asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of gallons of fuel oil and motor spirit brought into this country in 1924, and its cost per gallon?

:The imports of fuel oil into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during 1924 amounted to 385,582,000 gallons, valued at £5,603,600; and of motor spirit to 422,311,000 gallons, valued at £17,846,500. The average declared value of the fuel oil imported was 3·49 pence per gallon, and of the motor spirit imported, 10·14 pence per gallon.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the coal equivalent of the fuel oil imported?

:Naturally, I cannot calculate that offhand in my mind, but if the hon. Gentleman will put a question down, I will have the matter looked into for him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bunches of bananas imported into this country for the years 1913, 1923, and 1924, respectively?

:The answer contains some figures, and my hon. and gallant Friend will perhaps agree to its being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

:How many bananas are there to the bunch?

:It all depends on the size of the bunch.

:What is the good of the figures unless we know that?

Following are the figures:

The quantities of bananas imported into the United Kingdom in the years specified were as follow:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Report of the Committee appointed to consider what amendments are desirable to the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1917, will be published?

:The field of inquiry to be covered by the Committee is very large, and the time has not yet arrived when it will be possible to indicate a date by which they will be in a position to present their Report.

:Can the hon. Gentleman give the House any idea when they are likely to report?

:I cannot say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if there is any royalty charged on ships' cargoes passing the Walney Light prior to entering the port of Burrow-in-Furness; if so, what is the amount per ton and to whom paid; and is such royalty, if charged, paid on the tonnage of the vessel in addition to the cargo?

:Under the Fur-ness Railway Act, 1894, light duties are levied on every ship loading and unloading in Barrow Harbour. The rate is 1½d. per ton of the ship's net tonnage, and the money is paid to the Commissioners and Trustees of the Port of Lancaster. The rate is charged on the ship's tonnage and not on the cargo.

:Is not that an embargo on the trade of the port?

:No, Sir. These dues are levied under an old Act of 1894, and I would refer my hon. Friend to that Act.

:Is that also the pre-War figure?

:I understand these to be the dues imposed under the Act of 1894.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any licences for the export of arms to China have been recently granted or whether any applications for such licences have been received; and, if so, to whom and by whom are the arms in question consigned?

:During the present year nine applications have been received for licences to export arms to China, and they have all been granted. The weapons so licensed were seven revolvers or pistols, and two sporting rifles, for the personal use of the consignees, and two cattle killers for the Shanghai Municipal Authorities. Licences have also been granted in nine cases for the export of ammunition, mostly in small quantities, the only important shipments being destined for the Shanghai volunteers and for the Shanghai police.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the value of armaments exported, if any, from this country to any foreign country in the years 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923, respectively; the countries to which such exports were made; and the value of such exports to each country, respectively?

:The answer includes some figures, and I propose, if the hon. Member will allow me, to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The aggregate value of all articles included in the Import and Export List under the general heading of "Arms, Ammunition and Military and Naval Stores," exported from the United King- dom in the years 1920 to 1923 and registered as consigned to foreign countries was as follows:

Separate particulars of the value of exports, included in the above totals, to each of 27 countries are shown on page 532 of the Third Volume of the Annual Statement of Trade for 1923, and details of the items making up the several totals are to be found on pages 514–532 of the same volume.

I may add that aircraft and motor vehicles are not included in the totals given above, as those intended for military purposes are not separately recorded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether permits or licences are now required for the export of arms and munitions from this country; who is responsible for granting such permits or licences; how many have been granted during the present year; and what was the total value of goods covered by such permits or licences?

:Licences are required for the export from this country of all arms and munitions. The licences are issued by the Board of Trade, and during the present year about 4,500 have been granted. It is not practicable to give the total value of the goods covered by these licences, but the total declared value of arms, ammunition and military and naval stores exported from this country during the first four months of the present year was £1,380,547.

:Does not that last figure include the ordinary naval and military stores going to our own garrisons abroad?

:I am very glad that the hon. and gallant Gentleman has put that question. It does, I think, mean that the £1,380,000 contains figures for quite peaceable articles.

:May I further ask the hon. Gentleman if, in regard to the granting of these licences, does the Board of Trade—does he personally, or does the President— inspect all applications for large quantities, and satisfy themselves that everything is above board and bona fide?

