asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that he has the right, under the Railways Act, 1921, Part III, to appear and be heard before the Railway Rates Tribunal, he has so appeared and made any representations regarding the high rates now charged upon agricultural produce and the increases which are stated to be contemplated?

While the duty is imposed upon me of giving to the Railway Rates Tribunal such assistance as they may require, and of placing at their disposal any information in my possession which I may think relevant to matters before the Tribunal, the initiation of proceedings for a modification of any particular railway charges in force is properly a matter for the interests concerned. Special provision is made by Section 60 of the Railways Act, 1921, for application to the Tribunal accordingly. I have made no representations to the Tribunal that special treatment should be accorded to any particular interests. The schedules of charges submitted by the railway companies' to the Tribunal for approval are now the subject of a public hearing. An opportunity was given for objections thereto to be lodged, and the Tribunal is at present hearing such objections.

asked the Minister of Transport if ho is aware that Belgian produce, placed on boat trains from Harwich, is delivered in London quicker than similar produce from Spalding, Lincolnshire; and will ho make representations to the railway companies serving the Lincolnshire district with a view to delivery from that district being speeded up?

I am informed by the railway company that, although Spalding traffic has to be collected and assembled for transit to London, whereas Harwich traffic from the train ferry does not, delivery in London is normally effected from both places on the day following dispatch

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take immediate steps to have notices affixed, in prominent places and in bold type, in all parking places stating the regulations as to class of car, permitted hours of parking, etc., so as to preserve the amenities of residential householders from irregular use of those places by motorists?

The importance of this matter is fully appreciated, and the question whether effect can be given to the hon. Member's suggestion and, if so, the best method of doing so, is now under consideration by the London Traffic Advisory Committee. The matter, however, is one which is not free from difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report of the Census of Production relating to the year 1924 will be published in sections as soon as they are ready, in the same way as was done in connection with the Census for 1907; and, if so, which industries will be dealt with in the first section and when will that section be published?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 16th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs). It is in contemplation to issue the preliminary figures for the various industries, as they become available, in the Board of Trade Journal, but I am unable at present to state the order of publication.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in sanctioning the grants for education, he will take into consideration not merely the maintenance of the statutory guarantee and provision for gradual and continuous development in all areas, but also special financial assistance distributed on an equitable basis to those areas which, after careful consideration of all circumstances, are adjudged necessitous?

As my hon. Friend is aware, some provision is already made in the Board's Regulations for additional grants to highly-rated areas. The question whether and to what extent rateable value should be taken into consideration in distributing grant raises large issues on which my hon. Friend will not expect me to make a statement at the present moment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to appoint an agent in British Guiana to look after the interests of Indian workers emigrating to that country under the scheme recently notified by the Government and agreed to by the Indian Legislative Assembly and Indian Council of State?

The matter is receiving the attention of the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of slaves emancipated in the Hukawng Valley, following the expedition of Mr. Barnard, together with the total amount of money spent by way of agricultural advances or free-gift cost of emancipation?

3.487 slaves are reported to have been released, the cost of emancipation being stated at Rs.1,90,878. I have not received more detailed figures or information as to how much has been or will be spent in agricultural advances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state in pounds sterling the net Excise revenue of India for the years 1922–23, 1923–24 and 1924–25, respectively; what was the recorded consumption of country spirits in each of those years in Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Sind, Bihar, and Orissa, the United Provinces, the Punjab, the Central Provinces and Berar, Assam, and Burma, respectively; and

NET EXCISE REVENUE IN INDIA (Government of India and Provincial Governments): i.e., Gross Receipts less refunds and compensations.
—	1922–23.	1923–24.	1924–25.
	Rs.	Rs.	Rs.
Net Revenue	18,55,21,656	19,40,51,689	19,51,68,430
Less Compensations	12,91,642	20,04,597	24,50,630
	18,42,30,014	19,20,47,092	19,27,17,800
At 1s. 6d. the rupee (the present approximate rate of exchange).	£13,817,251	£14,403,532	£14.453,835

