's Relief Fund and for loans from the Loan Fund have been received; and what are the sums involved in each case?

The number of applications for grants from the relief fund and for loans from the loan fund at yesterday's date were 1,752 and 219 respectively. The amounts involved are £66,256 and £17,148.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the officers of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland have obtained any information as to the effect upon Agricultural employment of the present level of prices of home grown cereals and potatoes and as to the number of ploughmen and other agricultural workers who are seeking employment in other occupations or emigrating abroad; and, if not, whether he will call for a report on the subject?

The Department of Agriculture for Scotland are endeavouring to obtain such information as is available through existing official channels regarding the extent of unemployment among agricultural workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware of the danger to which the slipway at Macduff Harbour is exposed through coast erosion; and what is the reason for the delay in dealing with the matter;(2) what is the reason for the delay in dealing with the harbour improvement schemes which were submitted some months ago by harbour authorities in Banffshire, at the special request of the Government, as a means of dealing with the problem of unemployment?

As I stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 4th February, there has been no delay in dealing with cases where definite schemes and plans have been submitted. As regards harbours in Banffshire, schemes have been approved for Whitehills and Banff, involving together grants of £7,550, and for Cullen a grant of a sum up to £450 has been sanctioned by the Unemployment Grants Committee. The schemes submitted for Portknockie and Findochty require further consideration. In the case of Buckie, the town council's formal application has recently been received and will be dealt with without delay. The question of making a grant towards the cost of protecting the slipway at Macduff from erosion is being considered by the Fishery Board who hope to intimate a decision at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that old age pensioners who are desirous of visiting their friends in various parts of the Empire do not receive their pensions while away from this country; and whether he will take steps, by regulation or otherwise, to allow any such pensioner to receive his pension while on a visit to his family outwith this country?

A person qualified to receive a pension payable under or by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Acts may receive payment in any part of the Dominions outside Great Britain subject to the provisions of Section 3 of the Act of 1929. As regards pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908–1924, I am aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the question. This is due to the express provision in the law that "a sum shall not be paid on account of an old age pension to any person while absent from the United Kingdom." I am advised that it would require legislation to assimilate the position under the Old Age Pensions Acts of 1908–1924 to that under the Contributory Pensions Acts and have noted the point for consideration when an opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much additional cost would be entailed in connection with the maintenance grants in Scotland to be given with the raising of the school age if no means test were to be applied?

On the basis of the reply given to the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Watson) on 21st instant the annual additional cost referred to would be in the neighbourhood of £300,000 in the first full year, rising to about £470,000 in 1934, after -which it will decline towards the former figure.

asked the Minister of Transport the amounts spent on main roads converging on London from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex during each of the years from 1919 to 1929; what amounts, if any, have been sanctioned; and the proportions paid or promised by the Exchequer in each case?

I regret that I have not the information necessary to enable me to reply to this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Government intend to bring the question of the ratification of the Mercantile Marine (International Safety) Convention before

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average age of the British ships sold to foreign buyers in each of the following years: 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928?

The following table gives particulars by age groups of the vessels registered at ports in the United Kingdom, the registers of which were reported to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as having been closed on sale of the vessels to foreigners during each of the years 1922 to 1928, inclusive. These particulars do not include British vessels registered at ports outside the United Kingdom, regarding which no information is available.the House for approval and whether this question will be left to the free vote of the House?

The Bill, which will be a Government Measure, to give effect to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, will be introduced as soon as possible, but I am not yet able to say definitely when that will be.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the Russian Soviet authorities have stated that they require 3,000,000 pairs of boots and shoes; and whether Northampton footwear manufacturers have succeeded in securing the whole or part of this specific order?

With regard to the first part of the question, I understand that the possibility of an order for boots and shoes formed one of the subjects of

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to secure that all articles of food for human consumption shall be clearly and adequately described with place of origin, correct weight or quantity, and cost to consumer before sale?

I have been asked to reply. The Merchandise Marks Acts and the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Act contain important provisions of this kind. I do not contemplate any additional legislation such as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of articles wholly or mainly manufactured that have been imported into this country from the Dominions, British India, and the Crown Colonies, respectively, in each of the past three years?

