asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has knowledge of any exports of rifles from this country to the Commandant of the Merchants' Volunteers in Canton; and whether he has any evidence showing that any proportion of the 7,000 rifles, seized at Canton by Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Government in August, 1924, was exported from this country?

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

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the loss occasioned to British trade by the declaration of the Chinese strike and boycott of British goods, which began at the end of May, has been computed; how much the loss amounts to; and whether any measures for bringing the strike to an end, other than by the employment of force, have been considered?

I do not think it would be possible to compute the loss referred to, and no attempt, so far as I am aware, has been made to do so. It is to be hoped that the measures now under discussion between the Treaty Powers will lead to an early improvement in the commercial as well as in the general situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that during the recent trials in the Mixed Court at Shanghai it was stated that the Shanghai University was taken over by an order signed by Gordon, the commander of the volunteer force; and if he will state under what authority the commander of the volunteer corps is able to occupy an educational establishment?

Until I receive the evidence it is not possible for me to say whether the alleged statement was made or not, nor whether, if made, it was true or untrue. It follows, of course, that I am equally unable until I see the evidence to answer the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the League of Nations is considering the organisation of international action with a view to the prohibition of the use of poison gas in warfare; and, if so, what is exactly the position of such action?

At the Arms Traffic Conference held at Geneva in May last under the auspices of the League of Nations, a protocol was drawn up prohibiting the use of chemical or bacteriological methods of warfare. Twenty-five States have signed the protocol, which remains open for accession by other Powers. It comes into force immediately on ratification as between those States which have ratified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the numbers of the present permanent staff at the Foreign Office in the first and second divisions; whether any of the officials employed have not passed the usual entrance examination before their appointment; if so, how many of such officials there are: and what is the nature and what are the conditions of their employment?

The number of the diplomatic establishment at present working at the Foreign Office is 65, and that of the non-diplomatic and clerical staffs 196. As regards the diplomatic establishment, all entered the service after passing the usual entrance ex- amination, with the exception of two officers appointed under Clause 7 of the Order in Council of 1910, and the Regulations issued under Clause 4 of the Order in Council of 1920, respectively. Of the non-diplomatic staff, with the exception of 13 who were appointed under Clause 7 of the Order in Council of 1910 or its equivalent at the relevant dates, all have either passed the prescribed Civil Service examination immediately before entering the Foreign Office, or were transferred from other Departments which they had entered after passing that examination. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, while I should be happy to give the hon. Member all possible information, I find it difficult, within the limits of a reply to a question in this House, to describe the many and varied duties which the different branches of the Foreign Office are called upon to perform. The conditions of service correspond generally to those prevailing in the Civil Service as a whole.

asked the Minister or Agriculture the number of cases in which he has altered the percentage of 25 per cent. allowed to factories constructed since the passing of the Subsidy (Sugar Beet) Act in respect of the purchases of foreign machinery and the number of applications made to him for such variation: and whether firms can include beet-pulping knives for replacement as machinery coming under this percentage allowance?

Except in the case of the three factories referred to in my reply on 15th June to my hon. Friend, no further dispensations have been made and no applications for dispensation received. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the dissimilarity of decisions regarding the alleged criminality of withholding addresses of patients escaped from mental institutions; whether he will investigate the circumstances under which a Mrs. Gibbons, of Trinity Square, Brixton, was sentenced at the Lambeth Police Court to two months' imprisonment for this offence, and hurriedly released from Holloway 10 days later; and whether he can give the decisions in Police Court proceedings of this nature in 1923, 1924, and the first six months of 1925?

In Mrs. Gibbons's case I felt justified, by the facts that came to my knowledge, in recommending a remission of the balance of the sentence. No other ease of the kind has been brought to my notice, and the Home Office have no information of other cases of the kind that may have been dealt with by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the neglect of the provision of sanitary conveniences at factories in many parts of the country; and will he make representations to the local authorities concerned in the passing of factory plans pointing out the reasonable standards laid down by the Sanitary Accommodation Order?

