asked the Ministry of Agriculture if he will issue a statement of the counties for which the Agricultural Wages Board has fixed wages in England and Wales, with particulars of such wages?

The following statement gives particulars of the minimum rates and overtime rates for adult workers so far fixed by agricultural wages committees and put into effect by orders of the Agricultural Wages Board. In the majority of the cases specified minimum rates have also been fixed for younger workers. The application of the rates shown is, of course, subject to the precise conditions specified in the respective' orders, copies of which I shall be glad to' supply to the hon. Member if desired.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of agricultural holdings over five and under 50 acres, over 50 and under 100 acres, over 100 and under 200 acres, over 200 and under 500 acres, over 500 and under 1,000

The Returns are not tabulated in such a way as to enable me to give the figures for all the size groups mentioned in the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the increasing tendency of farmers in grazing and dairy districts to replace hedges and ditches with barbed-wire fencing; and whether he can give information as to the number of men formerly employed in the winter for hedging and ditching who are consequently now out of employment and as to the effect of the filling up of the ditches and decay of the fences on the value of pasture farms?

Such information as is in my possession does not support the contentions contained in my Noble Friend's question, and I think that in may cases the replacemet of hedges and ditches by wire fences is more often the effect than the cause of the reduction in the number of men employed in hedging and ditching. I am afraid I have no information with regard to the last part of the question except such as shows that scarcely any workers of this type are out of employment at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons during the past 12 months have been refused further unemployment pay on the ground that, in

acres, and over 1,000 acres, respectively; and giving England, Scotland, and Wales separately?

The number of agricultural holdings in England, Wales and Scotland respectively in the undermentioned size groups as returned on 4th June, 1924, is as follows:

the opinion of the committees considering the cases, the persons concerned have failed to prove that in normal times insurable employment suitable to their capacities would be likely to be available; how many have been refused because the committees told the applicants that they considered that I here was failure to prove that the applicant during the two years immediately preceding the date of application for benefit had been employed in an insurable trade to such an extent as was reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case and, in particular, to the opportunities for obtaining insurable employment during that period and how many have been refused out-of-work pay because the committee stated that they considered the applicant had failed to prove that he was making every reasonable effort to secure employment suited to his capacities and was willing to accept such employment; what steps other than registering each day at the Employment Exchange a person can take to enable the authorities to believe he is genuinely seeking work; and is he aware that some men who have kept records of the firms they have called upon are refused unemployment benefit?

With the permission of the hon. Member, I will circulate the figures he requires in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The grounds of disqualification which he quotes are taken from the Act passed on 1st August last, and the figures therefore can only be given for the period since that date. In addition to registering at an Employment Exchange, an applicant for extended benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts is expected to make reasonable efforts on his own behalf to obtain employment. The fact that an applicant has kept a record of firms on whom he has called is not necessarily sufficient for the purpose of satisfying the committee, who take this and all other relevant facts into account in making their recommendation.

Following is the statement referred to:

asked the Minister of Labour how many new schemes of relief work have been started in the United Kingdom since 1st January; how much money has been granted as loans or grants to local authorities by the Road Board and other authorities for immediate expenditure; how many men are at present employed on relief works being aided by money grants or loans from the Government.; and what was the number employed under the same conditions during the first week in February, 1924?

Since the 26th December last more than 500 schemes of relief work, involving a cost of nearly £3,000,000, have been approved by the grant-making Departments for immediate operation, but I regret that I have no details of the number of schemes actually started. According to the returns which have been received, 103,201 men were directly employed on relief schemes directly assisted by the Government, including schemes under the Trade Facilities Act, as compared with 70,596 in December, 1923. Corresponding figures for the end of January are not yet available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, with a view to relieving the present stagnation in promotion in the Royal Navy, it will be possible for officers commissioned from warrant rank, and warrant officers of all branches who may be desirous of retiring at their own request, and who may have forwarded their applications through the official channels, to have their wishes considered; if any such applications have been received within the last 12 months; and, if so, how many in each category, specifying the branch?

