asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the eight steamships of the America-Levant Line and the 19 motor ships of the Silver Line, all on the British register, employ Chinese crews in all departments; and whether he proposes to take any action to remedy this state of affairs in view of the prevalent unemployment amongst British seamen?

I am informed that the steamships of the America-Levant Line, Limited, do not carry Chinese seamen. Those motor ships of the Silver Line which are in commission carry Chinese crews. I understand that these vessels are employed in trading continuously abroad, mainly in tropical waters, and do not ordinarily return to the United Kingdom. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer that was given him on the 11th March.

Is it a fact that a great number of these ships, British registered and flying the British flag and trading between these ports, necessarily have to employ foreign seamen?

I would require notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to the present shortage of junior officers in the British mercantile marine; if he is aware that among the reasons put forward for this alleged shortage is the severity of the theoretical examinations for officers' certificates which many practical and experienced seamen find difficult to pass; and whether he will have this matter investigated?

I am glad to say that, according to my information, unemployment among officers of the British mercantile marine has diminished during the past few months, but I am not aware that there is any general shortage. The numbers of certificates issued give no ground for thinking that the standard of the Board's examinations is unduly high, and as the whole system was recently investigated by a representative committee whose recommendations have been accepted by the Board I do not think any further investigation is necessary at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total tonnage of British merchant marine registered under the Board of Trade rules constructed in 1929 to burn oil only, to burn coal only, and to burn both coal and oil, and the corresponding figure for 1913?

The information is not available in the form desired by the hon. Member, but the following figures may be of service to him:

	Tons.
Total ships launched in this country in 1929	1,522,623
(About 86 per cent. of this tonnage was for registration under the British flag.)
Of this motor ships totalled	464,188
Steamers fitted to burn oil under boilers totalled	306,000

Is it not certain that the merchant marine will all be burning oil in the future and that the coal trade will perish?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if the Coal Bill becomes law it will give a further incentive—

That appears to be an entirely hypothetical question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Foreign Powers have, since the date when he made his appeal at Geneva for a tariff truce, increased, or proposed increases in, their Customs duties on goods exported from Great Britain?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 11th February to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel), of which I am sending him a copy.

Do the other countries, including the Dominions which have rejected the proposals of the Government, intend to continue attending the Conference?

As the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has been at Geneva, and he is returning from there to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the technical objection that may be raised if an information is laid against a cargo of timber arriving from one of the large Soviet detention camps that these camps are not prisons, gaols, houses of correction, or penitentiaries within the meaning of the Act of 1897, whether the Government will extend the Act to all places where men or women are detained and compelled to work without other remuneration than food?

I am afraid no undertaking can be given to introduce legislation to amend the Act in the direction the hon. and gallant Member desires.

Would it not be desirable to abolish work of this character in East Africa before we begin to apply these Regulations to other countries?

Can the subject be raised at the League of Nations?

I will consider that point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what has been the course of employment and output since October, 1929, in the leather glove, fabric glove, silk, artificial silk, cutlery, hollow-ware, and motor-car industries?

All the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is not available, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT such particulars as I have regarding employment and output since October, 1929, in the industries mentioned. The data in respect of hollow-ware are not yet available, but they will be sent to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as they are received.

Would it not be a great deal better to have this information circulated; and is the hon. Gentleman aware that I put down a question last week asking for certain information which is wanted in regard to these tariffs, and we were told that we could not have it; and may I suggest that it would be a great deal better if the facts were made public?

Will the hon. Gentleman give information with regard to the other safeguarded industries at the same time?

I shall be pleased to give any information that is asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any further information regarding the proposed increases in the Indian cotton duties?

No, Sir, I can add nothing to the information which was given to the House last Thursday in the reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Hammersley), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

What steps have the Government already taken in this matter?

As I said in my answer last week, the Government have already made representations to the Indian Government and pointed out the very serious effect which the new duties would have upon Lancashire, and the matter has been considered by the Indian Government, due and full regard being naturally paid to the claims of the Indian people.

Has this legislation passed any of its stages in the Indian Legislature?

I understand that it is still before the legislative body.