A Memorandum was issued by the Home Office to the local authorities in 1912, which set out the requirements of the Sanitary Accommodation Order and suggested that they might serve as a general standard. Many local authorities have acted on this suggestion, but in other areas the standard enforced is not satisfactory, and I hope to take steps in the Factories Bill to improve the present position. In the circumstances I do not propose to issue any further representations at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to receive a deputation respecting certain omnibus proprietors operating in the Metropolis, as requested in communications addressed to him on 26th June,, l925,, and 2nd July, 1925?

I have asked my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to receive the proposed deputation, and I understand that he hopes to do so next week.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the danger to children holding up motor vehicles in London streets for the purpose of making a list of motor-car numbers, he will take such action with the head teachers of London schools as will result in children being warned against this practice?

My right hon. Friend the Horn Secretary stated, on July 16th, in reply to the hon. Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Mr. Harris), that the police had communicated on this subject with all the education authorities in the Metropolitan Police district, and I have no doubt that the London County Council are alive to the importance of seeing that the warning against this practice is passed on to the children in the schools.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the situation which has arisen with regard to the action of the education authority in enforcing the resignation of the schoolmaster at Beattock; whether he is aware that this resignation was obtained under what was directly a threat two years ago, and that the decision to enforce this resignation was passed at a recent meeting of the education authority by 12 votes to 10; and whether, as the enforcement is virtually a dismissal and as the majority is not the two-thirds majority demanded by Statute, an inquiry will be held into the matter by the Board of Education for Scotland?

The reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. But Section 21 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, restricts the Department's right of intervention to cases of formal dismissal under Section 24 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the poor demand for fish, even at the cheapest possible rates, which has again entailed, in the one town of Fleet-wood, the use of this article of food for refuse or factory purposes, he can say if any instruction and, if so, what is given in the schools of the country as to the dietetic value of fish?

I understand that the lessons in fish cookery, which, generally speaking, form part of every cookery syllabus, include simple instruction in the dietetic value of fish. I may perhaps add that, such instruction is impeded in some districts owing to the difficulty in obtaining fish and its high cost.

asked the Present of the Board of Education whether, in view of the difficulty which has arisen with regard to fixing the school holidays at Whitefield, Lancashire, he will suggest to the local authorities the need for endeavouring to obtain the opinion of the parents themselves as to whether the holidays should all be given as a whole in August or whether they should be divided up so that the schools will be closed in the one week in July during-which there is the local works' holiday, the subsequent three weeks being given at the usual period?

The matter is one which falls within the discretion of the local education authority who can, I am sure, be relied upon to give sympathetic consideration to the wishes of all concerned without my intervention.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether representations have yet been made to the education committee of the West Sussex County Council asking them to exercise choice of employment powers in the area within their administration not at present covered?

In Circular 1,322 local authorities were asked to inform the Board whether they proposed to exercise choice of employment powers. The West Sussex authority replied in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that Scottish teachers attending the special short course for teachers of mentally-defective children, held in London from 3rd July to 23rd July, were charged five guineas for tuition fee, which fee was not charged to English teachers attending the course, and were also not allowed the £l maintenance grant or railway expenses allowed to English teachers; and, since invitations were sent to Scottish teachers, what is the reason for the discrimination, which was not intimated to Scottish entrants until the day before the course began?

Under the reciprocal arrangement existing between the board and the Scottish National Committee for the Training of Teachers the cost of the instruction is repaid by the central authority nominating the teacher to the central authority providing the course. If, however, teachers, instead of being nominated by the National Committee, are admitted as private individuals, they are charged a fee to cover the cost of the instruction. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the form in which the arrangements for the course were announced. This form was, I understand, issued in March.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in arriving at the total of £4,045,000 provided in the Estimates, 1925–26, for scientific research, distinction is made between research, development, and experiment; whether he will give a detailed statement showing the different items of the total mentioned; and whether he can state the sum spent on scientific research carried on purely for the advancement of natural knowledge and made known through the usual scientific publications?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The items collected from the several Departments from which the total of £4,045,000 is made up are as follow: £ Admiralty 983,000 War Office 495,000 Air Ministry 1,373,500 Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 348,756 Board of Agriculture, Scotland 51,585 Fishery Board for Scotland 16,910 Forestry Commission 7,057 Mines Department 1,850 Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 380,263 Scientific Investigation 158,687 Ministry of Health 4,350 Scottish Board of Health 100 Post Office 52,000 Colonial Office 15,000 Office of Works 157,180 £4,045,233