:These requests pass through a very small sieve. They are carefully examined, and of that I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the application for pension on behalf of Mrs. Jane Clark, in respect of her son, No. 2,746,741, Private John Clark, the Black Watch, who received fatal injuries whilst playing football, has been refused on the ground that death cannot be regarded as attributable to service; and whether, in view of the decision of the Army Council, as conveyed in War Office letter of 22nd February, 1924, No. 45/Gen. No./2,988 (F. 3), directing that in the case of the Regular Army injuries resulting from any games or other forms of physical recreation definitely organised by or with the approval of the appropriate military authority are regarded as attributable to service for the purpose of non-effective awards, and that this man received injuries in a game organised by an appropriate military authority, effect will be given to the Army Council decision referred to?

:I am advised by the medical authorities that the disease which caused the death of Private Clark on 7th March, 1924, was not attributable to the injury which he received while playing football on the 29th August, 1923. His death cannot be regarded as directly attributable to military service, and, in these circumstances, I regret that his mother is not eligible for the grant of a dependant's pension from Army funds.

:Is football organised by the military authorities, and is it not necessary for the troops in hot climates?

:Games are usually organised by the authorities. If death had occurred during play he would probably have been eligible. But as I am advised, I have given the answer, that death was not attributable to the injury Clark received at football.

:Is it not the case that this man was injured at football, that he was sent home from India as a result of that injury, and that he died on the way home?

:I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the medical authorities always try to do everything they can to bring such deaths within the limits and powers of pension. They have carefully gone into the matter, and they have said that there is no doubt that death was not due to the accident at football.

:Is there any appeal from the first medical board?

:I am afraid I cannot answer that offhand. But I know that this particular case has been before the civil Referee and the civilian doctor, who is only consulted when any such case arises.

:If it is possible, and if the death was due to the authorised game of football, is this not eminently a case—if there be some doubt about it— coming within the category of those getting an ex gratia grant?

:The actual cause of death was disease, which could not possibly have arisen from the accident that occurred to the man.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the figures indicating that during the War 15 aeroplanes and two airships were destroyed by anti-aircraft gunfire refer exclusively to anti-aircraft work in this country?

:The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can find any employment for the efficient men who have been discharged or are under notice of discharge from the gunpowder factory at Waltham Abbey and the small-arms factory at Enfield; and whether he is aware that the majority of the discharged men have had to apply for parish relief after being in Government employment most of their lives?

:Few men or women have been discharged or are under notice of discharge from the Royal Small-arms Factory and the Royal Gunpowder Factory other than those whose discharge is due to normal reasons, such as age, or discharge at their own request. I regret that there is no alternative work that can be offered to those who are or are about to be discharged from Enfield and Waltham.

:Is it not the case that a number of ex-service men, young men, who are suffering from war disabilities have been discharged recently?

:I have not the actual numbers with me, but I have recently looked into the papers and the details show that, during the last five months very few men indeed have been discharged for any cause whatever. The number discharged for all causes—stoppages of seasonal work, and all other causes—is a total of 31 in the last five months.

:Will the hon. Member allow me to give him some specific information?

:I shall be very pleased to receive anything the hon. and gallant Gentleman may communicate.

:Is it correct to assume that 45 is the age limit at which a man can be engaged as a skilled workman?

:I do not think that arises out of this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of withdrawing Rule 1a from the Rules and Regulations governing ordnance factories, which limits the age at which men can be engaged as workmen to 45 years, seeing that craftsmen of this age are of mature skill, experience and reliability, and that they would often be preferred by the officers responsible for the engagement of workmen?

:I do not think there are any sufficient reasons for changing the general practice, which is embodied in this rule. It is not, however, an absolute rule; and the local officials are allowed a discretion, which they exercise in suitable cases, in regard to engaging men over 45 years of age.

:Can the hon. and gallant Member say what liability or disability the State would suffer if they employed men who are over 45 years of age, other than would be suffered by ordinary employers?

:I am afraid that I cannot argue the merits of the case. I have stated the actual rule, and there is that discretionary power.

:Does the hon. and gallant Member suggest that these men over 45 should cultivate the habit of learning to qualify for the dole?

:The hon. Member must not assume that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department is aware that large quantities of ploughs have been ordered by the Transcaucasian Soviet Republic from Krupp's of Essen; that a consignment of 1,500 has already been shipped to Tiflis; and whether, with a view to obtaining similar orders for the engineering industry in Great Britain, His Majesty's Government will now extend the provisions of the Export Credits Act to British-Russian trade?