Are we to take it that there is still time to make further representations on the Amendment which has been put down?

The hon. Member knows from the answer which I gave to him last week, the decision to which the Government have come on the matter, and I can add nothing.

Is it not a fact that in that reply of last week the hon. Gentleman said that it was understood that the matter—

The Minister has already replied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to make any representations with reference to the proposal of the Government of Australia to impose a Super-tax on imports into that Dominion, with a view to obtaining relief from its operation in respect of British imports?

I have no information of any specific proposals of this kind having yet been made by His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia. If and when such proposals are put forward, I will consider in consultation with the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what representations, if any, can usefully be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount, in tons, of oil suitable for combustion as fuel oil imported into Great Britain in 1928 and 1929?

The quantity of fuel oil imported into this country is recorded in the trade returns by gallons only, and owing to the varying densities of fuel oil a precise statement of the tonnage imported is not available. The total imports of fuel oil into Great Britain and Northern Ireland amounted to 450,876,000 gallons in 1928 and to 406,696,000 gallons in 1929, the latter figure being provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British officers were shot in the late War in execution of sentences by courts-martial for cowardice or desertion?

During the late War, two officers were shot for desertion and one officer was shot for murder and desertion. No officers were shot for cowardice.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he proposes to take to rectify the decline in the number of persons recruited into the Army during last year?

Bad recruiting periods recur from time to time, and there is no sovereign remedy for them. But I can assure the right hon. Member that the problem of maintaining the strength of the Army is engaging the constant attention of the Army Council.

Has the right hon. Gentleman recently considered the advisability of issuing a smarter uniform?

No, Sir.

Will he not do so; and does he not think that youths of 17 or 18 are greatly attracted by smart clothes?

I have no immediate intention of taking that suggestion into consideration.

Why, when a not unreasonable suggestion is put forward, should the right hon. Gentleman not give it courteous consideration?

Because it is not the time at questions to have a discussion as to the advisability of one form of uniform as against another.

Wall the right hon. Gentleman consider putting all the Army into kilts?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that he can get recruits without lowering the standard?

I shall make a statement to-morrow about the standard, concerning which there are some regrettable features, I am afraid.

Was this question not considered on many occasions by the previous Government, who decided not to make any change?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can now make a further statement concerning the Government's proposals to institute short time at Woolwich Arsenal?

No, Sir; I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the grave anxiety which the Government's action has caused in Woolwich; and can he say when he will be in a position to make a statement?

If there is any anxiety, I hope to remove it shortly.

Will the hon. Gentleman in the interval consult the borough authorities and the trade unions concerned?

I am in constant communication and negotiation with the representatives of the workers, and, if the borough authorities want to see me, I shall be very glad to see them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the usual subsidy of £9 per house was exceeded by the Glasgow Corporation and £11 per house offered to a private firm, and that this offer was increased by the corporation to £12 10s. per house; and whether he will take steps to protect the public funds in this regard?

The amount of subsidy payable by a local authority to private builders in terms of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, is a matter primarily for the decision of the local authority. They are not limited to a payment of £9, which is the amount of the State contribution, but may increase that sum by a payment from local rates. In the case of Glasgow, the original scheme of assistance framed by the corporation with the approval of the Department of Health for Scotland fixed the rate at £13 10s. per house. Later this rate was reduced to £9, and the approval of the Department was given on 9th October last. Prior to that date the corporation granted subsidy in two instances at the rate of £12 10s. per house. As this rate was not in accordance with that specified in the approved scheme, steps were taken by the Department to ensure that in future the approved rate will not be departed from without their prior approval. I am informed that the corporation have never offered £11 per house to a private firm.

In view of the powers that are disclosed over the Glasgow Corporation in this matter, is it not within the power of the hon. Gentleman to use these powers to prevent them using slates which are not quarried in Scotland?

Has the hon. Gentleman any control over the rental of these houses, in view of the considerable reduction in their cost?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of money paid for indoor and outdoor relief, respectively, in Scotland for the year 1929?

