asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the quantities of hose, stockings, and knitted underwear imported into the United Kingdom from Japan for the year ended 31st December, 1936, or the latest convenient date, and the approximate employment that would have been provided by the manufacture of those goods in this country?

Particulars of the imports are as follows. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that owing to the number of unknown factors, I cannot give an estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the imports from 1930 to 1936, each year separately, of chrome side leather and other dressed leather; and the estimated number of people that would have been found employment had the imports been restricted?

Following is a statement showing total imports of dressed leather into the United Kingdom during the past seven years. Separate particulars for chrome side leather are not available. As regards the second part of the question, I regret I am unable to give a reliable estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that Indian mill-made cotton-piece goods are admitted to the markets of the British Colonial empire on terms of equality with the products of the United Kingdom cotton industry as a consequence of the reciprocal commercial agreement between the United Kingdom and India, he has any evidence to show that this arrangement has resulted in any advantage to the United Kingdom cotton nidustry?

It has been the general practice for many years to admit Indian and other overseas Empire goods into the Colonies on terms as favourable as those on which United Kingdom goods are admitted. The advantages to Indian trade of this practice are taken into account in any consideration of trade relations between India on the one hand and the United Kingdom and the Colonies on the other. My hon. and learned Friend will no doubt appreciate that it would not be possible to indicate any particular concessions as having been obtained by reference to this practice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the respective balances of trade with all countries with which agreements have been negotiated for the 12 months ended

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount by which the normal import quota of Foreign bacon to Great Britain has been exceeded; and will be give particulars of the same and the value of such excess?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the year 1936. There is no "normal" foreign import quota. The quota allowed to foreign countries is fixed from time to time by reference to estimates of supplies from home and Dominion sources. The statement below

The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with the under-mentioned foreign countries during the year 1936, together with the balance of imports or exports.gives the total of the allocations to foreign countries for the year 1936 and shows that there was a deficiency in imports below this total of 51,137 cwts., or about r per cent.:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the amount of money paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund and by the Unemployment Assistance Board to unemployed persons in the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth each year from 1921 to date,

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that applicants for unemployment benefit resident in Cumbernauld, Dumbartonshire, have to travel considerable distances for signing-on purposes, all involving much financial outlay and hardship; and if he is prepared to take immediate steps for such applicants to sign on at a suitable place in their own village?

I regret that the expense of providing Exchange facilities at Cumbernauld would not be justified.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the output per man per shift for 1936, or the latest available figures he has in his possession, and the corresponding figures for 1914, 1921, and 1928?

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of separate inspections made by workmen's inspectors elected under Section 16 of the Coal Mines Act, in each of the following districts, respectively, South Wales and Monmouth, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Scotland, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, and North Derbyshire, in the year ended 31st December, 1936?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of coroners' inquests attended by representatives of his Department in the Swansea division in the year ended 31st December, 1936, at which verdicts of death caused or accelerated by silicosis or anthrocosis, or other lung disease, due to occupation were recorded by the coroner?

The inquiries into these cases which are made by His Majesty's Inspectors no longer include attendance at the inquests, and no such inquests were attended during 1936.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents in each district of the British coalfields for the year 1936; and the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents to persons in the age groups 14 to 16 years, 16 to 18 years, and 18 to 21 years?

Following is a statement showing the number of persons killed and seriously injured in each Inspection Division during 1936. I am obtaining the more detailed information as to age groups and will send it to the hon. Member. Information as to the less serious accidents is not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in the list of accidents to workmen engaged in the mining industry above and below ground, there are any means of ascertaining in how many cases the injured workman had been out of employment and only recently returned to industry?

I am afraid that this information is not recorded.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of persons killed and injured in the coal mines of Great Britain each year from 192o up to 1936?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of persons employed in or about coal mines within each of the urban districts of Aspull, Backrod, Hindley, and

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state, in appropriate form and based upon existing agreements in each of the coal-mining areas, the actual profit per ton of coal which the coalowners are entitled to receive before miners' wages can be increased above the existing minimum wages?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 2nd July, 1936, to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths), of which I am sending him a copy.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can state the number of meetings held by the Over-sea Settlement Board during the previous 12 months; if the board are now holding regular meetings; and are any changes contemplated in the composition of the board?

Since its appointment last year, the Oversea Settlement Board has held 22 meetings, the first of which took place on the 18th March, 1936. It continues to meet regularly. Apart from the fact that my noble Friend the hon. Member for Derbyshire West (Marquess of Hartington) succeeded my right hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hacking) as Chairman of the Board, on his appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, there has been no occasion so far to consider any change in the composition of the board.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations from the British Medical Association respecting certain classes of advertisements appearing in the books of stamps issued by the Post Office; and whether he proposes to take action in the matter?