The figures for 1927 and 1928 are given in the following table, those for 1929 not yet being available:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any of the countries parties to the Tariff Truce Conference have, since accepting the invitation to the Conference, increased their tariffs in respect of any categories of manufactured articles?

I do not know the exact dates on which each of the participating countries accepted the invitation, but I have no reason to think that, since accepting, any of these countries initiated action for increasing duties, though in one or two cases increased duties may have come into force as the result of action taken previously.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in discussing the terms of the proposed Tariff Truce, His Majesty's Government will undertake to reserve the right of excluding from the United Kingdom foodstuffs produced under conditions prejudicial to the health of the ultimate consumers and goods manufactured under conditions of labour and wages inferior to those prevailing in this country?

The conditions under which prohibitions of importation may be imposed are laid down in the International Convention on the subject to which His Majesty's Government in Great Britain are parties and which came into force on 1st January last.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of hours per day worked by the operators in Japanese yarn and cotton mills?

I understand that, since 1st July, 1929, the operatives in Japanese cotton mills work a daily shift of 8½ hours, and that two such shifts a day are worked by the mills. There is no legislation in Japan governing the hours of labour of male workers over 16 years of age in factories; but the Factory Act fixes the maximum working hours for boys under 16 and all female workers at 11 a day, inclusive of one hour's rest. By an Ordinance of 7th June, 1926, employers are permitted, up to 31st August, 1931, to prolong this maximum to 12 hours a day in spinning mills where only one shift a day is worked. Moreover, Section 4 of the Factory Act, which came into force on 1st July, 1929, prohibits night work (that is work between 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., in special cases, and 5 a.m.) for all women workers and for boys under 16, and it is understood that this prohibition has resulted in an almost general reorganisation of work in Japanese cotton mills on a basis of two shifts of 8½ hours each.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if any further progress has been made with regard to the inquiry into the new process of treating coal known as the Turner method; and if any estimate of the number of persons likely to secure employment as a result has yet been arrived at?

A Report of the official test of the Turner low-temperature carbonisation process carried out last year by the Fuel Research Department has recently been published. Copies of this Report will be found in the Vote Office. It is not possible to make any estimate such as that indicated in the latter part of the question.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the number of applications received in respect of loans from the Unemployment Grants Committee for relief works for Ramsgate and Margate which are still under consideration; and when it is anticipated that the respective local authorities will be informed of the results of such applications?

The unemployment Grants Committee have under consideration two schemes submitted by the Ramsgate Town Council. One, received on 3rd December, will be before the committee very shortly. The other, received on 22nd January, is awaiting the observations of the appropriate Government Department. No schemes from the Margate Town Council are before the committee.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he can make any further statement with regard to the Report of the Channel Tunnel Committee?

I have reason to believe that the Report will be completed this week.

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate number of unemployed in all European countries and the United States of America up to the nearest available date?

The available statistical information regarding employment and unemployment in the chief European countries and in the United States of America is summarised each month in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette." I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the current issue, in which the latest figures will he found on page 69.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will inquire whether men in the anthracite coalfield of South Wales are being refused work because they are over 50 years of age; and, if so, what steps does he intend to take?

I have made inquiries and find no evidence that men in this coalfield, if otherwise suitable, are being refused work because they are over 50 years of age.

asked the Minister of Labour the occupations in which the hours are more than 47 per week, by how much this figure is exceeded, and the number of employés to whom it applies?

A normal working week of more than 47 hours has been fixed by agreement between employers and workpeople in a large number of industries, for particulars of which I would refer my hon. Friend to the Report recently compiled by the Ministry of Labour, and published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, on "Standard Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Labour in Great Britain and Northern Ireland at 31st August, 1929." In the great majority of these industries, the normal hours are 48 per week, but in a few cases, mainly in industries in connection with continuous processes, the normal hours are longer. Information is not available as to the numbers of workpeople affected by these arrangements, but some statistics as to the proportions of workpeople, in a large number of industries, whose normal working week exceeded 47 hours in 1924, as shown by the results of a special inquiry made by the Ministry, will be found on page 117 of the "Nineteenth Abstract of Labour Statistics."