Notes. —(1) The above figures do not include expenditure in respect of salaries etc. of administrative staff, except in the case of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

(2) In the case of the Service Departments (and to some extent of other Departments also) it is impracticable to distinguish between expenditure on pure scientific research and that on technical research and experiment. The figures given include so far as possible the provision for all such expenditure.

(3) The normal work of the Government Chemist entails a considerable though varying amount of research to which no definite proportion of the annual expenditure can be assigned, and nothing has been included in respect thereof in the above figures.

It is impossible to give the information asked for in the last part of the question, for the methods of pure and applied research are the same, the distinction between them being solely one of aim. All the research done by Government, the cost of which it is almost impossible to separate from that of experiment and development, is in its nature the same as that carried on purely for the advancement of natural knowledge.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state for the year 1914, or 1913, and for the latest available date the weekly wages paid to a skilled turner and to an engineering labourer, respectively, in England, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States of America, expressed both in the currency concerned and in sterling?

The averages of the recognised weekly time rates of wages of turners and engineering labourers in 16 of the principal engineering centres in Great Britain, in August, 1914, and July, 1925, are as shown in the following table:

— Rates of Wages per Hour. Turners. Labourers. Aug., 1914. May, 1925. Aug., 1914. May, 1925. (a) In foreign currency. Berlin—marks … … … .58 .83 .45 .55 Brussels—francs … … … .52 3.30 .33 2.29 Paris—francs … … … 1.00 3.24 .55 2.45 Rome—lire … … … .67 3.50 .39 2.30 United States*—dollars … … … .47 1.039† .29 .84† (b) Sterling equivalents at the rule of exchange current at the respective dates. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Berlin … … … 0 6¾ 0 9¾ 0 5¼ 0 6¼ Brussels … … … 0 5 0 8¼ 0 3¼ 0 5¾ Paris … … … 0 9½ 0 8½ 0 5¼ 0 6½ Rome … … … 0 6½ 0 7 0 3¾ 0 4¾ United States* … … … 1 11½ 4 9‡ 1 2½ 3 10‡ * Average, based on returns from 66 principal cities. ‡May. 1924.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government has considered the desirability of giving uncovenanted benefit for the greater part in foodstuffs; and what is its attitude in regard to this policy?

— Aug. 1914. July, 1925. s. d. s. d. Turners … … 38 11 56 6 Labourers … … 22 10 40 2

The full-time hours of labour were 53 or 54 per week in August, 1914, and 47 in July, 1925.

As regards Germany. Belgium, France, Italy, and the United States, the only information available is given in the following table, which shows the hourly rates at the two dates. Owing to the absence of precise information regarding actual weekly working hours, it has not been possible to calculate the weekly earnings at these rates. No corresponding information is available for Switzerland.

Proposals of this kind have been considered in the past, but the inherent difficulties have been found to outweigh any possible advantages.

asked the Minister of Labour what occupations are included in the unemployment returns published in the "Labour Gazette" under the heading of distributive trades, and the numbers in each classification of trades, with the appropriate percentages of unemployment?

All persons engaged in wholesale and retail dealing are including under the heading of distributive trades. Separate figures are not compiled for the occupations included in this industrial group nor is the group subdivided to show the numbers in each branch of the distributive trade.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the employment of grants for the relief of unemployment, any application has at any time been made in connection with, on the one hand the creation of light railways, and on the other railway extension: if so, what were the applications and what in each case was the response; and whether, in view of the large amount of unskilled labour which such enterprise would absorb, he will state the attitude of his Department towards such assisted undertakings?