The Regulations permit of warrant officers and above who have attained the age of 40 retiring at their own request, subject to Admiralty discretion, and it is the practice to allow such retirement, whenever possible, subject to the exigencies of the service. I regret that no figures are available of the number of applications from officers of this age to retire received during the last 12 months, but all such applications are now being granted. It was necessary to refuse a small number of applications temporarily in one particular branch owing to a temporary shortage in that branch of candidates for promotion, but since then the number of candidates qualifying for warrant rank has been sufficient to allow of all applications being approved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements exist at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, to enable invalided naval ratings to obtain private clothes before discharge from hospital to shore; whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the ratings concerned at the present limited services; whether the supply of private clothes is arranged by contract; and, if so, when and where tenders for such contracts are called for?

The patients make their own arrangements with local tradesmen, either when on afternoon leave from the hospital, or with a Portsmouth firm of tailors, who have authority to visit the hospital for the purpose. Any necessary advance of pay is made in time to allow of settling the account before discharge. The reply to the second and third parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many petty officers are at present on the waiting list passed for boatswain G; and when the last promotion took place to boatswain G?

No such rank as boatswain exists. No candidates have yet fully passed for the rank of boatswain, to which the last promotions were made on the 11th October, 1918.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many petty officers are at present waiting to go on course for boatswain G who have already passed the educational test for this rank; and whether there is any likelihood of any boatswains G being made in the near future?

The number of candidates for boatswain who are qualified educationally for warrant rank is 16, of whom 10 are now undergoing their professional courses. Promotion to boatswain will be resumed about the end of the present calendar year, when the courses now in progress will have been completed. There is no such rank as Boatswain G.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of naval ratings invalided home from the China station during 1924; and if he will consider an extension of sanatorium accommodation for the crews of His Majesty's ships when in dry dock at Hong Kong during the months of May to September?

The number of naval ratings invalided home from the China station during 1924 is not yet, available. The number invalided home for the period 1st January to 30th September, 1924, was 66. The Admiralty have no reason to think that the present sanatorium accommodation is insufficient to meet the needs of the crews of ships in dry dock during the summer months.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what the engineering trades bonus which is payable to employés in His Majesty's dockyards is based; what determines its fluctuation; and whether he will give comparative figures to show the fluctuation of this bonus in comparison with the Civil Service cost-of-living bonus since the institution of the former?

I have been asked to reply. The "bonus" for workmen in His Majesty's Dockyards is at present 14s. a week, in accordance with award dated 1st August, 1924, No. 967, of the Industrial Court. The fluctuations in the "bonus" for dockyard workmen have been as follow:

In addition, the 12½ per cent. bonus on from 14th October, 1917, to 19th November, 1921; the percentage was reduced to 8⅓ on 20th November, 1921, and to 4⅙ on 18th

Basic bonus from 1st March, 1920:

Bonus on annual salaries of £500 and under from 1st March, 1920:

1st March, 1920.—Basic bonus on above.

1st July, 1920.—27/26ths of basic bonus.

December, 1921, and disappeared altogether on 15th January, 1922.

During the same period the Civil Service bonus has fluctuated as follows:

1st November, 1920.£31/26ths of basic bonus.

1st; March, 1921.£33/26ths of basic bonus.

1st September, 1921.£Basic bonus.

1st March, 1922.£21/26ths of basic bonus.

1st September, 1922.£17/26ths of basic bonus.

1st March, 1923.£16/26ths of basic bonus.

1st September, 1923.£15/26ths of basic bonus.

1st March, 1924.—16/26ths of basic bonus.

1st September, 1924.—15/26ths of basic bonus.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any action was taken in the case of the agent, who was present on board a British warship during firing practice about two years ago, who imparted secret naval information to an outside foreign quarter; and if any steps have been taken to make such a practice impossible in future?

The Admiralty have no knowledge of the incident referred to. I may add that every precaution is taken when experimental firing takes place.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether consideration will he given to the cases of clerks in Government Departments failing to qualify in the examinations at which they are entitled to sit, and all temporary women clerks, both hardship cases and ex-service women whose legal disabilities prevent them from taking examinations; and whether such cases could he given permanent non-pensionable clerical pasts under the same conditions of service and pay as those now accorded to the ex-service men

The exceptional arrangement in the case of ex-service men to which reference is made was designed with the express purpose of according preferential treatment to such men as regards retention in the Civil Service, and the Government is not prepared to extend similar treatment to other classes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what classes of State servants, assuming that they served in His Majesty's Forces, are not eligible under the Sutton and kindred judgments?