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has any information to show the occupations in which systematic overtime is being worked; and whether in any such cases any approach has been made, either to employers or employed, to ascertain whether in view of the state of unemployment any effort could be made to find work by cutting down overtime?

I have no comprehensive information of the kind referred to. Inquiry has been made in certain cases reported to the Department, but it is the usual practice for such questions to be the subject of discussion between the employers' and workers' organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the percentage of unemployed in Carnarvonshire, he will recommend the reduction of the royalties claimed by the Crown in respect of the slate quarries situated on Crown lands so as to enable quarries now closed to be re-opened?

The Commissioners of Crown Lands will be glad to consider any proposals made to them for re-opening slate quarries now closed, and the question of royalties will be a matter for negotiation with the applicants.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers normally engaged in the bill-posting trade?

I regret that separate statistics of the numbers employed in the bill-posting trade are not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average number of boys employed in mines under the Coal Mines Act during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date who had not reached the age of 18 years; and the estimated number of shifts worked daring that period?

Information as to persons employed in mines, classified according to age groups, is only collected annually. The latest information avail-able in regard to boys and youths under 18 years of age relates to 15th December, 1928, when the number employed underground was 66,483. Information concerning shifts worked is not classified according to age groups, and it is therefore not possible to give the number of shifts; worked by these persons.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners in the coal mines of Great Britain certified to be suffering from miners' nystagmus for the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, and 1929; and in which coalfield in the country nystagmus is most prevalent?

The answer to the first part of this question is given in the table appended. In 1928, the last year for which information is as yet available, the incidence of new cases of nystagmus, in proportion to the number of miners employed, was greatest in Ayrshire.

asked the Secretary for Mines what were the numbers for a year, up to the last convenient date, of fatal accidents occurring at the coal face where the coal is pick-hewn and there are no pan-runs or conveyors; where the coal is machine-cut but no pan-runs or conveyors are used; and where the coal is machine-cut and pan-runs or conveyors are in operation?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the danger from inflammable films, it is his intention to prohibit them being used for the purpose of exhibition, particularly where the audience is mainly composed of children?

I regret that I cannot add anything to the full reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Renfrew (Dr. Forgan) on 23rd January last.

asked the Home Secretary if he will make inquiries into the physical injuries caused by the lifting of sacks containing 280 lbs. of flour; and whether he will take steps under the welfare schemes of his Department to induce employing flour milers to use 140 lbs. sacks instead?

I am informed that this matter has been under consideration from time to time by the Joint Industrial Council for the flour milling industry, and that in 1920 the council passed a resolution which they reaffirmed in 1928 recommending that the use of 280 lb. sacks should be discontinued, and that "as opportunity arises for new flour sacks to be purchased, the capacity should not be of a weight exceeding 140 lbs." I understand that this recommendation has been generally adopted, and I have received no complaints, but if my hon. Friend is aware of any cases where the recommendation is not being acted on and the workmen have suffered or complained of undue strain, I shall be glad, on being furnished with the necessary particulars, to make inquiries and consider whether any action is necessary to prevent injury.

asked the President of the Board of Education the school-leaving age of children in all European countries and the United States of America?

Attendance at school is compulsory up to the age of 12 in Hungary and Spain, 13 in France and Holland, 14 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden, and 15 in Norway and, generally speaking, in Switzerland, The leaving age varies from 14 to 18 in different parts of the United States of America, where there are also varying provisions as to exemption in special circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of unemployed and superannuated teachers, respectively, at present in England and Wales, giving the number of men and women in each country separately?

I regret that I have no information as to the number of unemployed teachers. On 3lst December last there were 29,094 retired teachers in England and Wales in receipt of pension, but it is not possible to give separate figures for each country.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to ratify the Washington Convention without reservations?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the prospectus of the Government of India short-term loan of £6,000,000 advertised on 10th February contained very little financial or economic information; and whether he will take steps to see that in future full particulars are given of all relevant matters, including debt, finance, and trade?