I have been asked to reply. I am always ready to give sympathetic consideration to applications for powers to enable light railways to be constructed or extended, and have recently made several Orders under the Light Railways Acts. The Unemployment Grants Committee are prepared to consider applications for financial assistance towards the construction or extension of light railways in suitable cases. Government assistance has been given, or promised, with a view to the relief of unemployment, in the case of the following cross-country light railways: North Devon and Cornwall Junction, Welsh Highland, and Longridge and Hellifield, Suggestions have been made that assistance should be given in other cases, but it is difficult to describe such suggestions in p, comprehensive list.

asked the Postmaster-General how7 many of the special British Empire Exhibition commemorative stamps were sold in the grounds of Wembley this year as to the most convenient date, together with the number of stamps sold for the corresponding period of last year?

The numbers of special British Empire Exhibition stamps sold up to the 17th of July this year were 1d … … … 731,465 l½d … … … 735,206.

For the period to the 15th of July last year the figures were 1d … … … 2,822,977 l½d … … … 2,613,883

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the public, supported by the Town Councils of Rochester and Gillingham, refuses to patronise the post offices at Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham during the extended hours now in force, and having regard to the small amount of business transacted during the extension of hours, and recognising the Government's expressed intention to reduce expenditure, he will revert forthwith to the hours of business in force prior to 13th July, 1925?

The extended hours of business at the post offices to which the hon. Member refers are in line with the arrangements recently introduced at similar offices throughout the country in response to a general demand. I do not see any sufficient ground at present for making an exception in the case of Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give returns showing the export and import trade of Great Britain with British possessions during the years 1913 and 1924, and for the first six months of 1925; and what is the percentage of such trade to the total export and import trade of this country?

The following statement gives the desired informations:

A. Total Imports. Period. From all Countries. From British Countries. Declared Values. Declared Values. Proportion of total. £ £ Per cent. 1913 … … 768,735,000 191,516,000 24.9 1924 … … 1,279,845,000 388,616,000 30.4 1925 (January-June) … … 677,544,000 216,328,000 31.9

B. Exports. (i) Exports of United Kingdom Produce and Manufacture. Period. To all Countries. To British Countries. Declared Values. Declared Values. Proportion of total. £ £ Per cent. 1913 … … 525,254,000 195,311,000 37.2 1924 … … 795,365,000 332,536,000 41.8 1925 (January-June) … … 392,659,000 167,442,000 42.6

(ii) Re-exports of Imported Produce. 1913 … … 109,567,000 13,611,000 12.4 1924 … … 140,149,000 26,525,000 18.9 1925 (January-June) … … 77,449,000 13,826,000 17.9 NOTE.—The particulars for 1924 and 1925 include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State. For the same years, the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State has beer excluded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the total volume of world export trade at the lotest ascertainable figures compares on a 1913 price level basis with exports during 1913?

The aggregate sterling value of the exports of the world, so far as they can be ascertained, amounted in 1913 to £4,035 millions and in 1923 to £5,299 millions. The total for 1924 cannot yet be stated. The factors for the reduction of the aggregate value of the world's trade in 1923 to its equivalent in terms of 1913 prices are not known with any precision. If my hon. Friend will consult the opening pages of the Introduction to the Survey of Overseas Markets issued recently by the Committee on Industry and Trade, he will find an examination of the leading figures which may be of assistance to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any statement is supplied to the Board of Trade of the number of Lloyd's underwriters who are unable to meet their engagements; if so, how many were in this position last year; how many Lloyd's underwriters have complied with the requirement laid down in Schedule 8, paragraphs B and C (1) (6), of the Assurance Companies Act, as regards the furnishing to the Board of Trade of a statement showing the extent and character of the business effected by him: and how many Lloyd's underwriters, in lieu of complying with paragraph B (1) ( a ) and ( b ), nave elected to comply with paragraphs B and C (2) of the Schedule and supply to the Board of Trade an auditor's certificate in lieu of a full statement showing the extent and character of the business transacted?

