asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of fresh fruit and nuts, also raw vegetables, grown outside the United Kingdom and re-exported during the year 1924 from any British port; and will he give the amount of raw vegetables exported for the year ended 31st December, 1924:

The quantities of imported raw fruit, nuts and raw vegetables exported from the United Kingdom during the year 1924, so far as particulars are available, were approximately as follows:

		Cwts.
Fresh fruits	…	1,038,000
Nuts used as fruit	…	177,600
Vegetables, raw	…	348,700

The quantity of home-produced raw vegetables exported in the same year amounted to approximately 860,000 cwts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many clerks of his department are employed in the Census of Production Office; and whether, in the interests of economy, he can reduce the number that are occupied in sending out and collecting forms such as M. 2a;(2) whether he is aware of the cost and inconvenience to which private firms are subjected in the preparation of replies to forms emanating from the Census of Production Office; and whether he will take steps to mitigate such burdens that increasingly press upon industry;(3) why demands by the Census of Production in Form M 2a are not addressed to the Mining Association of Great Britain and to the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers instead of to private firms and individuals; and what purpose is attained by the compilation of such particulars?

The number of persons at present employed in the Census of Production Office is 114, and the work of issuing and collecting the forms is being carried out with scrupulous regard to economy. The Census of Production Act, 1006, prescribes the classes of persons to whom the Board of Trade shall issue the forms. These classes include (a) the occupier of every factory or workshop within the meaning of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, and (b) the owner, agent, or manager of every mine and quarry. If inquiries were addressed to Trade Associations instead of to individual firms, it would not be possible for the Board to be responsible for the preservation of the strict secrecy of individual returns which is prescribed by the Act of 1906.Firms who keep adequate books of account for the purposes of their business should be able to fill up the forms without any considerable trouble or appreciable extra cost. In cases, however, in which any considerable difficulty is experienced, the Census Office will be found ready to give advice as to the best procedure to adopt in making the ReturnWith regard to the purposes of the inquiry, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the speech of the President of the Board of Trade on Monday, and also to an article in the Board of Trade Journal of 28th February, 1924, of which I am sending him a reprint.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has under consideration the granting of a subsidy to the coal export trade; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to ensure that the benefits are received by the miners and owners of mines and not by the exporting merchant?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative: the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give figures showing the average increase in the cost of a ton of coal since 1913; and how much of this increase is due to royalties, local rates, and wages, respectively?

The average pithead cost of producing a ton of coal disposed of commercially in 1913 was about 9s. 4d., and in the first quarter of 1925 about 18s., an increase of 8s. 8d. Of this increase wages accounted for 6s. 1d. Royalties remained practically unchanged. I have no official information about the increase in local rates, which now amount to about 4d. a ton, but it has been estimated to be about 2d.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has set up the committee's of inquiry into accidents; if so, will he give the names; whether anyone engaged in purely safety work has been placed on these committees; and, if not, will he consider appointing one from the Firemen's and Deputies' Union?

For particulars of the various committees of inquiry into safety matters appointed by the Secretary for Mines, and of the persons appointed to serve on them, I would refer the hon. Member to the Annual Report of my Department. The membership of each of these committees was settled after full and careful consideration, and I have no reason to think that additional members are required.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the fire which occurred at Withernsea (Yorks), in the early hours of the 25th June, when it was found that the alarm bell was useless and no key available for the water hydrant, and whether he will obtain powers for the Ministry of Health to inspect the adequacy of the preventive arrangements against fire which it is the duty of local authorities to maintain?

I am aware of the facts of this case, and have been in communication with the council. The general question of the duties of local authorities in connection with fire prevention is being considered in connection with the Report of the Royal Commission on Fire Brigades and Fire Prevention.

asked the Minister of Health if he will supply a Return showing the percentage of births, vaccinated and exempted from vaccination, in the Borough of Chesterfield for each year during the past 15 years?

I am in communication with the guardians of the Chesterfield Union, and will supply the hon. Member with such information as they are able to furnish in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulties which exist in regard to the diagnosis of mild small-pox and chicken-pox, he will give instructions, in cases where chicken-pox is made a notifiable disease, for the condition of the patients as regards vaccination to be stated on the form of notification, with a view to statistical records being inserted in the annual reports of the medical officers of health showing the total number of vaccination and unvaccinated chicken-pox cases notified in each year?

