asked the Minister of Labour if he will give full particulars respecting relief work now being carried out in the Midland counties, and also particulars of proposed schemes?

I am taking steps to obtain, so far as may be possible, the information desired, and I will send the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister Labour whether he is aware that Samuel Alexander, 47, Graham Street, Govan, appeared before a committee, 7th February, 1925, at the Govan Exchange; that the committee was composed of one member; and that, on Alexander objecting to his case being heard by one man, he was told by the insurance officer he had not the right to object, and his case was proceeded with and his claim to benefit disallowed: whether he can state upon what grounds or authority the insurance officer repelled the objection, and in what Regulation it is stated that a committee can be composed of one man, not a chairman of committee; and whether he will issue instructions that this case shall be reheard before a properly constituted committee?

The rule for the composition of rota committees provides that two members shall form a quorum, but that if two members are unable to be present at the hearing the case should be dealt with by the remaining member, and his recommendation should be submitted for confirmation to a fully-constituted sub-committee. According to my information, Mr. Alexander did not object to his case being heard by only one member of the committee, but took objection to the presence of the assistant secretary of the local employment committee. The case was considered subsequently by two rota committee members, who were emphatically of opinion that the applicant was not making reasonable efforts to obtain work. He is stated to spend a great deal of his time following whippet racing when he ought to be looking for work. I see no ground for revising the recommendation of the local committee.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that John Smith, 23, Alma Street, Govan, was refused benefit for six weeks on the ground that he left his employment of his own accord; that Smith was employed at Fairfield shipbuilding yard and was paid £1 3s. 2d., whereas the rate of wage on the Clyde for this class of labour is £1 17s. per week; that, at the expiry of the six weeks, Smith was summoned before a rota committee, and refused benefit on the ground that he had failed to prove that he had made every effort to obtain employment suited to his capacities and was willing to accept such employment; and whether he can state why this man was refused benefit for declining work at a rate of pay lower than the district rate, and was further penalised for an indefinite period when his six weeks' disqualification had been completed?

The decision to refuse benefit to John Smith on the ground that he left his employment voluntarily without just cause was given by the chief insurance officer in accordance with the statutory provisions if the Unemployment Insurance Act. 1920. No appeal was lodged against this decision, and I have no power to review it. I may mention, however, that the employment which the applicant left was that of a boy helper, his age being under 18½, and I am informed that the wage was the usual one for a youth of his age. The local employment committee recommended further disallowance of the claim to extended benefit because they were of opinion that the applicant had failed to prove that he was making every reasonable effort to obtain employment. I see no reason for asking them to reconsider the case.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, were on the Unemployment Exchange register in the city of Birmingham for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924; the total amount of unemployment benefit paid for the same periods in that city; and how many of these were ex-service men?

The following is the answer:—

Date (end of Month).	Number recorded as unemployed on the register of the Exchanges* in the area of the City of Birmingham.
	Men.	Women.
1922.
March	49,505	22,409
June	46,642	16,800
September	46,119	15,851
December	40,216	11,449
1923.
March	31,817	9,895
June	32,186	9,365
September	30,830	9,997
December	28,838	9,729
1924.
March	22,616	8,552
June	22,036	7,725
September	27,565	10,435
December	22,316	9,454
*Including Birmingham, Aston, Handsworth, Selly Oak and Sparkhill.

Regular periodic information as to the number of ex-service men included in the above figures is not available, but, at a special census taken on 29th March, 1924, there were found to be 7,969 men of this category registered as unemployed in this area. The approximate amounts of unemployment benefit (including an estimated figure for benefit paid through associations) paid in the same area in the years 1922, 1923 and 1924 were £2,230,000, £1,490,000 and £1,300,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed received unemployment benefit in the city of Birmingham during the month of December last; how many for the two completed months of 1925; how many have failed to qualify for unemployment benefit owing to the new Regulations increasing the number of stamps required; how many of the latter were ex-service men; and how many were over 55 years of age?