I am informed by the Committee of Lloyd's that no members of Lloyd's were in the position last year of being unable to meet their underwriting engagements. No Lloyd's underwriters have furnished the Board of Trade with a statement showing the extent and character of the business effected by them under Schedule 8 (B) and (C) 1 ( b ) during the year 1924. In lieu of providing this statement, 1,136 underwriters elected to comply with the alternative requirements contained in Schedule 8 (B) and (C) 2 and furnished the Board with auditors' certificates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of the deposits, if any, furnished in accordance with Schedule 8 B and C 2 (3) of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, by Lloyd's underwriters as security for the due fulfilment of their fire and accident insurance contracts; the amount of the security furnished in the form of guarantees; whether any of the guarantees which may be furnished as an alternative to a deposit are given by persons who are not members of Lloyd's Underwriters' Association, and, if so, to what extent; and whether any alteration has been made in the terms of either the underwriters' agreement or trust deed during the last year?

The amounts of the deposits and guarantees furnished by Lloyd's underwriters in accordance with Schedule 8 (B) and (C) 2 ( b ) as security for claims in connection with fire, accident and other non-marine business are as follows: Deposits Guarantees given by Members of Lloyd's Guarantees given by persons other than Members of Lloyd's. £ £ £ 1,882,000 11,860,432 34,973

Two forms of Underwriting Members' Guarantee Agreement were amended during the past year, and I am sending prints of these documents to the hon. Member. No alteration of the Trust Deed has been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in respect of the life assurance business now transacted by Lloyd's underwriters, the deposits of £2,000 required by the Assurance Companies Act of 1909 have been made and statements showing the character and extent of the business transacted have been deposited with the Board of Trade?

So far as the Board of Trade are aware, no life assurance business is being carried on by Lloyd's underwriters. The remainder of the question consequently does not arise.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he will state the nature of the suggestion or the demand put forward by the Bombay Mill Owners' Association for a reduction of wages; whether he is aware that this would reduce the earnings of an average mill worker below the standard of a decent living wage; and what action, if any, the Government of India is taking in the matter?

I understand that, in consequence of the severe depression through which the industry is now passing, the millowners have felt compelled to issue a notice that, if trade does not improve, they may be forced to reduce wages or to work short time. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the condition of the industry is receiving the close attention of the Government of India and has recently been discussed with the Millowners' Association. In the circumstances my Noble Friend prefers not to express any opinion on the situation at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Indian coal trade is suffering from over-production; and whether he will give the imports into India of British coal for each of the last 14 years, and the amount of British coal imported into India in the first six months of 1925?

The Indian Coal Committee which recently reported con- sidered that the trade is suffering from over-production. The figures of coal imported into British India on private account from the United Kingdom for the years 1911 to 1924 are as follow: Calendar Year. No. of Tons. 1911 … … … 232,865 1912 … … … 136,791 1913 … … … 169,213 1914 … … … 156,863 1915 … … … 30,149 1916 … … … 1,418 1917 … … … 5,375 1918 … … … 7,580 1919 … … … 4,956 1920 … … … 4,122 1921 … … … 436,012 1922 … … … 718,487 1923 … … … 125,260 1924 … … … 89,785

The figures for the first four months of 1925 were as follows: From United Kingdom. From all sources. Tons. Tons. January 13,304 66,146 February 10,076 56,096 March 6,234 31,913 April 9,009 47,061 Total (4 months) 38,623 200,316

Figures for May and June of 1925 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health whether, considering the high importance of perfect cleanliness in casual wards, both to the public and to the inmates of the wards, the will authorise the insertion of eight hours' work in washing, scrubbing, and cleaning, as one of the alternative prescribed tasks for males passing through such wards.

; I am prepared to consider any application made by a board of guardians in this sense, and have already approved of a task of this kind in eight cases.

asked the Minister of Health what loan period is allowed for the Weir, Atholl, Wild, Telford, Nissen, Burney, and Dorman Long houses, respectively; and what distinction in this respect is made between brick houses and other forms of alternative construction that are reported to be equally durable and permanent?