The answer is in the negative. My right hon. Friend is advised that a mere statement on the notification form as to the vaccinal condition of such patients would not be of any material assistance in arriving at an accurate diagnosis, and as it has never been suggested that vaccination affords any protection against chicken-pox, he does not consider that statistical records as to the vaccinal condition of patients suffering from that disease would be of value.

asked the Minister of Labour what wore the approximate numbers of unemployed in 1013, exclusive of Ireland, and what were the approximate numbers employed in 1913 and at the present time?

I have no information as to the total number of persons unemployed at any date in 1913, but the mean percentage rate of unemployment in that year among members of certain trade unions making returns was 21, and among the 2½ millions of persons at that time insured against unemployment under the National Insurance Act, 1911, the mean percentage rate for the United Kingdom was 3·6; figures exclusive of Ireland are not available for 1913. The total number of persons in Great Britain enumerated at the Population Censuses as gainfully occupied was 19,351,319 in 1921 as compared with 13,351,366 in 1911. Those figures include sick and unemployed persons as well as those actually in employment. Corresponding figures for 1913 and 1925 are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in considering applications for appointments in the employment exchanges, young unemployed men of proved capacity are cut off from service in the exchanges on the grounds that they are not ex-service men, and whether, in view of the fact that these younger men, by reasons of age, were precluded from joining the services, he will take steps to secure a favourable consideration of applications from them?

The practice of my Department in this matter is that adopted in common by all Government Departments, in accordance with the considered policy of this Government and of all Governments since the Armistice. I cannot at present see any prospect of an alteration in this practice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing the financial difficulties of urban authorities in launching schemes to relieve unemployment on second class roads, as laid down in the conditions of Clause 7 of the Unemployment Grants Committees Forms, U.G.C. 9 and 10, he will consider amending those conditions so as to place them in the same position as applied to first class roads; and whether he is aware that the work on main roads, owing to the long period of unemployment has been completed and no other work can be undertaken unless the same help is given?

I have been asked to answer this question. So far as concerns the assistance that may be given out of the funds at the disposal of the Unemployment Grants Committee, to road works which have been expedited for the relief of unemployment, there is no distinction made between Class I and Class II roads, and the assistance given is approximately equal to 50 per cent. of the cost. As I explained, however, on the 22nd June, in an answer to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. Morrison), it is not possible to depart from the rule that schemes assisted from the Road Fund cannot in addition draw grants from the Unemployment Grants Committee and vice versa. For this reason, schemes coming within the category of normal maintenance and improvement, towards which "classification" grants are made from the Road Fund at the rate of 50 per cent. for Class I roads and 25 per cent. for Class II roads,

Imports of Silk and Artificial Silk in June, 1924 and 1925.
Description.	Unit.	June, 1924.	June, 1925.
Silk:
Raw, Knubs and Noils	lb.	211,000	1,143,000
Thrown Silk and Spun Silk Yarn	lb.	46,000	452,000
Manufactures, wholly of silk:
Piece goods	sq yds.	4,917,000	21,969,000
Lace	£	7,000	20,000
Ribbons	£	117,000	151,000
Manufactures of silk mixed with other materials:
Piece goods	sq. yds.	1,320,000	9,436,000
Lace	£	13,000	29,000
Ribbons	£	120,000	312,000
Other Manufactures of silk or of silk mixed with other materials (except apparel).	£	94,000	390,000
Artificial Silk:
Waste	lb.	12,000	364,000
Yarn	lb.	650,000	3,909,000
Manufactures (except apparel)	£	157,000	989,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to state the volume and value of the imports of silk and silk goods during the months of June, 1924, and June, 1925, respectively; and whether he can give any indication of the estimated value of revenue which would have accrued to the Treasury had the new Silk Duty been chargeable on the excess of imports of such goods during June, 1925?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving such figures as are available for a comparison at the present moment. It will be appreciated that the classification of imports in this table is that used in the Trade Accounts before the Silk Duties came into operation, and it is therefore only possible to give a rough estimate of the yield represented by the difference between the figures given for the two months in question. This yield may be put at between £l½ and £2 million, but it must not be assumed that anything approaching this sum would have been obtained if the duties had been in force last month.

asked the Minister of Transport why the road repairs to the Strand opposite Waterloo Bridge were not taken in hand when the bridge was closed to traffic, and are only being done now and prolonging the closing of the bridge?