Representations on this subject were received from the British Medical Association a few years ago. My right hon. Friend recently reviewed the matter in connection with a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Cary) on 7th December last, and found no reason for altering the present policy, which is to exclude advertisements of medicines purporting to cure certain diseases specified in paragraph 58 of the report of the Select Committee on Patent Medicines, 1914, but to accept other advertisements whose wording is not objectionable and whose bona fides is not suspect.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the varied forms of Post Office business transacted at postal counters, he will consider making a small State grant to postal counter employés who will endeavour to learn the deaf-and-dumb alphabet, with the object of having at least one official in the main post offices of large towns who can be helpful to sufferers from this disability?

I have no evidence that the cases to which my hon. Friend refers are at all frequent, and I do not think that the special measures suggested would be warranted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is now able to state what is to be the situation of each or any of the shadow aeroplane factories which it is proposed to erect under the new defence plan?

One airframe factory is in course of erection in the Birmingham district adjacent to the works of the managing firm and a site for the second is being sought in Lancashire. Aero engine factories are being built at Coventry (3), Birmingham (2) and Bristol (1). All these factories are adjacent or near to the works of the managing firms. An airscrew factory is to be erected near Bolton.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, in view of the present practice of discontinuing dependants' allowance to the children of those who have joined the Royal Air Force when they reach 14 years of age, it is impossible for the parent to provide his children with secondary education; and whether he is prepared to modify this practice and continue the allowance so as to cover the secondary education period?

The conditions governing the issue of marriage allowance are common to the three Defence Services and it is not possible to give preferential treatment to the children of airmen. I should, however, make it clear that payment of the allowance is continued up to the age of 15 in cases where the local education authority has raised the school-leaving age.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men desirous of extending their service in military units have been refused leave to do so during the past three years; and whether, in view of the present emergency, he will consider the effect on recruiting of the continued compulsory transfer to the reserve of men of good character who desire to remain in the Army?

The information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend is not available at the War Office and could only be obtained, with a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort, by the perusal of individual soldiers' documents. The question of increasing the number of men who are permitted to extend their colour service is now engaging my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for War what sum has to be paid by a private soldier in the Royal Tank Corps in this country and abroad, respectively, who wishes to wear the blue patrol uniform of his corps; whether it can be obtained on the hire-purchasing system, and what proportion of the corps have thus purchased it at their own cost?

The information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend is readily available only in respect of units of the Royal Tank Corps serving in the United Kingdom. The cost of the blue patrol uniform averages £3 and with the exception of one unit, it can be obtained on the hire-purchasing system. Approximately 45 per cent. of units in the United Kingdom are in possession of the uniform.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men were discharged from the Army annually, on the average of the last three years, totally or partially disabled on grounds not directly arising out of their military service, and therefore ineligible for disability pension, and on grounds arising from military service and eligible for such pensions, respectively?

The figures will take some time to prepare and I am communicating with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many pounds of coal per head per day are allowed for men in barracks and married men in quarters and for what period of the year; whether it varies with the geographical position of the barracks in question; and whether there is any additional allowance in cases where a unit is under strength but is necessarily occupying accommodation intended for a larger number?

It is impracticable to translate into an allowance of pounds of coal per caput the various scales of fuel issued for consumption in barracks and married quarters, which depend in many cases not on the numbers of the personnel concerned but on the size and type of accommodation. The scales vary as between winter and summer, and as between stations at home and those abroad, depending on the climatic conditions of the latter, while in the case of home stations an extra allowance is provided for those in exceptionally exposed positions. No additional allowance is made when a unit is under strength and is occupying accommodation intended for a larger number, but as a general rule the scales give a greater allowance of fuel per caput than when it is up to strength.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been discharged, or are under notice to leave, the remount depot at Arborfield, Berkshire; what is their average length of service both in the Army and since joining the reserve; and what steps are to be taken to find them suitable employment, bearing in mind that they have no trade other than horse management?

The reduction and reorganisation of the remount service, resulting from the increased mechanisation of the Army, will entail a reduction in the establishment of the Arborfield depot on 31st March next. There will be a further reduction, probably not later than June next, when it is likely that the depot will be closed down. All employees have been warned of the early closing of the depot, but, apart from normal establishment fluctuations, no men at the depot have been discharged or given notice to leave, as it is not yet known what the requirements of the reorganised service will be or how many men can be absorbed in other Army occupations. The second part of the question does not therefore arise. As regards the last part, I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave on 26th January to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Brown).