:The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. As regards the third part, I would refer to my replies to the hon. and gallant Member for Chertsey (Sir P. Richardson) and the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Harrison) on the 12th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that £900,000 worth of bar gold has been deposited in this country on behalf of the Soviet Government; and has he any information tending to show that the Soviet Government intend to utilise this gold to re-establish the credit of their country, with a view to making trade with Soviet Russia again possible on an ordinary commercial basis?

:I understand that £900,000 worth of gold was sold to the Bank of England by a broker in the ordinary course of business last week. I have no special information as to the source of this gold, nor as to the use to which the proceeds of this sale may be put.

( for Miss WILKINSON)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any limit as regards the number and weight of diplomatic bags which His Majesty's Government is allowed to send to its representatives in Russia unopened under diplomatic privileges?

:Yes: His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow is allowed to send and receive each week one sealed bag weighing not more than 10 kilogrammes, which is not liable to be opened by the Soviet authorities.

:May I ask whether the contents of these diplomatic boxes are ever opened?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding his inquiries into the possibility of improving the transport services in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?

:A conference of representatives of the Departments concerned has been set up by my right hon. hon. Friends the Secretary for Scotland and the Postmaster-General to examine and report on questions relating to the Western Highlands and Islands steamer services. The conference is presently engaged in making the necessary inquiries.

:Can my hon. and gallant Friend tell us when this Committee will report, as this matter has been going on for years?

:It has only newly been set up. [HON. MEMBERS: "Shame!"] It may be, but it is better late than never, and it has now been set up.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to cases in which certain parish councils have made charges against the relatives of an inmate of a lunatic asylum, although no agreement or contract has been entered into by the relatives for the removal to or maintenance in such asylum; and, in view of the interests of the relatives to such cases, if he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to parish councils as to their powers and responsibilities in the matter?

:My right hon. Friend's attention has not previously been called to the cases referred to, but if the hon. Member will give particulars he will be glad to have inquiry made. The position generally is that a parish council is empowered by Statute to recover expenditure on a lunatic poor person from any relative legally bound to maintain him. Where the condition of a patient necessitates his removal to any asylum the parish council usually come to an agreement with the relatives regarding his maintenance, but the absence of an agreement would not negative the power of the parish to recover the expenditure.

:Are we to understand from that reply that a parish council has the power to remove any pauper to the asylum and then come down on the rela- tives, who have given no sanction for the removal, for the cost of maintenance in that asylum?

:I am afraid that scarcely arises out of the question.

:That is the question.

:The parish council has the right, of course, to recover from the relatives any expenditure it has legally incurred. The question of whether or not it consigns him to the asylum is not in this question.

:Arising out of that reply, which does not answer the question, has the parish council the power to come upon the relatives of a patient who have not given sanction for his removal to an asylum, for the cost of his maintenance in the asylum. That is the question. Will you answer it?

:I think I have answered the question quite fully. The parish has a right to come upon the relatives. The question of consigning the person to an asylum does not arise out of the question.

:It does arise. That is the point of the question—that it is the case of a patient removed without the consent of the relatives. Has the parish council the right to come on the relatives for the cost of maintaining that patient? That is the question?

:That is the question and the answer, I understand, is "Yes."

:On a point of Order. The Under-Secretary has just said that is not the question. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] Well, I will leave it to the OFFICIAL REPORT to show what he has said.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether as the Board of Agriculture has 77,188 acres pending allocation to smallholders, he can state the number of applications be has for them; and when the applicants are likely to be placed on the small holdings?

:It is not possible for my right hon. Friend to give statistics in reply to the first part of the question, because applications for small holdings are usually made without reference to the particular properties which may be acquired for land settlement purposes. It is intended that 62 new holdings and 127 enlargements should be formed on the areas referred to, and it is expected that holders will be given entry during the next 12 months to the majority of these holdings and enlargements.

:What is the extent of the area that will be covered by the holdings that are going to be given?

:It will cover the whole of this area in question.

:The 70,000 odd acres?

:The 70,000 acres.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the total estimated cost of the construction of roads in connection with the small holdings at Reef, Lewis, Scotland, in connection with which £820 were offered as a grant-maid; and whether, in view of the difficulties that have arisen locally, he will now be prepared to have the whole road contracted for?