The numbers of applicants for benefit who were recorded on the registers of the five Employment Exchanges in the city of Birmingham at the end of December, January and February last were 31,448, 30.173 and 28,124 respectively. I am unable to state the number of separate individuals represented by these figures, but it is was no doubt considerably larger than the number on the register at any particular date. The number of persons in this area whose claims to benefit have been disallowed since 19th February, because of failure to satisfy the contribution conditions referred to, was 246. I am unable to give the ages of these persons, nor am I able to state the number of ex-service men included in the figures.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any requests from juvenile advisory committees asking that fares should be paid to juveniles called upon to interview employers more than two miles away from their respective Exchanges; and whether he intends to grant such requests?

I have received such requests from two committees. My powers at present are limited to the advance of fares under a promise of repayment, in order to enable applicants to take up employment which has been definitely offered to them through an Employment Exchange. In view of the very considerable expense which would be incurred if fares were paid in the case of persons attending interviews, and of the difficulty there would be in preventing the abuse of such facilities, I do not feel justified in asking the House for further powers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the House any information with regard to the manner in which financial assistance is given by the State to those who are out of work in Germany?

The successive Decrees of the Federal Government determining the principles under which financial assistance is provided by the State and Local Authorities under the scheme of unemployment insurance at present in operation in Germany have been described in articles that have appeared in the following issues of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," copies of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend: November, 1923 (page 4n2); March, 1924 (page 82); October, 1924 (page 357). I would, at the same time, remind him that the scheme of unemployment insurance now in operation in Germany is of a provisional nature only, and that a Bill providing for an amended scheme is at present being considered by the Federal Economic Council.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons, male and female, registered at Oldbury Employment Exchange, Stourbridge Employment Exchange, and Cradley Employment Exchange, on the 31st October, 1924, and the 28th February, 1925, respectively?

The desired statistics are as under:

Numbers on Registers of Employment Exchanges.
—	Oldbury.	Stourbridge.	Cradley Heath.
	27th October, 1924.
Males	1,576	1,490	3,890
Females	508	358	1,147
Total	2,084	1,848	5,037
	2nd March, 1925.
Males	1,166	1,797	4,486
Females	438	365	986
Total	1,604	2,162	5,472

asked the Minister of Labour how many men at the Walworth Road Employment Exchange have had their benefit stopped during the three months ended 28th February, and for W hat reasons?

During the three months ended 9th February, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of cases in which applications for extended benefit have been refused at the Borough Employment Exchange, and the reasons for such refusals, are as under:

Not normally insurable	31
Insurable employment not likely to be available	38
Not having been employed for a reasonable period on insurable work	1,104
Not making reasonable effort to secure insurable employment	496
Failure to attend hearing of case, etc.	591

Some of those given under the last heading (" failure to attend hearing, etc.") may have had benefit allowed at a subsequent hearing; figures with regard to such cases are not available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the ease of Colour-Sergeant J. C. Barnett, late Royal Marine Light Infantry, who is employed at the naval recruiting station at Oxford; whether he is aware that Colour-Sergeant Barnett was injured in a motor accident on the 19th November, 1924, near Henley-on-Thames, whilst on duty; that in consequence of this accident Colour-Sergeant. Barnett received a fracture of the leg; that Colour-Sergeant Barnett has received one month's notice to terminate his appointment on the ground that, owing to this accident, he is no longer capable of fulfilling his duties; and that the Admiralty have under consideration the advisability of bringing an action against the owner of the motor car involved in the accident for the loss of Colour-Sergeant Barnett's services; and whether the Admiralty are prepared to grant any compensation to Colour-Sergeant Barnett both for injuries received in the course of his duty and for loss of employment consequent, upon such injuries?

The circumstances of this case are substantially as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. All the questions arising out of this unfortunate accident are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the following particulars respecting the King's Roll for the period ending 31st December, 1924; the total number of effective firms on the Roll; the total number of county councils on the Roll; the total number of urban district councils on the Roll; and the total number of parish councils on the Roll?

LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THE KING'S NATIONAL ROLL.
Position on the 31st December, 1924.
Local Authorities.		Number which are on the Roll.	Number not on Roll which on present information may be regarded as employing two small a staff to be reasonably expected to enrol.	Number not on Roll which might reasonably be expected to enrol.	Total number of Local Authorities.
		1.	2.	3.	4.
ENGLAND.
London—
County Council	…	1	—	—	1
Corporation of the City of London.	…	1	—	—	1
Metropolitan Boroughs	…	28	—	—	28
Boards of Guardians	…	25	—	3	28
Totals	…	55*	—	3	58
Provinces—
County Councils	…	44	—	6	50
County Boroughs	…	79	—	—	79
Town Councils	…	177	9	40	226
Urban District Councils	…	428	215	78	721
Rural District Councils	…	180	124	276	580
Boards of Guardians	…	176	125	257	558
Totals	…	1,084	473	657	2,214
WALES.
County Councils	…	7	—	5	12
County Boroughs	…	3	—	—	3
Town Councils	…	18	1	8	27
Urban District Councils	…	28	30	3	61
Rural District Councils	…	15	30	23	68
Boards of Guardians	…	12	16	19	47
Totals	…	83	77	58	218
SCOTLAND.
County Councils	…	14	8	11	33
County District Committees	…	41	16	44	99
Town Councils	…	77	82	42	201
Parish Councils	…	13	930	17	960
Education Authorities	…	7	—	30	37
Totals	…	152	1,036	142	1,330
GRAND TOTALS	…	1,374	1,586	860	3,820
Note.—The Metropolitan Asylums Board is also on the Roll.

On the 31st December, 1924, there were approximately 28,500 employers (including local authorities) on the King's National Roll. The following statement shows the position with regard to local authorities and the King's National Roll on 31st December, 1924:

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of candidates admitted to the Staff College at Camberley in each of the years 1905 to 1914 and in the years 1921 to 1924, inclusive?

The figures asked for are as follow:

Year.	Number.
1905	33
1906	32
1907	32
1908	32
1909	43
1910	44
1911	51
1912	52
1913	53
1914	51
1921	111
1922	53
1923	56
1924	63

In 1921 all students were admitted by nomination, and the figures include 8 Indian Army, 2 Royal Navy, 2 Royal Air Force, and 11 Dominion officers. The figures for 1922, 1923 and 1924 include 2 officers of the Royal Navy, and 2 officers of the Royal Air Force admitted by nomination without examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the strength of the Army Ordnance services at Woolwich, Didcot, Chilwell and Bramley, and A. D. O. S. provision, Pimlico, both military and civilian, at the present time?

The strength of each of these establishments on the 1st March, 1925, was as follows:

—	Military.		Civilians.
	Officers.	Other Ranks.
Woolwich	20	22	1,357
Chilwell	8	75	297
Didcot	16	314	935
Bramley	8	238	615
A.D.O.S. (Provision), Pimlico.	10	4	184

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will furnish particulars as to the strength of the Army Ordnance Department at Woolwich, both military and civilian, in 1913 and 1914?

The figures asked for are as follow:

—	Military.		Civilians.
	Officers.	Other Ranks.
1st April, 1913	12	5	1,428
1st April, 1914	12	5	1,428

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will again take into consideration the claim of S. H. Smith for compensation for injuries sustained in 1916 while travelling on the ss. "Tuscania" to the United States on Government service?

I have inquired into this claim, and I find that it has been repeatedly considered, first by the Ministry of Munitions and later by the War Department, and has been rejected on the ground that the circumstances of the accident as described by Mr. Smith do not constitute an injury specifically attributable to the nature of his duty, so as to qualify him for an award of compensation. I regret that I am unable to come to any different conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the application made by Mrs. Thompstone, of Booth Street, Gorton, for a dependant's pension in respect of the death of her son Driver E. Thompstone, Royal Artillery Territorial Army, the application being refused on the ground that at the time of the lad's death she was not in pecuniary need and largely dependent upon him; whether he is aware that before the deceased soldier was buried the father died, so that the son, had he lived, would have been her main support; and whether, having regard to the special circumstances of the case, he will authorise the issue of a dependant's pension in lieu of the ex-gratis grant of £50 given to the mother as compensation for the loss of her son?