The prospectus followed the usual lines. The form in which the prospectus of an Indian sterling loan should be presented is carefully considered on the occasion of each issue.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his Department has from time to time received representations against allowing naval ratings to perform work in His Majesty's dockyards which can be done by dock-yardmen; and whether he will consider the effect on employment of allowing all work in connection with the repair and refitting of ships to be done by dockyard-men?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the answer to the second part is that full consideration has been given to the effect not only on employment but on the Navy Estimates if naval ratings were precluded from doing any work in connection with the repair and refitting of His Majesty's ships which is within their capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the date on which he issued instructions forbidding Army bands to take paid civilian engagements when such engagements call for less than 25 performers out of doors or 20 performers indoors; and in what respect those instructions differ from the regulations referred to by the Secretary of State in answer to a question in this House on 14th February, 1924?

The instructions were issued at the beginning of December last. The orders referred to in the answer given in 1924 forbade an Army band, playing as the regimental band, from accepting engagements with less than 25 performers outdoors, or 20 performers indoors. But there was no such restriction on string or other parties from a band accepting engagements, provided that they did not appear as the regimental band. The instructions which I have had issued forbid smaller sections of the band accepting paid engagements other than at places of worship or at certain entertainments of a Service character.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the rate of interest charged on loans issued from the Local Loans Fund when the Bank Rate was 6 per cent. and the rate of interest in force at present?

The rate of interest charged on loans from the Local Loans Fund is fixed by reference to the cost of financing the fund by the issue of long-term stock and not by reference to Bank Rate. With Bank Rate standing at 6 per cent., the local loans rate has on different occasions stood at 5½ per cent., 6 per cent., 6½ per cent. and 5¼ per cent. The present local loans rate is 5¼ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that His Majesty's inspector of taxes for the Southall area has disallowed the earned-income relief of £45 previously allowed to a man and wife who have a small business from which their joint income is earned; and whether this has been done on his instructions?

If the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of the case which he has in mind, I will cause inquiry to be made and communicate the result to him in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average surcharge on postal matter to and from India by air; what percentage of profit is yielded to the Post Office here and in India; and whether he can give any reason for the fact that the weight carried is smaller homewards than outwards?

The surcharge for letters conveyed by air to Karachi is 5d. per ½ oz., and for letters conveyed to Karachi and onwards by the connecting Karachi-Delhi Air Service 7d. per ½ oz. The corresponding surcharges in the reverse direction are understood to be six annas and eight annas per ½ oz. respectively. The surcharges collected in this country are fixed in the closest possible relation to the actual costs of the service and the margin of profit is very narrow. I have no information regarding the financial effect of the surcharges fixed by the Indian Post Office for the service in the reverse direction. The fact that the average weekly air traffic outwards is greater than that inwards is in accordance with the position in the case of the traffic conveyed by ordinary services to and from India.

asked the Postmaster-General what weight of mail is now carried outwards and homewards by air to and from India; and whether the quantity of postal matter is, increasing or decreasing?

Since the beginning of this year, the average weekly weight of air mail carried to India has been about 550 lbs., and the corresponding weight from India about 440 lbs. Apart from a very marked increase in both directions during the Christmas period, it cannot be said that there has recently been any definite tendency for the traffic to rise or fall.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the mail from Montreal arriving at Belfast on 18th February was found to have been tampered with; how many postal packets are missing; what is the estimated value of the missing packets; and whether he can give any information as to the circumstances of this occurrence?

It is the case that a mail from Montreal which arrived at Belfast on 18th February was found to have been tampered with. One hundred registered packets appear to be missing, but, so far as has been ascertained, none is of high value. It cannot yet be said at what stage in transmission the loss occurred; but inquiries in the matter are being pursued.

asked the Postmaster-General if, seeing that Post Office bags exceeding 3 feet 6 inches in length are actually in use in this country, he will consider whether they could be adopted to deal with the trade in fishing tackle, which is at present hampered by the fact that parcels exceeding this length are at present sent without restriction from Estonia to Germany, but cannot be sent from this country to Continental buyers?

Parcel bags of the present pattern could with some inconvenience be used for longer parcels, but, as I explained in my answer to a previous question on this subject, Post Office fittings generally are unsuitable for dealing with parcels over 42 inches in length. The demand for an increase of the present dimensions is small, and the cost of introducing and maintaining exceptional arrangements, which would have to be reciprocal, would be considerable.

asked the Postmaster-General the aggregate deficit or surplus on the working of the telephone and telegraph services for the last 10 years?

