asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are contemplated towards the opening up and development of the interior of East Africa by the construction and institution of railway connections?

The following particulars show the work in progress, at present contemplated, or proposed:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the reluctance among Mohammedan tribes in East Africa to send their children to missionary schools; and will he take steps for providing increased educational facilities of an elementary kind by the provision of Government schools, so as to embrace the children of native parents belonging to the Mohammedan faith?

I am aware of the existence among Mohammedans in East Africa (as elsewhere) of the feeling to which the hon. Member refers. There are already Government schools which are open to Mohammedan children, in most, of the East African Dependencies, and the ques- tion of increasing their number is engaging attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Civil Service Committee on compensation arising out of Irish Free State matters has not dealt with any matters for nearly 12 months past; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter?

I am aware that the work of the Civil Service (Compensation) Committee has been suspended for some considerable time, and that in consequence the hearing of applications for the award of pensions under Article X of the Articles for a Treaty has been postponed. The delay was in the first instance caused by the resignation of the Chairman, and I am informed that considerable difficulty has been experienced by the Government of the Irish Free State in obtaining the services of a suitable person, preferably a Judge, to act as Chairman. I understand, however, that the Government of the Irish Free State hope that this difficulty has been overcome. In the meantime an action was brought into the Courts on behalf of two civil servants relating to pensions awarded by the Committee. This action has been heard in the High Court and on appeal in the Supreme Court, but it is understood that the plaintiffs have now entered an appeal to the Privy Council. Inasmuch as the point at issue affects the whole of the pensions awarded by the Committee, the Government of the Irish Free State are of opinion that no useful purpose would be served by reconstituting the Committee until the Privy Council has dealt with the appeal. In these circumstances I do not see that at this stage His Majesty's Government is called upon to take or could usefully take any action in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state what provision will be made to ensure that the widows and orphans of police officers killed in the execution of their duty are not placed in a less favourable position than the widows and orphans covered by the Bill now before the House?

The point is being kept in view, but it is impossible to say at present what provision, if any, it will be desirable to make.

asked the Home Secretary whether the new patterned clothing now in use at five local prisons, together with the new style of furniture, has resulted in any improvement in the conduct of prisoners; and, if so, is it intended to extend the use of such clothing and furniture to all His Majesty's prisons?

I am told that the changes referred to have a good effect on the conduct of the prisoners, and as clothes and furniture are renewed, the new patterns will be adopted in all prisons. But the experiment is being watched and I hold myself free at any time to rescind the directions if the effect should change.

asked the Secretary for Mines what has been the average output per man from the coal mines of Great Britain for the years 1904 to 1924, and the wages cost per ton over the same period?

The information, so far as it is available, is as follows:

Year			Average Output per person employed	Wages Cost per ton disposable commercially.
			Tons.	s.	d.
1904	…	…	281	Not available.
1905	…	…	282	Not available.
1906	…	…	292	Not available.
1907	…	…	292	Not available.
1908	…	…	271	Not available.
1909	…	…	266	Not available.
1910	…	…	257	Not available.
1911	…	…	260	Not available.
1912	…	…	244	Not available.
1913	…	…	260	Not available.
1914	…	…	253	6	10½
1915	…	…	271	Not available.
1916	…	…	261	Not available.
1917	…	…	248	12	4¼
				(Last half year).

Year			Average Output per person employed.	Wages Cost per ton disposable commercially
			Tons	s.	d.
1918	…	…	230	14	8½
1919	…	…	196	20	8½
1920	…	…	187	25	9½
1921	…	…	144	22	2½
1922	…	…	217	12	1¾
1923	…	…	229	12	4¼
1924	…	…	220	13	3

NOTE.—In making comparisons from year to year it should be borne in mind that the figures are affected by changes in the hours of work, strikes, lock-outs and irregular employment through trade depression.

asked the Minister of Labour how much money has been spent in 1924, and in the whole period since they started, on Employment Exchange buildings as to rent, capital outlay, and rates, separately?

I have taken steps to have the details extracted for the your 1924-25, and will communicate, the results to my Noble Friend. I should add that this will take some little time, as local inquiries will be necessary. As regards years earlier than 1924-25, I am afraid I cannot undertake the laborious investigation which will be necessary for the purpose of obtaining the figures.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of mine-workers unemployed during June, 1925?

On 22nd June, 1925, the number of adults in the coal-mining industry in Great Britain whose books were lodged at Employment Exchanges was 301,202 (men, 299,344; women, 1,858); there were in addition 13,437 juveniles (13,212 boys, 225 girls) unemployed, making in all a total of 314,639.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what has been the percentage of the administrative expenses of the British Empire Exhibition in 1923, 1924 and 1925, as compared with the capital outlay; and what has been the approximate amount of saving effected this year as compared with last year and during the period of preparation in 1923?

As it would be a matter of some difficulty to deal with this matter by means of question and answer, I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the latest available accounts of the British Empire Exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of finished wallpaper imported into this country from Canada and Germany, respectively, for the years 1913 and 1924; and the total quantities of finished wall paper imported into this country for the same years?

The following statement gives the information desired so far as the particulars are available:

Country whence consigned	1913	1924
	Printed paper Hangings	Printed and Embossed paper Hangings
	Cwts.	Cwts.
Total Imports from all sources	57,304	70,486
Of which con signed from:
Canada	2	6,361
Germany	38,210	47,781

The particulars for 1913 relate to imports into Great Britain and Ireland: those for 1924 relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.Owing to changes in the classification which became operative in 1920, the particulars for 1924 are not strictly comparable with those for 1913.