The total expenditure in Scotland for the year ended the 15th May, 1929, on indoor relief was £753,727 and on outdoor relief £2,886,787. These figures exclude the amount expended in respect of the lunatic poor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received a protest from the small burghs in the county of Fife with respect to the increased burden the ratepayers of these burghs will have to bear through the expenditure on classified roads in the county being allocated on the basis of the rateable valuation of the landward areas and small burghs; and what steps he proposes to take to relieve these ratepayers of their burdens?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The method of allocating the expenditure to which my hon. Friend refers is prescribed by Section 21 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, and can be altered only by legislation. The ratepayers will be wholly relieved of any consequent loss during 1930–31 and the four following years out of the Supplementary Exchequer Grant or other source in accordance with Section 60 of the Act; and this relief will be continued to a gradually lessening extent during subsequent years. In view of Section 72 of the Act, which provides for an investigation before the expiry of seven years into the rules which regulate inter alia the determination of sums to be allocated to small burghs, any proposals for legislation would be at present premature.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that almost half of the valuation of the county is in the burghs, whereas only a small proportion of the roads are in the burghs; and does he think it is fair that the small burghs should be called upon to bear such a large proportion of the expenditure on the county roads?

Do the burgh inhabitants never use the county roads?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any proposals to make to relieve the plight of Scottish agriculture?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave last Tuesday to a question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair).

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the resolutions which have been passed at a series of mass meetings of agriculturists in the north of Scotland recently; and, in view of the urgency of the problem and the critical condition of the industry, when will he expect to be in a position to make a full statement of the intentions of the Government?

I want to state, quite frankly, that I have had my attention called to the demonstrations that have taken place in various parts of Scotland. During the time I have filled the position which I now occupy, I have been taking a considerable number of steps that will benefit agriculture. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen and Kincardine (Mr. Boothby) may be interested to learn that the farmers in his constituency have benefited by an order which we have issued regarding the grading and marking of meat. This has raised the sale from his own part of the country in Smithfield of graded and national marked beef from 539 sides per week to no less than 2,406.

Is it not a fact that these grading proposals were first produced by the late Government, and does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that they in themselves are totally inadequate to meet the requirements of agriculture.

These are matters for debate, and we had better put off this discussion to a more convenient date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that imports to Scotland of oleo oil and oleo stearine used in margarine must be accompanied by a certificate that the fat was derived from an animal free from disease; whether he is aware that no such health regulations are observed on imports to England; whether any Scottish authorities have complained of their precaution being defeated by imports via England; and whether he will make any representations on the subject to the Government?

I am aware that the practice in this matter at Scottish ports differs from that observed at English ports, and my right hon. Friend is in consultation with the Minister of Health on the subject, with a view to securing the adoption of a common practice.

Are we to understand that there is no protection for English ports from oils of this description?

I cannot answer questions relating to English ports; I can only answer questions dealing with the protection afforded to Scottish ports.

What is the precise difference between the two positions to which the hon. Gentleman refers?

In the Scottish ports importation is only permitted if it is accompanied by a medical certificate that the oils are produced from animals free from disease. As I understand it, no such medical certificate is insisted upon at the English ports.

May I ask if this oil is the product of General Charteris' Kadaver factory?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the destruction of cod nets caused by foreign trawlers in the Moray Firth in the beginning of last week; whether he is aware that the nets were taken aboard the trawlers and deliberately cut away; whether he is making inquiries into the matter; and what steps he is taking to secure satisfaction to the fishermen and to protect them from further losses in the same way?

My attention has been drawn to this matter. I am informed that the loss sustained, though substantial, is not so extensive as some of the published statements would suggest. The damage occurred in an area away from the main cod net grounds during the week-end. No evidence has been received to support the suggestion that the damage was deliberately done by the foreign trawlers, but I am having full inquiries made into all the circumstances of the occurrence. The question whether any compensation can be recovered is receiving consideration. The patrol vessels have done everything possible to warn foreign trawlers of the presence of the anchored nets and are continuing to do so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what progress is being made with the proposal to try and stop the foreign trawlers coming in and interfering with the fishermen who are peacably carrying on their own calling?

As the presence of foreign trawlers in the Moray Firth, and other places where British trawlers are not allowed, is a continued outrage on the feelings of British fishermen, will the right hon. Gentleman not take steps to go to the League of Nations and get this matter put right?