I regret that I cannot undertake to compile an exhaustive list of categories of civil servants who are not eligible for reassessment of civil pay under the Sutton and kindred judgments. I may, however, point out that payments due under the Sutton judgment have already been made and that the Supplementary Estimate now before the House is intended to enable His Majesty's Government to apply the remaining judgments to all civil servants covered by them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the final volumes of the 1921 Census are likely to be published?

Apart from any publication which may be decided upon in the form of summaries or abstracts of statistics already issued, the remaining three volumes, namely, those dealing with industry, dependency and work-places, are expected to appear in the course of the next three months. The first-mentioned is on the point of being issued.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will investigate the late hours each morning at which the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons are available to the public, even when there is no particular press of public business the night before and whether he can take any steps to expedite, in the public convenience, much earlier distribution of these Papers, for which the public are often subscribers?

The Votes and Prooeedings are generally available to the public at 10 a.m. A much earlier distribution would, under present contract arrangements, involve considerable extra expenditure on nightwork, etc., for which I am not clear that any compensatory advantage would be obtained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the serious losses sustained by the majority of county cricket clubs in the year 1924; and whether he will consider their exemption from Entertainments Duty on members' tickets?

Under the law Entertainments Duty is chargeable upon members' subscriptions to clubs, including county cricket clubs, so far as they represent payment for the right of admission to dutiable entertainments. The effect of the modifications of the duty as from the 2nd June, 1924, made by the last Finance Act, has been greatly to reduce the number of such subscriptions which are liable to duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the case of Mr. Rupert Simms, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, applicant last December for an old age pension, whether a new application, based on proof that the joint income of himself and wife is less than 299 15s., can be entertained; and, if so, after what interval a fresh application can be made?

If Mr. Simms is in a position to show that the combined means of himself and his wife are not in excess of the figure mentioned, it is open to him at any time to prefer a fresh claim for the consideration of the local pension committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, although residence in the Isle of Man counts towards the qualifying period in the case of old age pensions, an old age pensioner has to forfeit his pension on removal from the United Kingdom to the Isle of Man after the pension has been granted; and whether, having regard to the hardship involved in the case of those old age pensioners who remove to the Isle of Man to live with their dependants, and who otherwise would be eligible, he will take steps to secure that removal to the Isle of Man will not cause forfeiture of pension?

I would explain that, under the law, although an old age pensioner who removes from the United Kingdom to the Isle of Man cannot obtain payment of his pension money while he is in the latter country, he does not forfeit his right to the pension, and can resume payment if he returns to this country. As at present advised, I am not prepared to recommend any change in these statutory arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health whether he, or the Moir Committee, has received a guarantee from those responsible for the Weir steel bungalow, the Atholl house, and the Telford all-steel house, respectively, that all steel used will be not only of British manufacture, but of British origin; and will he give an assurance that no steel of German or Belgian origin will be allowed in any house to which a Government subsidy is granted?

The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the negative, but local authorities have been urged by the Government, in the absence of special circumstances, to place contracts for material in this country.

asked the Minister of Health if he can issue a paper, giving names and anticipated costs and other particulars, of all the different alternative building material types of houses?

I have considered my Noble Friend's suggestion, but the information available as to costs of alternative types of houses is at present insufficient to enable it to be put into effect. The various types proposed are very numerous, and in many cases the cost depends largely on the numbers which can be manufactured or erected in particular localities.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Thetford Rural District Council have appointed a sanitary inspector, who is unqualified, at a salary of £150 per annum, to include travelling expenses, without first submitting the terms of the advertisement to him for his approval; whether he has decided to exercise the only control that he can exercise over a defaulting council by withdrawing the Ministry's grant; and whether, in the interest of the public health, he proposes to seek legislative powers to enable him to control the terms of all appointments in the public health services irrespective of the grant?