In view of the considerable amount of additional traffic thrown upon the Strand during the period when Waterloo Bridge was closed it was decided, after very full consultation with the police and highway authorities concerned, that the Strand should be kept free from road or other works obstructive to traffic during that period. Experience has shown that this course was fully justified. The works near Wellington Street, which are essential in order to secure the benefit provided by the widening of the Strand at that point, were commenced directly the bridge was opened to traffic, and by working continuously by day and by night, were so far completed as to render possible the use of Waterloo Bridge by vehicular traffic in both directions from midnight last Sunday. Clear instructions to this effect were given, but owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding on the part of an individual, for which I, of course, accept responsibility, north-bound traffic was in fact diverted from the bridge for some hours prior to noon on Monday, with the resultant congestion of Blackfriars Bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a Turkish national entitled to restitution of his property under the Treaty of Peace of Lausanne is entitled to receive 20s. in the £, even if such property had been held at the outbreak of War by an enemy bank established in Great Britain and wound up under the Trading with the Enemy Regulations, provided that the final surplus of assets available from such liquidation, after satisfying Allied and other non-enemy interests, is sufficient to satisfy Turkish nationals?

I have been asked to reply. The question raises a legal issue on which His Majesty's Government are not empowered to give an authoritative ruling. Any claim of the sort would of course receive due consideration by the competent authority, and the claimant, if not satisfied, would have a remedy in the proper court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present strength of the Shanghai volunteer force; whether there is reason to believe that the force has been increased during the past six months; and whether there has been any further increase since the recent shootings?

The total strength of the Shanghai volunteer force on the 31st December, 1923, including reserves, was 1,533. No later information is available, but I think it may be presumed that an increase in the strength has taken place since the recent riots, as responsible able-bodied citizens would naturally respond to the necessities of the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the treaties under which concessions have been granted to foreign Powers by China?

This information will be found on pages 681–685 of the China Year Book, 1924.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the terms of the proposed regulations concerning child labour in the factories at Shanghai, and the nature of the bye-laws relating to wharfage dues and the freedom of the press which were to have been submitted to the ratepayers' meeting on 2nd June?

The proposals of the Shanghai Municipal Council regarding child labour will be found on pages 108 to 110 of the Blue Book recently presented to Parliament respecting labour conditions in China. The pro- posed bye-laws relating to wharfage dues and printed matter are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which Ambassador is doyen of the foreign diplomats in China?

The Soviet Ambassador, M. Karakhan, is technically doyen of the Corps Diplomatique at Peking, as being the only Ambassador accredited to the Chinese Government, but for the purposes of communication between the Treaty Powers and the Chinese Government the Italian Minister, Signor Cerruti, acts as doyen, as being the senior Minister of those Powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in Uganda the cost of moving produce by means of motor transport-works out at 2s. 6d. per ton mile for a 50-cwt. lorry, and 2s. per ton mile for a five-ton lorry, and that as a result, important foodstuffs cannot be moved at a profit; and will ho take steps so as to provide for a light railway, in order that goods may be conveyed to the coast at a cheaper rate?

The information contained in the question is embodied in the Report of the East Africa Commission. The problem of auxiliary transport in the tropics is not an easy matter, and i am not at present satisfied that the construction of light railways is the most economical solution. I should prefer to see a further development of the construction of standard railways, which would be fed by short distance haulage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of money advanced to farmers to purchase their farms; and the terms upon which such money has been advanced?