I agree that it is a substantial cause of complaint, but it was a substantial cause of complaint when the hon. Gentleman and his friends were responsible for the Government of the country. It was a substantial cause of complaint then as well as now, but I would say, in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Banff (Major Wood), that that phase of the question is receiving my earnest consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that at a school being built in East Stirlingshire by the aid of a Government grant the fair wages clause is not being observed as regards certain building workers; and if he will take steps to see that standard wages are paid?

I assume that the hon. Member's question relates to the new Advanced Division school at Falkirk. I am informed that the contract includes a fair wages clause which, so far as the Education Authority are aware, is not being infringed. There are apparently two building employers' federations having members in the area and they have different rates. The execution of contracts for school building is a matter for local settlement and I have no power to intervene.

If the proper rate of wages is not being paid, cannot the hon. Member withhold the grant?

As a matter of fact, the grant is supplied in the general block and is not allocated to particular purposes.

As the hon. Gentleman has issued a letter advising the authorities to use home-grown timber and other home-produced materials, can he not issue a letter to the local authorities asking them to pay trade union wages?

In this case, the authority have the fair wages clause in the contract, but the question of the interpretation of it is a different matter.

But is the hon. Member aware that this is a case of definite evasion of the building trade union rates, and can he not take steps with the local authority to see that Government money is not used to pay lower wages?

The statement I have given is that which was supplied by the education authority, who say, specifically, that they are paying the trade union rate and observing the fair wages clause.

When did it become the policy of the hon. Gentleman to take the word of a Tory education authority as against the word of a trade union?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now state the intentions of the Government with regard to the scheme for deepening the Port Henry Dock and constructing a slipway at Peterhead?

The Development Commissioners have recommended, and the Treasury have sanctioned, a grant of £39,000 for this purpose, to include a sum of £14,000 previously sanctioned for the slipway alone, on condition that the harbour trustees raise an equivalent amount from other sources.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware of any special circumstances to which the recent increases in the numbers of the unemployed can be attributed?

Yes, Sir; one of the most important contributory causes is the uncertainty caused by the world-wide fall in the price of raw materials. Evidence of this is to be found in the recent heavy increase in unemployment in the cotton textile industry, which I regret to say is still continuing.

Does the right hon. Gentleman share the view expressed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently that this increase in unemployment is due to an organised conspiracy on the part of the business world?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any schemes likely to relieve unemployment in the county of Norfolk have been brought to his notice; and, if so, whether he will state their number and their nature?

The assistance from the Unemployment Grants Committee and from the Road Fund is given to the appropriate local authorities. If the hon. Member will advise me of the local authority areas in Norfolk for which he wishes this information, I will endeavour to supply it.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the amount that has been approved, since June last to date, by way of grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee to the Borough of Woolwich for the relief of unemployment?

I would refer the right hon. Member to the replies given to him on this subject on 2nd and 16th December, 1929, 21st January, 27th February and 3rd March, 1930, to which I have nothing to add.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these repeated inquiries were made to ascertain whether the borough council in question were obtaining any grants from the Unemployment Grants Committee to assist unemployment in the area; and is he also aware that, unfortunately, on each of the occasions to which he has referred, the answer he gave me was in the negative? Can the right hon. Gentleman do anything to assist the borough to induce the council to make some application in the matter?

It is not for the Government to do that. The Government set out certain terms and conditions, already explained to the House, which, happily, are accepted by most authorities, and I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman should persuade his own local authority to come into line with the majority of the municipalities of the country.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he flatters me too much; that I am afraid I have not the influence with the Socialist borough council which perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would have?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has any plans for the employment of displaced labour due to armament reductions?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave on the 4th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. R. Morley).

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman go into this matter a little further? Is he aware that already in Woolwich the Government have indicated that there is a possibility of heavy discharges from the Arsenal, and cannot some special consideration be given in a matter of that kind?