The facts of the case are as stated in the question, and it was in consideration of the death of the father, following so shortly upon the death of the son, that the ex-gratia grant to Mrs. Thompstone was made. But the ease falls definitely outside the conditions for the grant of a dependant's pension, and I regret that I am not able to authorise the issue of such pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. T. Walley, late No. 2,038, private 1st York and Lancaster Regiment, of 19, Ahbeyfield Street, Openshaw, Manchester, who applied to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, for a special campaign pension on 29th August, 1919, four months prior to his being 65 years of age, and in reply was informed that his services did not qualify him to receive any pension, but was not notified that if the application were renewed in four months he would be eligible for the pension; and whether, seeing that, on receipt of advice from a non-official source, Mr. Walley made a further application in 1921 when the pension was awarded with effect from 9th June, 1921, he will, as the old soldier was eligible for the pension on reaching the age of 65, authorise the payment of arrears from 2nd January, 1920?

When Mr. Walley inquired in August, 1919, as to his eligibility for a pension, he was informed by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital that he was not eligible for a service pension, but that special campaign pensions could be granted to old soldiers subject to certain conditions, one condition being that the applicant must have attained the age of 65. He did not apply again until May, 1921, and: was then granted a special campaign pension with effect from 11th May, 1921. It is contrary to the rule to give retrospective effect to these compassionate awards, and the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital see no sufficient grounds for a departure from the rule in this case.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a costing department exists in his branch of the Service?

The reply is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total number of permanent women employed in the various grades in his Department; and what number of these are employed on work in connection with the grant and continuance of widows' pensions?

The number of permanent women employed in my Department is as follows:

Junior administrative	1
Higher executive	3
Executive	4
Staff officers (one vacancy to be filled)	6
Higher clerical officers	30
Clerical officers	184
Writing assistants	328
Controller of typists	1
Chief superintendents of typists	3
Superintendents of typists	12
Shorthand-typists	63
Typists	52
	687

Of these permanent women, 96 are wholly or partly employed on work in connection with the grant and continuance of widows' pensions.

asked the Minister for Agriculture what percentage of male higher clerical officers and lower clerical officers, respectively, employed in his Department voluntarily retired from the service in the years 1922 and 1923; and how many were retired compulsorily on reaching the age limit for retention?

No male higher clerical officers retired voluntarily, or were compulsorily retired, in my Department in the years 1922 and 1923. No male lower clerical officers retired voluntarily in 1922; in 1923 a percentage of 1·4 so retired. No male lower clerical officers were compulsorily retired in either 1922 or 1923.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any persons are employed by his Department and, if so, how many, in patrolling the breeding areas in protection of the great seal, Halechcerus grypus, in pursuance of the powers of The Expiring Laws Continuance Act, 1924; and how many prosecutions have been effected for offences against the Grey Seals Protection Act?

The Ministry does not employ any person for the purpose named in the first part of the question. I am not aware of any prosecutions having taken place under the Act. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has no authority to enforce the Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the expenditure in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease scientific committee since March of last year; and what the available funds for this purpose amount to?

A grant of £10,000 from the Development Fund was sanctioned by the Treasury for the work of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Scientific Committee during the present financial year, and of this sum £5.500 was expended up to the 28th February. A grant of £15,000 has been approved to meet the expenses of the Committee in the coming financial year: this is the sum estimated by the Committee to be required.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received an application from the Felixstowe Urban District Council to borrow the sum of £22,262 in respect of a housing scheme; whether he is aware that the tender accepted for the erection of the houses was £20 per house more than the lowest tender; and, before granting the loan, will he make inquiries into this matter?

I have received the application referred to by the hon. Member, and I am in communication with the local authority on the point to which he draws attention.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information as to how many local authorities are advancing money for house purchase; how many are making advances up to 75 per cent. of the purchase price; and how many up to 90 per cent?

Since the 1st January, 1923, loans have been sanctioned to 206 local authorities in England and Wales for the purpose of advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and to 214 local authorities for the purpose of advances under Section 5 of the Housing, Etc. Act, 1923. The London County Council and the Corporation of Birmingham—who have special statutory powers for the purpose—are also making advances for house purchase. Information is not available as to the number of these authorities who are making advances up to 75 per cent. and 90 per cent., respectively, of the value of the properties.

asked the Minister of Health the number of inhabited houses and the number of families in England and Wales and Scotland, respectively, as shown by the census of 1921?

According to the 1921 census, the numbers of structurally separate dwellings in private occupation were:

• England.—7,450,405 (including 204,415 dwellings temporarily vacant on census night).
• Wales and Monmouth.—528,249 (including 14,418 dwellings temporarily vacant on census night).