According to the information in my possession the work of sanitary inspection is at present being carried out under a temporary arrangement by a duly qualified officer of a neighbouring local authority. The question, therefore, of approving the appointment of an unqualified officer has not arisen. I could not contemplate legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in connection with the claim of Mrs. Pritchard to a widow's pension under the Marine War Risks Compensation Scheme on account of the death of her husband, the late Captain T. Barlow Pritchard, he is aware that Captain Pritchard served under the Director of Transport for about two years during the War on Admiralty voyages carrying ammunition, war material, and railway wagons, a dangerous deck cargo, from Newport and Glasgow to Nantes; that he was all this time in the danger zone, and on one occasion disabled an enemy submarine, thereby saving the Australian hospital ship "Kanowna"; that the officers in charge of the naval transport, both at Newport and Glasgow, testified to his excellent work on transport service, and put forward his name for special recognition for services rendered over a long period under most trying circumstances; that Captain Pritchard had a nervous breakdown in November, 1917, as a result of these experiences, which is medically certified to be due to strenuous services rendered during the War; and that he was incapacitated then for eight months, and his doctor states that he was under his care more or less continuously from then to the date of his death; whether he will undertake that the whole facts of Captain Pritchard's service and the claim of his widow shall be considered de novo by the special committee appointed to advise the Board of Trade on difficult and borderline cases; and whether, if that committee should find that the widow's claim, in spite of further evidence being furnished, does not come strictly within the terms of the Marine War Risks Compensation Scheme, he will refer the claim for sympathetic consideration of His Majesty's Treasury, in view of the exceptionally good service rendered by Captain Pritchard and the sad condition in which his widow is left through her husband's prolonged illness and death?

All the facts relating to the case of Captain Pritchard, including those mentioned in the question, were placed before the Advisory Committee, and were fully considered by them at the time, but the Committee came to the conclusion that the case was not one which could properly be dealt with under the War Risks Compensation Scheme, and I am afraid that in the absence of fresh evidence it would not be possible to re-open that question. As Captain Pritchard rendered very good service under very arduous conditions, I will willingly go into the question whether it would be possible to apply for a compassionate grant on this ground, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any facilities are being given to encourage the rotor ship in this country; and if any British experiments along these lines have been made?

The examination and adoption of new methods of propulsion for merchant ships is a matter for shipowners and shipbuilders, who are, I know, studying this invention, and I am keeping in touch with the results of their investigations. No question has arisen of any special facilities being required for the purpose of considering this invention, and, so far as I am aware, no separate British experiments have been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that German potatoes are being imported into this country via Holland, thus avoiding the reparations duty of 26 per cent.; and, if so, what measures he proposes to take to put a stop to this evasion?

I am informed that German potatoes have been imported from Holland. The levy under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, is payable on all goods first consigned from Germany to the United Kingdom, and is not payable on goods which, although of German origin, are not first consigned from Germany. In any case, where there is reason to believe that goods are of German origin, payment of levy is waived only on production of satisfactory evidence that the goods were in fact first consigned from another country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the sum of £300,000 allocated to the satisfaction of belated claims to compensation for suffering and loss by enemy action during the late War has proved insufficient to pay more than about 4s. in the £ of the proved and assessed damage in each case; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to allocate a further sum towards the more complete satisfaction of all such claims?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Members for the Isle of Thanet (Mr. Harmsworth) and Cardiff East (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke) on the 12th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken with reference to the Report of the Board upon the inquiry as to the loss of the ss. "Hartley"; and whether, having regard to the view epressed in that Report, he will have steps taken requiring vessels of the self-trimmer class to be provided with the locking or securing bars therein referred to?

The report of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the "Hartley" is being printed, and will be published very shortly. The recommendations made by the Court will be carefully considered, but there is considerable difference of opinion as to the best means of security, hatches, and it is not yet clear that any one particular type of fastening can be required in all cases. The matter is being investigated, and experiments are being made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that ships which went to the rescue of the s.s. "Hartley," and which could not get near enough because of the gale, were not provided with line-throwing rocket appliances by means of which it might have been possible to save some of the men struggling in the water; and whether he will take steps, by the necessary amendments to the Merchant Shipping Acts, to require that sea-going vessels shall carry such rocket appliances?

I am not able to confirm the statements of fact made in the question, and on the information before me it is doubtful whether any special line-throwing appliances would have been of any avail in this case. My impression is that there is not a sufficient ease for a new compulsory requirement, but I will go into this question again and inform the hon. and learned Member of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give particulars of the imports of all iron and steel goods in 1913 and in 1924; also of imports of the same manufactured iron and steel products in 1913 and in 1924; and totals of exports of all iron and steel in 1913 and in 1924?

The following statement shows the quantities and values of iron and steel and manufactures thereof imported into, and exported from, the United Kingdom in each of the years 1913 and 1924.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of tons of French and Belgian steel and iron imported into this country during the 12 months ending 31st December, 1924?

The quantities of iron and steel and manufactures thereof imported into the United Kingdom in the year 1924, registered as consigned from France and Belgium, were 438,874 and 1,210,403 tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the totals of imports of British goods to Canada for the years 1923 and 1924; and whether he will give the imports to Canada from the United States of America for a similar period?