I know nothing of the special circumstances of Woolwich, but the last answer I gave to this broad general question was that the Government could not take the responsibility of giving special consideration to any section of people unemployed. It would not be fair, it could not be administered, and I do not think the House would agree with it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the extra labour at Woolwich Arsenal to be displaced in the near future will be in addition to the 100,000 which it was stated last month would be thrown out of work in the country as a whole?

That question ought to be put on the Paper.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the answer he has given and take into account those workpeople thrown out of work by the action of the Government?

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is prepared to support the raising of a loan based on the Road Fund for a national scheme of trunk road development?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 11th March to the hon. Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle). I do not anticipate that there will be any difficulty in financing any road works, the undertaking of which can be justified by the requirements of the country.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to this and other proposals contained in a book called "We can conquer unemployment" and does he propose to adopt any of them?

I gather that the object of the question is not to find means of getting the money, but to find the work. I have experienced no difficulty in finding money.

Do I understand that if it is necessary to raise a loan the right hon. Gentleman will be willing to do so for this purpose?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, if he is thinking of reading the work referred to, whether he will also read "Grimm's Fairy Tales"?

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will indicate in detail what benefits are accruing to industry as a result of the representations made in connection with tonnage, and will he specify the particular tonnage; and will he state in detail what are the number of other benefits that have accrued as well, resulting from his trip to Canada?

In addition to a better understanding of the industrial position in this country, I have good reason to hope that my visit will lead to a material increase of trade between the two countries, particularly in coal and steel, but, apart from the order for bituminous coal (of which the House is already aware), the hon. Member will appreciate that it would be contrary to the interests of our trade to give information to the House as to the individual transactions which are taking place.

As we have had nothing but these hopes from the right hon. Gentleman does he not think the time has now come when he should put aside all thoughts of amour propre and ask the Chancellor of the Duchy to show him his plan so that the right hon. Gentlemen can give that plan a chance?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now in a position to state when he will publish his promised White Paper relating to unemployment?

The White Paper is being presented to Parliament to-day, and will be issued in a day or two.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has received any report concerning the disaster at Fanny Pit, Gateshead; if any plans of previous workings in this area were available; and if he can take further action to ensure safety in areas in which old water-filled workings are believed to exist?

I have received a preliminary report on this accident, in which, I deeply regret to say, three persons lost their lives. The inrush of water occurred during the working of the Yard Seam in the second north district. A machineman was under-cutting in the coal when the jib of the coal-cutter holed through, and a large quantity of water came away. The coal was being worked to the rise, and the water came down the main haulage road and blocked it at a swelley, or undulation in the road. The deputy in charge of the district collected all the men he could, and they came out safely along a second outlet. A man and two lads, however, were found to be missing, and were afterwards discovered drowned in the swelley.

With regard to the second part of the question, I am having the whole position investigated, but as come question of legal proceedings may arise I cannot at present make any statement.

With regard to the last part of the question, the first requisite in the prevention of danger from underground water is knowledge of the existence and position of old workings. My Department has been devoting much time and attention to the collection of all the available information throughout the country, and this information is being fully catalogued and published in order to make it generally available in the interests of safety. Three large volumes of this catalogue have already been published, and every effort is being made to secure publication of the two remaining volumes in the near future.

While everything possible has been done, with the full co-operation of all concerned, to make these catalogues as complete as possible, there are unfortunately many old working the plans of which, if they ever existed, have disappeared and can now, unhappily, never be replaced.

What kind of inquiry is being held? Is it a public inquiry, or is it to be an investigation inside the Ministry?

In the first place, it will be an investigation inside the Ministry. The question of a public inquiry will arise later on.

Are we to understand that the Minister, at the moment, does not propose to have an official inquiry into this serious disaster, and has he none of the old plans of this waterlogged area?

I think the answer which I have already given explains that matter.

That is no answer. I asked two simple questions. The first was "Does the Minister not propose to hold an official inquiry into this serious disaster?"; and my second question was, "Has he no plans of this waterlogged area?"

If the hon. Member will put down his last question, I will have the matter fully investigated. As regards the investigation, it must be a departmental one.

Will a coroner's inquest be held?

The inquest has been held.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give an estimate of the capital value of the mines closed down in the several coal fields since 1921?