The numbers of private families were 8,161,452 in England and 577,745 in Wales and Monmouth. As regards Scotland, the hon. Member should address a question to the Secretary for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a report from the medical woman inspector as to the high rate of infantile mortality at Market Drayton; whether the report has been published; and what was the rate of infantile mortality in that union for 1924, as compared with that of the neighbouring unions of Wellington and Newport and with that. of Shropshire as a whole?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. I have, however, communicated to the county council certain suggestions arising out of the report and am now awaiting their reply.

As regards the last part of the question, figures are not available. for unions, but the following are the figures for the urban districts mentioned in the question and the county as a whole:

1924.
Urban District.	Births.	Deaths (under one year).	Infantile Mortality (per 1,000 Births).
Market Drayton	77	7	91
Wellington	135	4	30
Newport	48	2	42
County of Salop	2,119	127	60

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons affected by the application of the Blind Persons Act, 1920; the number at present employed in the various workshops; the average wages paid; and the number of blind persons in receipt of the old age pension?

The total number of known blind persons in England and Wales on 30th June, 1923, was 36,518. The number employed specifically in workshops is, approxi- mately, 2,090. The average wage, that is the wage earned at the trade union or other standard piece-work rates, is, approximately, 20s. a week, but, in addition to the wage actually so earned, augmentation is in all cases paid to blind workers. The number of blind persons between 50 and 70 years of age who were in receipt of pensions under Section 1 of the Blind Persons Act, 1920, was 11,525 on 31st December last.

asked the Minister of Health how many asylums for lunatics are there under the administration of local authorities now and for the years 1914 and 1900; what is the total number of inmates now and for the same years; and what is the present day cost of maintaining these institutions?

The figures are as follow:

ASYLUMS for lunatics under the administration of local authorities.
Year (1st January).	Number of inmates.	Number of institutions.
1900	74,004	79
1914	105,504	97
1925	105,399	97*
*This figure does not include:
Ewell Epileptic Oniony—loaned to Ministry of Pensions; and
Maudsley Hospital, which provided accommodation on the 1st January, 1925, for 146 uncertified patients.

The cost of maintenance (excluding loan charges) during the year ending 31st March, 1924, was £6,242,284.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to state the terms of the recent sale of Government property at Rich-borough to the firm of Messrs. Pearson and Dorman, Long, Limited; whether, during the negotiations for sale, the questions of promoting employment locally and of developing the Port of Rich-borough were discussed and, if so, whether he will state any decisions reached?

It has been provisionally agreed that the Government property at Richborough shall be sold to the firm of Messrs. Pearson and Dorman, Long, Limited, subject to the passing of a Bill in Parliament, the necessary steps to proceed with which have now been taken. The firm, having signed Heads of Agreement, entered into possession of the property as licensees on the 16th February, 1925. Messrs. Pearson and Dorman, Long, Limited, have, it is understood, acquired large mining interests in the neighbourhood of Rich-borough, and the acquisition by the firm of Richborough will, there is reason to hope, promote employment locally, and tend to the development of the port.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of accounts and deposits in the trustee savings banks in the United Kingdom on the 20th November, 1912?

On the 20th November, 1912, the number of accounts in trustee savings banks in the United Kingdom was 1,870,510, and the total amount owing to depositors was £53,811,898 18s.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that Mr. John Gage, joiner, Hillside, Montrose, who receives a pension of £39 yearly from the South African Government in respect of the death of his son, who was a combatant in the great War, is exempt from paying Income Tax on the above-named sum, he will instruct his Department accordingly?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. There is no provision of the law under which exemption from British Income Tax is granted in respect of a pension of the nature indicated in the question.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can say how the coal used for home consumption in the years 1913, 1923 and 1924 was disposed of?