:My right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland cannot give a precise estimate of the cost of constructing and repairing the roads in question, but looking to the length of the roads and the nature of the ground which has been inspected, he is satisfied that the grant offered is a substantial and adequate contribution towards the cost of the roads which are wholly for the holders' benefit. In reply to the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the question put by the hon. Member on the 12th of May.

:Are we to take it from that reply that the Scottish Office declines to give more than £820 for the construction of this road, and that the smallholders have to accept this £820 for tools and wages in constructing the road.

:No. The Scottish Office is a little surprised at the insistence of my hon. Friend in having this work put out to contract rather than having it done by direct labour, in view of his recent attitude on the question.

:May I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to answer the question, and not go back upon Debates that have arisen in this House? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]

:I understand the answer to be clear. The £820 was the extent of the grant. Is not that so?

:That is so.

:That seems to answer the question.

:But arising out of my knowledge of the particular district, surely I have the right to ask as a supplementary question, whether the £820 is expected to cover not only the wages of the smallholders while they are engaged on the road, but also the cost of the tools and the materials with which to construct the road? That, surely, is a legitimate supplementary question?

:Yes.

:Well, I put it before, and I want it answered.

:This is a contribution towards the cost of the road. The cost of the road is the cost of the road as a whole. Surely the position is perfectly clear. This is a grant that is being made from the Board of Agriculture towards the cost of the road.

rose —

:I think that completely answers the question. Will the hon. Member please put down his further question.

:On a point of Order. This is the second time I have been trying to bring this matter before the House. The hon. and gallant Member has stated the cost of the road exclusive of the items which I have mentioned. Is he not aware that these smallholders are being told that this £820—[HON. MEMBERS: ''Order'!"] How many Under-Secretaries for Scotland have we in the House? Is it not the case that these smallholders have been told that out of this £820 they must purchase not only tools to work on the roads but also the materials with which to construct the roads?

:The hon. Member must not argue questions at Question Time.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the heavy costs and expenses to which all the Scottish local authorities interested in the City of Glasgow Extension of Boundaries Bill are being subjected by the prolonged hearing of evidence at Westminster, he will promote legislation whereby in future such evidence will be taken in Scotland?

:The Measure to which the hon. Member refers is proceeding as a Private Bill, and not as a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, in virtue of a decision of the Lord Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords and the Chairman of Ways and Means under Sub-section (2) of Section 2 of that Act to the effect that the provisions of the Measure are of such a nature that they ought to be dealt with by Private Bill and not by Provisional Order. Procedure must therefore be by Private Bill involving, in the case of opposition, the hearing of evidence by a Parliamentary Committee. My right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland does not consider that a case has been established for legislation such as is suggested in the question.

:Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that an expenditure of public money, estimated to run into £70,000, which must impose an exceptional burden upon industry in the Clyde area, could be avoided altogether if some such legislation as I suggest in my question were promoted?

:I understand that a greater part of this expenditure is involved in bringing forward evidence for and against the City of Glasgow, and case against the City of Glasgow would be put wherever this case was tried, whether in Edinburgh or in London.

:I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman has missed the point in my question. Is he not aware that there are extraordinary expenses incurred in bringing witnesses and materials to London, which would be avoided if that evidence was heard in Glasgow?

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that large numbers of lapwings' eggs are collected and disposed of every season for human consumption; that in a very few years there is every prospect of the lapwing becoming extinct; that the lapwing is a valuable friend of the farmer and agriculture; that the farmers of Scotland desire to see the lapwing protected; and if he will take action to make illegal the collection and sale of lapwings' eggs for human consumption?

:The replies to the first and third parts of the question are in the affirmative, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland understands that agricultural opinion in Scotland is generally in favour of the principle of giving this bird adequate protection. On the information before him he does not apprehend that the lapwing is in danger of becoming extinct. Under the existing law the taking of lapwings eggs is prohibited during the whole or part of the year in most of the counties in Scotland in virtue of Orders made by the Secretary for Scotland on the application of the county councils. The measure of protection proposed to be given to the lapwing for the future is set out in the Wild Birds Protection Bill which has recently been introduced and which on its passing will supersede the existing provisions.

:Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the suggestion that no so-called plovers' eggs be sold except those laid by sea birds?

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether His Majesty's Government are willing to consider the introduction of an amending Bill to the Housing Act, 1924, in order to bring the Scottish crofter within the provisions of that Act?

