asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether leading stokers have the right under Regulations to be at home for six months prior to the date on which they are due to be discharged after completing 22 years' service; and, if so, whether he will issue instructions for Leading-stoker Smith, of H.M.S. "Barham," to be relieved and sent home, seeing that his time expires in December next, as has been done in the case of other ratings on this vessel?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Arrangements are, however, made to enable ratings due for discharge to pension to spend the last few months of their pensionable time on a home station. There is no reason to suppose that these arrangements will fail in Smith's case and no special steps are necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the increasing practice in Bombay of women employed in cotton factories administering opium to their babies before proceeding to their work and that, as a result, the infant death rate in Bombay is approximately two in three; and will he make representations to those concerned suggesting that opium be made less accessible?

I am aware of the practice, but not that it is increasing. The average annual figures of infant mortality from all causes for the three years from 1922 to 1924 was 411 per 1,000, as compared with 624 in the previous three years. As regards the last part of the question, the Government of India have addressed inquiries to all local governments as to the extent of the practice referred to and the question of taking measures specially designed to check it; my Noble Friend proposes to await the results of these inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the shortage of female clerical staff in the Savings Bank Department; whether he is aware that the existing staff has to work at high pressure; and what steps are being taken to bring the establishment up to strength?

A number of vacancies for female clerical officers in the Savings Bank at present exist, and a sufficient supply of new recruits will shortly be available from an open competition held in April last. The pressure of work among the female staff has not been so great as to have necessitated overtime since the completion of the computation of interest in February last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, owing to the congestion of traffic, many persons were delayed or prevented altogether from viewing the aerial display at Hendon, on Saturday last; and if he is prepared to appoint persons to frame in advance schemes to deal with traffic of an exceptional character?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Regulations for the guidance of traffic on occasions of this kind are issued by the Commissioner of Police, but I understand that on Saturday last, owing to a misunderstanding for which the police were not responsible, one available route to the aerodrome was not used to its fullest capacity, thus increasing the congestion on the other routes. I am informed that the vehicular traffic on Saturday was greater than in any previous year, and far in excess of the capacity of the approaches to the aerodrome, so that some congestion would have been unavoidable in any event.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many copies of the new Army Form B 2,079 discharge certificate have been printed; and whether he can arrange for the printers to obliterate the letter D which has been added in error after the number, instead of instructing the issuing officer to delete the D before the forms are issued?

Fifty thousand copies of the Army Form have been printed. With regard to the second part of the question, I do not see any reason to modify the instructions to issuing officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the 11 military books mentioned in A.O. 212, 1925, published at prices ranging from 1d. to 3s. 9d., are supplied free to officers and men who require the same for the correct performance of their duties; and whether any person of British or other nationality may purchase the books at His Majesty's Stationery Office?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total sum in pounds sterling per annum paid to the Ministers in Iraq?

The total annual sum paid in salaries to Ministers in Iraq, of whom there are eight, is approximately £17,000.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will inquire into the circumstances of the educational facilities in Easdale Island, where there is no teacher, and owing to the pier on the mainland being closed it is inconsistent with safety for the children to attend school; and will he take steps to secure that education facilities are given to the children on the island of Easdale?

I am informed that the Argyllshire Education Authority are taking steps to send a teacher to Easdale Island after the summer vacation.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he has now completed his inquiries into the demand for housing in the Gala Water area of Midlothian, and particularly in the Gorebridge district of that area; and, if so, will he state the result of that inquiry and what action he proposes to induce the local authority to meet that demand?

A report on the housing requirements in the Gala Water district of Midlothian has been prepared by the Medical Officer of Health and the Sanitary Inspector. This report estimates that 117 houses are required in the district to replace uninhabitable houses and to accommodate persons requiring houses or living in sublet of overcrowded houses. Seventy-nine of these houses are estimated to be required in the Gorebridge area. The Scottish Board of Health are in communication with the Local Authority as to the measures proposed to be taken to secure the provision of the houses required.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the recent outbreaks of grass sickness amongst horses in agricultural districts in Scotland, and the heavy losses sustained by farmers thereby, any steps are being taken to check the diseease; and if research work is being undertaken to combat its ravages?

The seriousness of this disease is fully recognised, and it has been the subject of investigation for some time. Research work in connection with it is being continued by the Animal Diseases Research Association. A reference to the progress of the investigation is given on page 42 of the Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for 1924.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware of the congestion in the township of Tongue, in the County of Sutherland, and the desire among the crofters for enlargements which will put their holdings upon a self-supporting basis; and whether the Board of Agriculture proposes to proceed with the scheme for enlarging these holdings?

I am informed that certain crofters in the township of Tongue, Sutherland, have applied to the Board of Agriculture for an enlargement to their holdings out of Ribigill Farm for use as a horse park. Inquiries as to the possibility of securing the desired enlargement are proceeding.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware of the congestion in the township of Melness, in the County of Sutherland, and the desire among the crofters for enlargements which will nut their holdings upon a self-supporting basis; and whether the Board of Agriculture proposes to proceed with the scheme for enlarging these holdings?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland are in communication with the proprietor of Melness Farm with a view to ascertaining whether a scheme for the granting of grazing enlargements to the Melness crofters can be carried out by agreement.