The coal used for home consumption in the years 1913 and 1923 was disposed of as shown in the following statement, as far as particulars are available. Similar details of the consumption of coal at home in the year 1924 are not yet in my possession, but the total quantity is estimated to have been about 180 million tons:

Consumer.	Great Britain.
	1913.	1923.
	Million Tons.	Million Tons.
Domestic	33·5	33·7
Gas works	17·4	l7·2
Electricity generating stations belonging to Authorised Undertakings and to Railway and Tramway Authorities.	4·9	7·2
Railway companies (all purposes).	14·5	14·7
Vessels engaged in the coastwise trade (bunkers).	1·9	1·2
Pig iron manufacture (including the coal equivalent of coke used).	21·2	14·6
Collieries (engine fuel)	18·0	16·8
Miners' coal	5·8	6·5
General manufactures and all other purposes.	66·6	56·9
Total consumption	183·8*	168·8*
* In addition to this, 2·1 million tons of coal in 1913 and 5·8 million tons in 1923 were used in the manufacture of coke (gas or metallurgical) which was exported. Another 1·8 million tons of coal in 1913 and 1·0 million tons in 1923 were used in the manufacture of patent fuel which was exported.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will name the countries to which British coal was exported for the years 1913, 1923, and 1924; and, in the cases where a country has reduced its demand, whether he can indicate the cause or causes of such reduction?

The following table shows the principal countries to which British coal was exported in the years 1913, 1923 and 1924 and the total quantities exported:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the coal export trade has decreased in an alarming manner during the last 12 months and, in consequence, there is much unemployment and short time in the coalfields; and, seeing that to a large extent this is due to reparations in kind by Germany, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

I am only too well aware of the regrettable decrease in the coal export trade in 1924, but I do not accept the hon. Member's diagnosis of its cause. If he will refer to an answer that I have given to-day to a question of the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street he will find an indication of what are, in my opinion, the chief causes of the decrease.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the estimated total kilowatt output of German power stations in 1913, 1922 and at the present day; and the comparative figures for this country?

I am not in possession of figures as to the total output of German power stations, and it is therefore impossible to give comparative figures for this country.

asked the Post-master-General whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists at Praze and Nancegollan with respect to the present postal facilities; arid whether he will arrange for the motor mail van from Hayle to Helston to travel via Praze and Nancegollan?

I have seen the representations which were forwarded by my hon. and gallant Friend on behalf of the Crowan Parish Council on the 19th January. The recently revised services in this district have afforded an earlier morning delivery at Praze and Nancegollan. I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, as this would delay the delivery in a large and important area beyond Helston.

asked the Post master-General whether he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt in the Camborne district, and that letters posted after the first morning delivery are only delivered in Truro or Penzance the next day: whether this delay is due to the fact that letters have to be sent to Plymouth to be sorted; and if he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

Cam. borne and the greater part of the surrounding district have a good connection of mails during the day with Truro and Penzance, letters posted at the head office up to 10.45 a.m. securing delivery in Truro about 2 p.m., while those posted up to 12.15 p.m. secure delivery about 4 p.m. in Truro and about 3 p.m. in Penzance. The mails are despatched direct in each case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether copies of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom can be made available to Members who sign a request for them?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor to Mr. Sturrock on the 1st April last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of raw cotton, and its value, exported to Russia from Great Britain and from the Empire for the several years from 1920 to 1924?

The quantities and declared values of raw cotton re-exported from the United Kingdom and registered as consigned to Russia during the years specified were as follows, so far as particulars are available:

Year.	Quantity.	Value.
	Centals of 100 lbs.	£
1921	Nil.	Nil.
1922	Nil.	Nil.
1923	99,287	730,551
1924	458,859	4,148,560

I have been unable to trace any consignments of raw cotton from the cotton-growing countries of the British Empire to Russia during the years in question. So far as relates to the year 1920, the particulars available show only the exports to the whole territory included within the former Russian Empire.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated strength of the army of the Soviet Republics in artillery, cavalry and infantry; the number of warships of all classes; the size of their air fleet in machines and personnel; and if any information is available as to the total cost of their fighting forces in the year 1924–25?

The estimated strength of the Soviet army (excluding territorial troops inscribed but not actually under arms) is 93,600 cavalry and 657,000 infantry. The strength of the Soviet navy will be found in the Return of the Fleets of the British Empire and Foreign Countries, laid before Parliament, Cd. Paper No. 2349 of 1925. No information is available as to the strength of the Soviet artillery or air forces. The revised budget, 1924—estimated for an expenditure of 407 million gold roubles (approximately 45 million sterling at current rate of exchange) by the Commissariat of War and Marine.