The period allowed for repayment of loans for houses is based on what I am advised is the reasonable expectation of useful life of the houses. In the case of houses of the Weir, Atholl, Telford and Nissen types, I am allowing a period of 40 years. In the case of houses of the Wild type, which are mainly constructed of the normal building materials, I am allowing 60 years. In regard to the two other types referred to by my hon. Friend, the loan period has not yet been fixed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give instructions that, in the event of a patient in a mental hospital meeting with injury, the guardians of the particular union or parish to which such patient, is chargeable be immediately notified of such injury, so that they can, if considered desirable, have such patient visited: and that on a request from a board of guardians the Board of Control be required to hold an inquiry at which such guardians can be represented?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to give general instructions in the sense suggested. The visiting committee of a mental hospital is the body responsible under the Lunacy Act for the management and control of the insulation. Any request from a board of guardians to be represented at an inquiry held cither by the visiting committee or the Board of Control would be considered on its merits in each particular case.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of children born in England and Wales, respectively, giving the numbers separately for illegitimate children, for the years 1923 and 1924; if be will state the number of deaths in each year, giving separate figures; and will he state separately the respective figures in each case that apply to Southwark?

— Births. Deaths (under l year). Deaths (all ages). Total. Illegitimate. Total. Illegitimate. England 1923 690,683 29,277 48,273 8,865 412,828 1924 672,507 28,105 50,411 3,731 439,896 Wales and Monmouth 1923 58,448 2,245 4,309 290 31,537 1924 57,426 2,191 4,402 297 32,819 Southwark (Metropolitan Borough). 1923 4,558 182 318 21 2,436 1924 4,220 169 299 17 2,646

asked the Minister of Health how many entries were received for the shuttering competition; and when the results of the competition may be expected?

I understand from the Committee dealing with this competition that 201 valid entries were received. These have been examined, and certain selected competitors have been asked to submit models illustrating their methods. It is hoped that a decision may be given at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, with regard to the senior petty officer of the officers' stewards branch, who is serving in His Majesty's Ship "Curacoa" with Maltese officers' stewards who are senior to him and, consequently, in charge of him, whether he will take steps to relieve him from this position?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on the 16th June (OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th June, col. 1560), no absolute rule can be laid down as to the employment of Maltese ratings in home waters. It is therefore not considered necessary to take any steps in the present case, assuming the facts to be as stated

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how it is

The figures asked for are contained in the following table:

proposed to reduce the Devonport port complement of sick-berth staff by eight leading sick-berth attendants; and whether the proposed reduction will mean that unqualified men will fill posts hitherto, or normally, held by sick-berth ratings?

The port complement of leading sick-berth attendants at Devonport will be reduced by not filling vacancies for that rating until the numbers of leading sick-berth attendants fall to the new numbers. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the cost of each Government dockyard, respectively, in 1913–14, and the estimated cost in 1925–26?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to the establishment and incidental expenses (salaries, works, and machinery costs, general yard expenses, police, pensions, etc.) On this basis the figures are as follow: 1913–14. 1925–26. £ £ Portsmouth … 523,083 1,038,579 Devonport … 389,044 840,218 Chatham … 317,879 746,077 Rosyth … — 274,297 Sheerness … 154,529 188,615 Pembroke … 66,666 129,276 Haulbowline … 45,605 — Total … £1,496,806 £3,217,062

Note. —Haulbowline Dockyard has been disposed of, and Rosyth was not completed till after the outbreak of war.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department is still satisfied that it is possible to construct roads which are capable of resisting the destructive effects of modern road transport without necessitating re-making the surface after a period of seven years?

Innumerable instances could be quoted of roads whose surface has successfully withstood the destructive effects of modern transport for periods exceeding seven years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government propose to make any grant towards the expenses of the Mersey tunnel; and, if so, from what fund?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 7th April to the hon. Member for the Faversham Division (Sir G. Wheler), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that in Northumberland dissatisfaction exists at the number of justices of the peace who, since appointment to the bench, have ceased residence in the county, and whether steps will be taken to relieve such justices of the peace of their appointment, as is done in the case of deputy lieutenants?

The Lord Chancellor is not aware that dissatisfaction of the kind suggested by the hon. Member exists in Northumberland, or that an unusual number of justices have ceased to reside in the county. If such circumstances are brought to the Lord Chancellor's notice by his Advisory Committee, he will consider what action he can take.