I have been asked to reply. The Public Works Loan Commissioners, under the powers conferred on them by Section 1 of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, have advanced to farmers 638 loans, amounting to £2,545,946. The loans are repayable with interest at 5 per cent. per annum over varying periods not exceeding 60 years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the total number of cases of swine fever reported in Great Britain during the last six months, stating the figures for Lindsey, Holland, and Kesteven, separately; how many cases are found on investigation not to be swine fever; and what is the nature of the restrictions imposed on the three counties of Lincolnshire?

The total number of cases of swine fever reported in Great Britain, and in the three counties of Lincolnshire during the past six months, together with the number of cases not found to be swine fever, are as follow:

	Total number of cases of swine fever reported.	Total number found not to be swine fever.
Great Britain	4,373	3,583
Holland Division	41	27
Kesteven Division	36	30
Lindsey Division	145	127

With regard to the third part, of the question, the three Counties of Lincolnshire are included within the scheduled area to which the Regulation of Movement of Swine Older of 1922 applies. This Order does not restrict movement of pigs into the scheduled area, but imposes restrictions on the movement of pigs out of the area, and also from any market and from the premises of any pig dealer situated within the area. Briefly, the restrictions imposed in this case require that except where the pigs are moved to a slaughter-house they must be detained and isolated at the place of destination for 27 days. The scheduled area in question comprises the whole of England, except Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Monmouth, Devonshire and Cornwall. The restrictions on the movement of pigs out of Lincolnshire, therefore, apply only where the place of destination is outside the specified scheduled area.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of Bolshevist propaganda at military centres, he can state whether any similar methods have been traced at naval depots or on board His Majesty's ships?

The Admiralty have not received information of any similar propaganda in naval depots or on board His Majesty's ships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any announcement to make on the subject of marriage allowances for officers of the Royal Navy?

I regret that I have not.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the announcement upon the question of marriage allowance, the money for which has already been granted by the House of Commons, is withheld?

This question is still under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the case of Mr. C. H. Penrose, of 18, Mount Edgcumbe Terrace, Torpoint, Cornwall, late ship fitter in His Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, who has been refused an increase of pension under the Pensions (Increase.) Act, 1924. upon the ground that the increased pension is limited to the amount which a pensioner would have received had he retired on the 1st of July, 1023, with a pension calculated on the emoluments on which his pension was awarded at the date of his actual discharge plus the bonus payable on the 1st of July, 1923, whether he is aware that this man was invalided from His Majesty's dockyard in 1917 as the result of injuries received in the course of his employment when he was 58 years of age with only two years in which to complete his full time, and that had he not received these injuries he would now have been in receipt of a much higher pension; whether, in these circumstances, he can see his way to assist this man, who is an invalid and incapable of supporting his family; and whether he will bring such cases as this to the notice of His Majesty's Government with a view to amending the restrictive Section in the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1924, so as to enable those men who have been invalided from the Service to obtain the full benefit of the increase regardless of whether or no such increases would place them in a better position than those who retired on the 1st of July, 1923?

The hon. Member is quite correct in stating that Mr. Penrose was discharged in 1917, but the cause of his discharge was physical inability to perform his duties, and no claim has hitherto been made that such incapacity was occasioned by injuries arising out of or in the course of his employment. Had he continued to serve until 1919, when he attained the normal age for retirement, he would have received a higher rate of pension by reason of the longer service and of the more favourable rate of war bonus which was in force at that date, but it must be remembered in this connection that the percentages granted under the Pensions (Increase) Acts apply only to the pre-War equivalent of a pension. Mr. Penrose is already receiving under the Pensions (Increase) Acts the maximum increase allowable in his case, and I regret that the Admiralty cannot render him further assistance. With regard to the question of instituting further legislation to secure greater benefits for pensioners who were invalided out of the Service, this is a matter which affects other Government Departments, and I am not prepared to recommend any amendment of the Pensions (Increase) Acts in this respect.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will state the grounds on which no fiat could be granted in the petition of right submitted by ex-Prison Officer Fardon?

The Home Secretary tenders advice to His Majesty the, King in regard to Petitions of Right after obtaining the opinion of the Attorney-General. I understand it to be a long-established rule of this House that the Law Officers may not be interrogated upon such opinions. I understand, however, that the reasons for the refusal of the fiat were fully stated in a letter from the Home Office to the suppliant's solicitors.