The following statement shows the values of merchandise imported for consumption into the Dominion of Canada from the United Kingdom and the United States of America respectively, during the year ended December, 1923, and the 11 months ended November, 1924. (Figures for the complete calendar year 1924 are not yet available):

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he acts in all cases on the recommendations of the advisory committee in granting export credits or exercises independent supervision over such grants with a view to securing economy and preventing waste?

As regards the first part of the question, I have in all cases accepted the recommendations of the advisory committee appointed under the terms of the Overseas Trade (Credit and Insurance) Act. As regards the latter part of the question, I execute close supervision over the working of the Exports Credits Scheme and I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that in the recommendations which they tender to me the advisory committee show every regard to the importance of avoiding waste of public funds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of wheat imported into the United Kingdom during 1922, 1923, and 1924; the amount produced in each of the above years by the Dominions and India together; and the amount of Argentine wheat actually imported into the United Kingdom during each of the above years?

The following statement gives the information desired:

( a ) The latest estimates of the wheat crop of Australia now in course of harvesting represent a yield of about 80,000,000 cwts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the exports from Great Britain to the United States in sterling and tonnage for 1923 and 1924;

(2) the imports from the United States to Great Britain in sterling and tonnage for 1923 and 1924?

The quantity units for many classes of merchandise imported and exported are measurement (yards, gallons, etc.), and not weight units, and in the case of certain descriptions of goods, e.g., many articles of clothing, the value only is returned. It is consequently not possible to state the aggregate tonnage. During January-March, 1923, the records summarised

The declared values of the exports and imports of merchandise into and from the United Kingdom during the years 1923 and 1924, registered as consigned from and to the United States, were as follow:

above include direct imports to and exports from the Irish Free State from or to the United States.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of motor- vehicles of foreign manufacture, and the number of motor vehicles of British manufacture, which are at present being used by the postal services; whether motor vehicles of foreign manufacture are at present being ordered by the postal services; and, if so, will he take steps to ensure that only motor vehicles which have been produced entirely by British labour and capital will be employed in the future?

The number of motor vehicles owned by the Post Office is 1,819. Of these, 1,156 are of entirely British manufacture, and 663 are Ford vehicles. The latter are supplied by the Ford Motor Company (England), Limited; and I am informed that about 90 per cent. of the labour and material employed in their manufacture is British. There are certain types of Post Office work for which the Ford vehicle is the most suitable at present known to the Department; but experiments have been in progress for some time with a view to extend the field of use of British cars in the Post Office service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is willing to go fully into the existing practice of promoting retained boy messengers of about 19 years of age to an established appointment, in preference to married or unmarried ex-service men who have served with satisfaction as auxiliary or part-time postmen?

The Post Office is under an obligation to provide a permanent career for all its regular boy messengers, and for this purpose it is necessary to reserve for them half the vacancies for established postmen. The other half are filled from ex-service men supplied by the Employment Exchanges. Auxiliary (or part-time) postmen are not regarded as having any preferential claims to full-time appointments; that being an express condition on which they hold their posts.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider bringing up to date and amplifying the Post Office Historical Summary?

The sales of this publication, even during the year after it was issued, were disappointingly small. If it were now revised and reissued, the sale price would have to be more than double that of the original edition, and I regret I do not see any prospect of the demand being sufficient to justify its revision.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the advisability of erecting a telephone kiosk upon the London County Council estate, White Hart Lane, Tottenham?

I understand that a site was suggested last year, but the London County Council objected to it because the kiosk would be placed on the footway, and as an alternative site was not forthcoming the matter has been in abeyance. Further inquiry will however be made as to the possibility of securing a site.

asked the Postmaster-General the average time of exchange reply to telephone calls for each year singe 1900.

Reliable records are not available relative to dates earlier than the 1st of January, 1912, when the Post Office took over the National Telephone Company's undertaking. The average speed of answer—mean of London and provincial figures—for the larger exchanges during each year since that date has been:

asked the Postmaster-General the increases and percentage increases in telephone charges, together with the corresponding cost-of-living index numbers, since 1914?

