asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that many newspapers, particularly the London evening papers, seek to obtain sales by inserting the word "official" after their posters and headings, without any authority; and whether steps will be taken to limit such use of the word "official," to properly authorised statements by Government Departments?

No, Sir, I have not myself observed the use of the word "official" when in fact no official statement is referred to, and I cannot think there are many cases of the sort. If the hon. Member cares to provide an instance I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Information what reorganisation has taken place in the work of the Ministry since he took office; to what extent, and in what way, its scope has either been increased or decreased; and whether any alteration in the number of the staff has taken place?

Various changes in organisation have been made, but the scope of the Ministry is still under consideration and I regret I am unable to give a definite answer yet. Meantime there has been a continual expansion of the Ministry's activities abroad and at home, to meet which additions to the staff have been made as the work demands. Staff at headquarters and in regional offices number 674.

Can the Minister say how soon it will be possible to make a statement about reorganisation, in view of the many rumours that are floating about at the present time?

No, Sir. I am sorry I cannot, but certainly it will be as soon as possible.

Will the Minister circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement as to what information the Minister of Information is responsible for and what information he is not responsible for?

I would suggest that Question might be answered when I make the other statement to which the Question of the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) referred.

Can the Minister say how the figure of 674 is divided between headquarters staff and regional staffs?

Yes, Sir. There are 62 in the regions.

asked the Prime Minister what is the number of square miles of land and lakes that have been annexed by Russia from Finland under the peace settlement?

It is impossible to give exact figures until the frontiers have been delimited, but I understand that approximately 41,900 square kilometres of land and lakes have been ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union.

Does that answer mean that Russia has annexed more land and lakes than the square mileage of Scotland?

I should want to verify that statement, but it is exactly the size I have described.

Is it not larger than the square mileage of Scotland?

Is it not extremely disgraceful?

asked the Prime Minister to what extent Russia is co-operating with Germany under the terms of the recently concluded agreements made between them?

The degree of co-operation between the Soviet and German Governments appears to be most marked in the economic sphere.

Is it a fact that the Russian Government have indicated their willingness to enter into trade negotiations with His Majesty's Government?

I should require notice of that Question.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to publish the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the loss of His Majesty's Submarine "Thetis"?

Yes, Sir. The report will be presented to Parliament and copies will be available in the Vote Office on 4th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now prepared to lift the ban on the conversions of local authorities?

I will, of course, continue to give careful consideration to this question, but I am afraid that the time has not yet come at which any general statement can be made on the question when issues for fresh money or conversion of trustee securities can be safely authorised.

May I take it from the answer that the Chancellor will give consideration to special cases on their merits with a view to relieving the ratepayers of a wholly unnecessary burden?

I should like, of course, to relieve any burden which the ratepayers have to suffer in this matter, but the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, generally speaking, there is not at present an opportunity for any issues except for absolutely essential purposes.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that if the terms of conversion are properly arranged then; need be no question of issues of fresh money, and that in such cases the whole of the money would be taken up by the existing holders?

If there is no need for fresh money, there is no objection at all to local authorities, out of the resources they have, paying off their loans, but, of course, nobody can guarantee that there is no need for fresh money because in conversion operations the holders are given a choice between converting and taking cash.

May I ask whether the local authorities have to make application to the Chancellor to get this permission?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that he will safeguard the balances at the credit of the Unemployment Fund, in view of the probable need therefor for the purpose for which they are appropriated and, in particular, will not encroach on that fund for the purpose of liquidating in part the National Debt?

The balances at the credit of the Unemployment Fund (General and Agricultural Accounts) can only be utilised for the purposes laid down by Statute, and there is no question of the fund being encroached upon for other purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Defence expenditure between 1st April, 1939, and 31st August, 1939, or to the nearest available date, and the war expenditure between that date and 31st March, 1940?

Expenditure on Defence, including Civil Defence, from the 1st April to the 2nd September, 1939, amounted to approximately £237,000,000. As regards the remainder of the financial year, it is not the practice in current Exchequer returns which relate to the period of the war to give details of the expenditure on Supply Services.

Is there any truth in the rumour—at any rate it was in the "Daily Herald"—that you were going to make an attack in your Budget on the people who are in between £5 and £12 per week?

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to any statements in newspapers as to Budget proposals, he may take it that there is no sort of authority for any sort of statement in any newspaper on the subject at all.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information as to the subjects of the recent discussions between Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini?

I have no statement to make on this subject.