asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of regular ex-sailors and soldiers employed in the Civil Service, and the percentage of these under each head drawing pensions from the Navy and Army, respectively?

I am afraid that I have no statistics giving the information desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the entertainment it is proposed to hold at Olympia this year, when 70 lions are to appear in a cage with a single man in their midst; and what steps he is taking to ensure that no cruelty to the animals, voluntary or otherwise, is involved?

Yes, Sir. I have no information which would lead me to think that cruelty to the animals is involved in the performance. But if any offence should be committed against, the Protection of Animals Acts, the offender would, of course, be liable to criminal proceedings, and after the end of this year the new powers given by the Performing Animals Act of the present Session will also be available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total value of the export trade, including re-exports, from Australia to Germany, Swede, France, and Denmark for the years ended the 31st December, 1922, 1923, and 1924?

The information is not available for calendar years. The following statement shows the value of the exports including re-exports from the Commonwealth of Australia to Ger-many, Sweden, France, and Denmark for the years ended 30th June, 1922, 1923 and 1924:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the total cost to the revenues of India of the Khyber Railway and the annual expenditure estimated as necessary for its maintenance; and whether these items come under the heading of military expenditure?

The latest estimate of the capital cost of the Khyber Railway is about £1,897,000. I have no estimate of the cost of maintenance, but the annual working expenses, including maintenance, are expected to be about £33,150. The expenditure is not included in the military budget.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present strength of the regular and subsidiary land forces, each separately, of the following countries: the United States' of America, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Poland and the British Empire?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th November, 1925. col. 1145] supplied the following statement:The figures for the regular forces represent authorised strengths; the figures for the subsidiary forces must be regarded as approximate only, and they comprise troops of widely varying character as regards training and organisation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he receives statistics of notifications of infectious diseases or of the deaths registered from such diseases in foreign countries; and, if so, whether he will publish such information so far as it concerns Italy and Switzerland for the last five years?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I will send the hon. Member a statement giving such information as is available. Statistics of notifications of infectious diseases in certain foreign countries, including Italy and Switzerland, are published in the "Statistics of Notifiable Diseases" issued by the Health Section of the League of Nations.

asked the Minister of Health if he can state the death rate amongst adults, men and women separately, also that of children, occurring in those European countries of which statistics are available, also those occurring in Great Britain, during the years 1922 and 1923 and to the last known date?

For England and Wales the figures asked for are as follow:numbers of deaths during the years in question, no corresponding estimates of population appear to be available for the purpose of calculating mortality rates.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons and their respective ages that died from cow pox or other effects of vaccination in the year ended 31st December, 1924?

The deaths of four persons, aged respectively eight months, three months, and five months, were attributed during the year 1924 to vaccination or causes associated with vaccination.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction among applicants for widows' pensions arising from the system of administration, and particularly from the manner in which applicants are personally treated; that it is not uncommon for an applicant to be asked to attend for an interview and produce various certificates and other papers at a few hours' notice; that papers produced at such interviews are frequently retained by the interviewing officers without a receipt of any kind being given; that when complaint is made it is announced that insurance cards will not be returned to the applicant but to the approved society or the Employment Exchange; and that a widow whose husband had died within the past few weeks was asked verbally if she had since remarried, in spite of the fact that the question had been already answered in writing on the application form; and whether he will take immediate steps to issue instructions that these and other complaints shall be fully met?

I am not aware of the existence of any widespread dissatisfaction such as is mentioned by the hon. Member, who will, of course, appreciate the need of the most careful inquiry before admittance of a claim. It is the fact that applicants are required, if they have them, to produce to the Investigating Officer any certificates or other documents which would assist in establishing the title to pension and to answer any questions which he may deem necessary in order to satisfy him- self of the bona fides of the claim. Due notice in writing is given of any visit and, whenever possible, the applicant is asked on the form to give two alternative dates if the dale suggested for the interview is inconvenient. It is the practice of Investigating Officers to retain possession of any Health Insurance cards or Unemployment Insurance books, as such cards and books are the property of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour respectively, and should have been surrendered on the death of the person in respect of whom they were stamped; a receipt for any document taken away by an Investigating Officer is given when required.

asked the Minister of Health the date of opening of the tuberculosis dispensary, Wednesbury, the number of qualified medical men and nurses in attendance, and the maintenance cost of the dispensary per annum?

The present tuberculosis dispensary in Wednesbury situate at 83, Russell Street, was opened at the beginning of April, 1923: one medical officer and one nurse are attached to the dispensary. I understand that the total maintenance cost of the dispensary approximates to £900 per annum.

asked the Minister of Health the date of the opening of the child welfare centre in Wednesbury; whether a permanent or part-time qualified medical man has been employed; the number of nurses employed; and the maintenance cost of the centre per annum?

According to my information, the infant welfare centre in Wednesbury was opened about the middle of 1915. The medical sessions are attended by the whole-time medical officer of health and by three health visitors. The annual maintenance cost of the centre is approximately £225, including the portion of the medical officer of health's salary which is allocated to this service.