I regret that the information necessary to enable such an estimate to be given is not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines what number of pits were closed down in each coalfield area in the years 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929, respectively; and the number of men displaced on the stoppage of pits in each year?

I regret that information in the form asked for by my hon. Friend is not available, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT annual figures of the number of mines at work and of the number of persons employed during the periods mentioned.

asked the Post-master-General the number of robberies of mail bags during the past 12 months; the value of the contents; and the cost to the Exchequer?

During the year 1929 56 mail hags were stolen or tampered with in course of transit. It is not possible to state the value of the contents of the bags. The amount of compensation paid by the Post Office in respect of registered letters, registered parcels and ordinary parcels contained in the hags was just under £500.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there has been any recent increase in the number of mail bag robberies?

No. The figures remain fairly steady. There was an increase about Christmas time, as always happens at that period, but otherwise the losses for the last six months are slightly less than for the corresponding period of last year.

Is the Postmaster-General taking any more steps to try and prevent the losses?

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any additional precautions have been taken by the Post Office to prevent robberies?

With regard to the payment of £500 in compensation, can the Postmaster-General say what was the amount" claimed?

Does that cover insurance as well?

I do not think that there has been any discrepancy between the compensation claimed and the compensation paid. Very active steps are being taken to deal with this question, and I gave a complete account of them during the Debate on the Supplementary Estimates.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can make any statement as to the repeated theft of mail bags within the last 10 days; and whether he can inform the House how the number of mail robberies within the last six months compares with those within the previous six months?

During the last fortnight two thefts have occurred. On the 7th of this month six bags, three containing unregistered parcels and three containing newspaper packets, were rifled at Burton-on-Trent. On the 12th a bag of parcels was rifled in transit from Chippenham to Paddington. Inquiries are proceeding but it has not yet been ascertained how the thefts occurred. During the six months ended 18th March, 1929, 46 bags were stolen or tam-pared with in course of transit; during the next six months 18; and during the six months ended the 18th of this month 40 including the six bags rifled at Burton.

Is there any protection for these bags while in transit on the railways?

There is a certain supervision and surveillance, but of course, the protection is not so great as when they are in the hands of the Post Office itself.

asked the Postmaster-General what amount of salary is paid annually to sub-postmasters; and what wage is paid weekly to postmen in rural districts?

Sub-postmasters' emoluments depend upon the amount of business transacted at the sub-office. They vary from a minimum of £25 10s. to £671. The average is about £136. The weekly wages of postmen in rural districts range from a few shillings for short part time duties to a maximum of 62s. 2d. These figures are all inclusive to the cost of living bonus.

Is the Postmaster-General satisfied that the remuneration of these small village sub-postmasters at one guinea per year for the conduct of a telephone from the 1st January to the 31st December is reasonable, having regard to the £9,000,000 profit made by his Department?

That question is at present under discussion between the Post Office and the Sub-Postmasters' Federation.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that these part-time employments, receiving as they do a very low wage, are a very unsatisfactory feature of Post Office work; and will the hon. Gentleman see that wherever he can this part-time work in the Post Office is abolished?

Will the hon. Gentleman see that we get penny postage back as soon as possible?

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated annual expenditure for the four Imperial wireless telephone services which it is proposed to concentrate at Rugby and Baldock, including interest on capital, depreciation charges, running costs, overhead charges, and allowances for cost of research?

The total over-all cost inclusive of land lines up to the point of connection with the London Trunk Exchange, of providing public telephone services with Canada, South Africa, India and Australia by means of the Post Office radio stations at Rugby and Baldock is estimated at £43,000 a year. This cost includes £4,000 a year for existing costs at Rugby and Baldock, making a net additional cost for the Dominion's services of £39,000 a year. It also includes a margin of staff and equipment which will be available for the provision of other long-distance radio telephone services. As the latter are developed, the annual cost of the four Imperial services will be reduced to about £36,000 a year.

May I ask whether, as a result of these new services, there will be a direct telephone communication between this country and Argentina?

The new services which are at the moment under discussion are only new services with the Dominions.

asked the Postmaster-General what questions were put to the two experts consulted on the subject of overseas wireless telephony; and what were their answers?