For the 10 years ending 31st March, 1930, the aggregate surplus on the telephone service is, in round figures, £29,900,000, and the aggregate deficit on the telegraph service £13,700,000. These figures cover operation, maintenance and depreciation, but are before charging interest on capital. In the latter part of the period reductions of telephone charges have been made amounting to many millions of pounds.

asked the Postmaster-General the numbers of the staff engaged in converting overhead telegraph and telephone services to underground services; and when it is estimated that the work will be completed?

Underground wires are provided to supplement or to replace overhead wires according to circumstances, and this work is continuously going on as part of the general constructional programme of the Post Office. It is not practicable to say how many of the men employed on constructional work are required specifically for replacing overhead wires by underground.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has taken any steps to ensure that contractors for the carriage of mails by road shall employ British vehicles; and whether the will apply the same conditions in relation to sub-contractors as he employs in relation to the vehicles used directly by the Post Office?

So far as I am aware, the bulk of the vans employed by contractors for Post Office mail services are of British manufacture, and I do not consider that any special action on my part is called for. Contracts for the con- veyance of mails by road are so worded as to preclude the employment of subcontractors.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to carry out Recommendation VIII (Telephone Services) of the Imperial Wireless and Cables Conference Report, 1928, which states that the prospects of harmonious working might be prejudiced if any of the undertakings concerned were not under predominant British control?

This is apparently an inquiry as to future overseas wireless telephony policy, a matter on which I am not in a position to add to the Prime Minister's reply on the 3rd instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury).

asked the Postmaster-General the outcome of his correspondence with an American telegraph and telephone company respecting wireless telephony in relation to Egypt?

I have had no communication with any American telegraph and telephone company in regard to wireless telephone service between Great Britain and Egypt.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the net surplus or deficit on the Post Office transatlantic wireless telephone service in each financial year since the opening of the service?

The figures are: From commencement of service, 7th January, to 31st March, 1927, deficit £7,161; 1927–28, deficit £28,582; 1928–29, surplus £33,062; for the period April-November, 1929, surplus £29,355.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of automatic stamp-vending machines now being used by the Post Office?

At the end of January, machines had been installed on about 1,800 sites, mostly at post offices.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of auto- matic and manual telephone exchanges, respectively, and the numbers of subscribers served by each of the two systems?

At 31st December, 1929, there were 260 automatic and 4,329 manual telephone exchanges, serving approximately 231,378 and 943,698 subscribers respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General if the statement of the sale of Post Office stamps includes stamps used for receipt purposes and, if so, whether he can make an estimate of the amounts so used; and, if not, whether he will, in the interests of proper accounting, reissue a special type of receipt stamp such as used to be in circulation and which permitted the amount to be exactly estimated?

The value of the postage stamps used for inland revenue purposes can be estimated with a reasonable degree of accuracy and in the Post Office Commercial Accounts it is deducted from the total of postage stamps sold before arriving at the postal surplus. The amount so deducted for 1928–29, as shown on page 17 of the account, was £2,033,205. The second part of the question therefore does not arise, and in any case a reversion to the special receipt stamp would cause great inconvenience to the public.

asked the Postmaster-General what security of tenure Imperial and International Communications, Limited, have given to those of their employés who were formerly in the service of the Government: and whether these employés have been brought under a scheme of superannuation?

The conditions under which members of the Post Office staff were transferred to Imperial and International Communications Limited give a definite guarantee of employment for a, term of five years or till the attainment of the age of 60, whichever is the shorter period, subject to satisfactory health and conduct. After the expiry of the guarantee, employment can be terminated on terms, including pension rights, at least as favourable, in the aggregate as those to which the staff were entitled under the Crown.

asked the Minister of Health what extra staff, if any, has been engaged for the purpose of dealing with claims under the new Pensions Act; and whether he expects all claims to be settled by the appointed day?

The number of additional staff engaged up to the present for the purpose of dealing with claims under the new Pensions Act is 480. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the staffing arrangements are sufficient to ensure that the vast majority of claims will be settled by the appointed day, if the claims are made in good time. He therefore trusts that all persons who claim to be entitled in July next will submit their applications without delay.