Many different telephone tariffs were in operation in 1914. They varied considerably according to the class of service supplied and again according to locality. In October, 1915, the unlimited service rate tariffs were increased from £17 to £20 in London and from £10 to £12 in. the Provinces, whilst the scale of charges for trunk calls was increased by 331 per cent. Certain of the message and measured rate tariffs were abolished in March, 1916; but for the great majority of subscribers the 1914 charges, except so far as the trunk service was concerned, remained unchanged until April, 1921, when the various tariffs hitherto in force were superseded by the present uniform message rate tariff. Reductions in the tariffs introduced in 1921 have been made on three occasions since, namely, in July, 1922; July, 1923; and July, 1924. The average percentage increases over the 1914 charges at various dates and the relative cost-of-living index numbers were:

asked the Postmaster-General if he has received complaints from the owners of pigeons that horning-birds have been killed by live wires erected for listening-in purposes, and that corks suspended from these wires would protect these birds from injury; will be bring this question to the notice of the Aerial Broadcasting Company; and, if necessary, will he introduce legislation on this question?

I have received such representations, and I would refer the hen. Member to my answer to similar questions by the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) and the hon. and gallant Member for Southport (Lieut.-Colonel D. White) on the 12th February.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the average pension to members of the Scottish police force who retired prior to 1st April, 1919, is substantially less than the average pension to such members who retired after that date; whether the widows of constables who have the larger pension are entitled to a pension, while the widows of those who have the smaller pension are not so entitled; and whether he will take steps to have these grievances inquired into?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative, subject to the correction that the widow of a constable who was serving on the 1st September, 1918, is entitled to a pension or gratuity. I regret that I do not see my way to propose the legislation that would be necessary to increase the pensions of members of the police force who retired before 1st April, 1919, or to extend the provisions of Sections 3 ( a ) and 29 (2) of the Police Pensions Act, 1921, to the widows who are not entitled to pensions.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of grants made from the Road Fund to each rural authority in the administrative County of Leicester for the years 1923 and 1924?

Grants have been made from the Road Fund to each rural authority in the administrative County of Leicester, during the years 1923 and 1924, as follow:

asked the Minister of Transport what new arterial roads are contemplated in the County of Essex?

At the moment no new arterial roads are contemplated in the County of Essex.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Ibn Saoud now controls the whole of Arabia from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea; and, if so, whether it is proposed to recognise him on condition that he does not disturb the status quo in Iraq or the freedom of visit to the holy places?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government already recognise the ruler referred to as Sultan of Nejd and its dependencies, and are in treaty relations with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any agreement, treaty, or other arrangement has been come to between any European Governments and the British Government by which each Government agrees to assist the other to secure the deportation or arrest or supervision of persons suspected of revolutionary designs against the established order; and, if any such treaties, agreements, or arrangements have been arrived at, will he lay copies upon the Table of the House?

There are no such agreements, treaties or arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations were made to the French Government by representatives of the British Government asking for the deportation of an Indian citizen from Paris; and whether it is now the estab- lished rule that the right of asylum for political offenders, such as formerly existed in this country, has been abolished?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part should be addressed to the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state for Russia in Europe and Russia in Asia, respectively, the names of the existing Soviet republics, with approximate estimates of their populations; and the dates on which they were established?

The separate republics forming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in Europe and Asia are:

In addition, there still exist in Siberia the remnants of former Khanates of Bokhara, and Khiva, namely

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are in existence for warming the hutments occupied by non-commissioned officers and men at Larkhill and Bulford camps; and whether there is any issue of green vegetables made in the daily ration to the, troops occupying these hutments?

Most of the huts at Larkhill and Bulford camps are warmed by slow combustion stoves, the remainder having brick fireplaces. No vegetables are included in the daily ration issued from Army stocks; the cash allowance, authorised for each man in addition to the rations issued in kind, is available for the purchase of vegetables at the discretion of the Officer Commanding the Unit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government to publish the verbatim Report of the evidence given for and against the prisoners in connection with the Cawnpore conspiracy trials which took place in India last year?

No, Sir. My noble Friend thinks that the judgment in appeal of the High Court already presented contains an adequate statement of the facts of the case. I gave a similar reply to a similar question on the 18th December.

asked the President of the Board of Education what local authorities have raised the age of compulsory attendances at school to 15 years, and what authorities have this matter under consideration?

With regard to the first part of the question, the authorities are those for Carnarvonshire and East Suffolk; with regard to the second part, I believe that the Bath and Lowestoft authorities have the matter under active consideration.