:In the present state of Parliamentary business I cannot hold out any hope that legislation will be introduced on this point. I would remind the hon. Member that the existing arrangement under which the crofter receives assistance from the Board of Agriculture for Scotland by way of loans and materials at cheap rates and in addition, the subsidy under the Housing, etc., Act of 1923, is more suitable for him that if he were to receive only the annual sum for a period of years available under the Housing Financial Provisions Act, 1924.

:Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman willing to make the housing conditions of the Scottish crofter easier by bringing him within the provisions of the Housing Act, because such legislation is very much overdue?

:The Secretary for Scotland and the Minister of Health have repeatedly said that the question of rural housing is engaging their attention at the present moment.

asked the Undersecretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he will make available for the inspection of Members in the Library copies of the Reports for the year 1924 of the district medical insurance officers under the Scottish Board of Health for the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee?

:The reports in question are of a confidential nature, and it would not be in the public interest to publish their contents in full. A summary of salient features with extracts relating to points of special interest will, however, be embodied in the Board's Annual Report for 1924 which will be made available at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the average yield of a ton of coal, of fuel oil, motor spirit, gas, and smokeless fuel when treated by low-temperature carbonisation?

:I am advised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research that the products obtained by the low-temperature distillation of one ton of coal, when the process is carried out in externally-heated retorts at a temperature of about 600°C, are roughly as follow, though they vary with the different seams of coal and with the type of plant employed:

:What process of distillation is that? Is it the process that was done by the Research Department?

:Yes, that is the result of the experiment at the Fuel Research Station at Greenwich.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of persons engaged in the mining industry and the total output of coal; and what was the amount paid in mining royalties during the year 1924?

:The number of persons engaged in the coal mining industry was 1,213,600, the output of coal was 267,061,000 tons, and the estimated amount payable in royalties was £6,430,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amounts paid as profits on coal mines for the years 1912 to the present date; and whether the by-product auxiliary operations have been profitable undertakings for the years in question?

:As regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer that I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Blaydon Division. As regards the second part, no information is available.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has received a resolution from the Monmouth County Council mining classes urging that he should make compulsory the using of a safety appliance for the purpose of shot-firing in mines; and will he, for the purpose of protecting persons engaged in this work, give effect to the resolution?

:I have received this resolution, which refers to appliances for withdrawing the detonator from a charged shothole. I have gone very care- fully into this question and am satisfied that it is not advisable or necessary for safety to make the use of such appliances compulsory.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the terrible death rate every year in this method of shot firing without safety appliances, and that at the Markham Collieries two sets of a safety appliance have been in use since 1919, and now eight sets are in use and there is never any accident?

:I am advised that the interests of safety would not be advanced by making this compulsory. It

is quite true that they are used in a few cases, but not in very many.

( for Mr. BATEY)asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of money received and paid out of the Miners' Welfare Fund in each mining district of Great Britain for the year 1924; the amount of money retained by the central authority; and to what purpose it has been devoted.

:The answer contains long lists of figures, and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the figures:

The total payments out of the Fund during the year were:—

( for Mr. BATEY)asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of capital invested in the coal mines of Great Britain in 1913 and 1924; and how much capital has been called up since 1913.

:As my predecessor stated in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil on the 24th March, 1924, the only information on this subject available in the Mines Department is that, on the basis of evidence given on behalf of the Board of Inland Revenue before the Coal Industry Commission, the capital invested in the industry (excluding coke ovens and by-product plant) was estimated at £130,000,000 in 1914, and at £180,000,000, when control ended in 1921.

:Can the hon. and gallant Member say how much new capital has been taken out of reserves by shares being allocated?

:I cannot say.

:It is very important to know that.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the accident which occurred on the 7th May last, near Birmingham, when an express train ran into a party of 30 platelayers, two of whom were killed; whether, in view of such a large gang of men being employed, he can state how many look-outs were employed to warn these men of on-coming traffic; and whether all possible precautions were taken by the railway company for the protection of the men?

:I have ordered an inquiry into the circumstances of this accident, and will supply the hon. and gallant Member with a copy of the Inspecting Officer's Report when I receive it.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many look-out men were engaged at the time of the accident?

:Of course, I cannot say until the inquiry has been held.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London County Council provided in their Estimates for 1924–25 for a contribution of £482,400 towards the cost of construction of arterial roads outside the county area, and that, owing to the slow progress made by his Department, only £120,000 was expended; that the corresponding provision by the Council for 1925–26 is £387,000; and whether he can assure the House that, with a view to improving transport facilities and providing employment, he will take vigorous steps to accelerate the progress of these works during the present year?

