asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any new tariff proposals have been or are being put forward by Egypt; and, if so, whether he will state their nature and indicate more especially how they affect British imports?

Egypt is bound by Treaties with certain countries to levy Customs Duties at a rate which, except in the case of a few articles, must not exceed 8 per cent. ad valorem. The Egyptian Government have for a considerable period been desirous of negotiating with the countries in question the right to levy duties at a higher rate, but I am not aware of any recent tariff proposals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the advice of those with experience in the management of exhibitions will be sought before any further public money is expended in advertising the British Industries Fair?

The Department, which has now had over 10 years' experience in the organisation of British Industries Fairs, is assisted by a representative advisory committee of the exhibitors. A sub-committee of this body advises on all matters relating to publicity. The Department also employs a fully-qualified publicity agent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the cost of the bridge over the Zambesi River is to be borne out of the East African Development Loan?

This is one of the matters which is under consideration by the committee, the constitution of which was announced in my reply to the hon. Member for Central Nottingham (Mr. Bennett) on 29th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether consideration has been given to the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed to consider the effect on migration of schemes of social insurance; and, if so, whether he will state what decisions have been reached on the subject?

The recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee are now receiving consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General the average weekly number of parcels despatched under the cash-on-delivery system?

It is impracticable to give a representative figure until the service has been in operation for a longer period.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the amount of grants allocated from the Road Fund to each rural authority in the administrative county of Wiltshire in 1925?

The grants made to rural district councils in the County of Wiltshire during the financial year 1925–26 were as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how often Command Paper 2611, on Staffs of Government Departments, and Command Paper 2614, on Ex-Service Men in Government Offices, are published, and what is the annual cost?

These statements have been presented to Parliament quarterly since 1st July last; they were previously presented monthly. The cost of printing is now £24 per annum. Without making special inquiry, which would involve much labour, I cannot estimate the cost to Departments of rendering to the Treasury the returns from which these statements are compiled.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can arrange for the Registrar-General to publish an annual estimate of the number of occupied persons and the number of the latter insured under the National Health Insurance Act., and an estimate of the number not so insured on the ground of age only; and whether he can state the estimated totals for 31st December, 1925?

I have carefully considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I do not think that I can accept it as I doubt if the usefulness of the information in question would be such as to justify the cost in time and expense which would necessarily be involved in the process of obtaining it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government has agreed to Japan having a mandate over the Caroline Islands; and if the terms permit a submarine base on the islands?

His Majesty's Government agreed to the mandate being assigned to Japan. By the terms of the mandate, no military or naval bases may be established nor fortifications erected in the territory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what the estimated tonnage of home-grown sugar will be in 1926?

On the basis of factory estimates of the beet acreage likely to be sown, the production of home-grown sugar during the 1926–27 campaign will probably be between 130,000 and 140,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any progress has recently been made in the scientific research work in connection with foot-and-mouth disease?

The First Progress Report of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee covering the period to the 31st of March, 1925, was published by the Stationery Office last year, and sets out in considerable detail the progress attained in the investigations into the cause of this disease. A further report of the experiments conducted during the year ending the 31st March last is now in preparation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of foot-and-month disease have occurred this month, and in how many of these cases the origin has been traced?

Six outbreaks have occurred during the current month, all in the East Riding of Yorkshire. In four cases, infection was contracted locally owing to the close proximity of the animals in these cases to previous outbreaks in the same infected area. I have not yet received a full report on the cases which occurred during the weekend at Hull.