:I am aware of the provision made by the London County Council for these purposes, which was rightly the maximum possible expenditure. The exceptional wet weather of last autumn and winter necessarily retarded work on these roads to a serious degree, but the work is now progressing as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that £23,750,000 are ear-marked to be spent out of the Road Fund on works executed to relieve unemployment between now and 1930–31, or nearly five millions a year, he will consider the possibility of raising this money on loan, only charging the Road Fund with the interest and sinking fund of the loan, so as to make more money available from the Road Fund for unclassified roads in rural areas?

:I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the possibility of borrowing is not overlooked, but I would remind him that a considerable proportion of the £23,750,000, for works expedited to relieve unemployment, is in respect of expenditure on minor works for which it would not be proper to borrow. I would also remind him that, as the expenditure on the larger works of new construction, for which borrowing might be proper, is already being spread over a period of years, the relief to the immediate revenue of the Road Fund, for which he looks from the raising of money by borrowing, is already secured to a considerable extent.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in America they have County Road Bonds, which are a most popular form of investment, and might not something of that sort be useful here?

:No doubt, if and when it becomes necessary, we shall explore what has been done in other parts of the world, but at the present moment there is no intention of doing so.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of miles of new roads serving London, together with the number of miles of roads widened and improved which have been carried through by his Department since the Armistice?

:The total length of new arterial roads in greater London now open to the public is approximately 107 miles, of which 80¾ are new constructions and 26¼ are widenings of existing roads. This does not include many minor widenings and improvements carried out by local authorities with assistance from the Road Fund.

:In these excellent results now achieved, will the right hon. Gentleman give earnest attention to the surface of the new roads that are now being laid down?

:Yes, I have been giving very considerable attention to it in the last two months, and I think that, especially on the Great North Road, where there was a considerable amount of slipping, the treatment has resulted satisfactorily, and there, at any rate, I have had no complaints for some time. The same treatment will be given to the other roads as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what efforts he is making to beautify the new trunk roads; whether it is the intention of his Department to plant trees on the roadside; and, if so, if consideration has been given to the planting of fruit trees, as carried out in certain European countries?

:As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, there is at the present time before the House a Bill which, if passed into law, will enable me to make contributions from the Road Fund towards the cost of planting trees on the roadside. Officers of my Department have already consulted with the authorities at Kew and the Forestry Commission as to the types and species of trees most suitable for the purpose, and the claims of fruit trees to consideration will not be overlooked.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to give figures showing the result of the grouping of British railways in effecting economies of administration and overhead charges and improving conditions of service and fares for passengers, lowering freight rates, and improving transport facilities for traders and farmers?

:I am afraid that the detailed information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that the Royal Commission on Food Prices reports that the railway rates for wheat, flour and bye-products now stand at 50 per cent. above pre-War rates plus a flat addition of 4d. per ton, he proposes to take any action to extend the facilities for water transport in the country?

:I would remind the hon. Member that the Royal Commission reported that railway rates in general have increased by a rate more than 50 per cent., which is less than the average increase of food prices, and that they are therefore a factor tending to reduce food prices below the "normal" level of post-War increase. With regard to water transport, I would refer him to the answer given on the 8th April to a question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for Shoreditch, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will obtain powers to secure facilities for railway travel for newly developed districts in need of them?

:As the hon. Member is aware, the determination of questions relating to railway facilities devolves, under the existing law, on the Railway and Canal Commission. The law on the subject was amended by Parliament as recently as 1921, and it is not my intention at present to propose any further amendment.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there are many isolated districts which cannot get any powers to secure facilities for railway travel at all because of the monopoly held by railway companies, and will he consider this question?

:This question I understand refers to present railways and the facilities under them, and in that case the remedy is to go to the Railway and Canal Commission and put the matter before them.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman not empowered by the Railways Act, 1921, to intervene in the interests of the public if he considers that inadequate facilities are provided?

:I believe I have the power, but it has been the policy of the Ministry to allow the aggrieved bodies first to make a move.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the desirability of taking steps, by legislation or otherwise, to secure that young women travelling to the London termini or other stations by workmen s tickets may travel by later trains at the same fares so that they may not have to wait about the streets before they commence their work?

:I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply, of which I am sending him a copy, to a somewhat similar question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Harrow Division on the 17th February last.