RECORDED CONSUMPTION OF COUNTRY SPIRITS.*
—		1922–23.	1923–24.	1924 –25.
		Proof gallons.	Proof gallons.	Proof gallons.
Bengal	…	593,356	621,183	609,653
Madras	…	1,575,439	1,528,381	1,462,118
Bombay	…	1,770,715	1,697,408	1,561,311
Sind	…	137,290	129,131	129,746
Bihar and Orissa	…	1,241,280	1,179,565	1,119.586
United Provinces	…	476,037	434.471	405,494
Punjab	…	188,000	122.000	272,000
Central Provinces and Berar	…	518,607†	151,719†	531,945†
Assam	…	178,966	194,351	218,448
Burma	…	151,689	132,445	109,122
* Excluding outstill areas for which statistics of consumption are not available.
† Figures for calendar years.

PERCENTAGE of excise revenue as compared with total revenue accruing to Provincial Governments, 1921–25.
Province		Revenue of Provincial Governments, 1924–25.	Net Excise Revenue of Provincial Governments, 1924–25.	Percentage of Column (3) to Column (2).
(1)		(2)	(3)	(4)
		Rs. Lakhs.	Rs. Lakhs.
Madras	…	1279·0	488·6	38·2
Bombay (including Sind)	…	1499·2	421·7	28·1
Bengal	…	1034·2	214·1	20·7
United Provinces	…	999·5	130·4	13·0
Punjab	…	977·7	118·8	12·2
Burma (including Shan States)	…	1031·1	116·2	11·3
Bihar and Orissa	…	536·5	175·9	32·8
Central Provinces and Berar	…	525·3	150·4	28·6
Assam	…	230·0	65·9	28·6

The following statement gives the information asked for:

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the quantity and value, in pounds sterling, of potable spirits imported into India during the year 1924–25; the amount of revenue derived therefrom; and the countries from which the spirits were exported?

The following table gives the information desired:IMPORTS into INDIA by SEA during 1924–25 of POTABLE SPIRITS, distinguishing COUNTRIES of ORIGIN.(Note: Values are shown in sterling at the rate of 1s. 6d. the Rupee—the present approximate rate of exchange.)

Articles and Country of Origin.	Quantity in Gallons.	Value.
Brandy.		£
United Kingdom	9,831	17,088
Other British Possessions.	264	513
Germany	51,486	23,540
France	316,660	303,269
Java	13,200	1,048
Other Countries	2,669	2,027
Total	394,110	347:485
Gin.
United Kingdom	79,367	63,513
Other British Possessions.	679	668
Netherlands	9,355	5,755
Other Countries	1,570	1,170
Total	90,971	71,106
Liqueurs.
United Kingdom	3,294	6,858
Other British Possessions.	93	222
Denmark	899	1,448
France	7,206	9,028
Other Countries	1,799	3,284
Total	13,291	20,840
Rum.
United Kingdom	5,083	3,610
Other British Possessions.	21	40
Germany	14,349	6,221
Java	105,022	8,928
France	262	286
Total	124,737	19,085

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of murders committee in Burma during the year 1926, together with the number committed in 1924: and the number of crimes in which firearms were used during the years 1925 and 1924, respectively?

I have no statistics as to the number of murders in 1925. There were 2,558 violent crimes in that year as compared with 2,045 in 1924, of which 763 were murders. Firearms were used in 454 cases in 1925, in 302 cases in 1924.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Provincial Judicial Services Association of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh have made representation to the Government of India for raising the status and improving the prospects of the judicial service at Allahabad; and what steps the Government of India proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to both parts of the hon. Member's inquiry is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state in round figures the approximate amount of rating relief received by farmers in England and Wales by the provision in the Rating and Valuation Act respecting farm buildings?

I have been asked to reify. The 75 per cent, exemption in respect of farm buildings, for which the Rating and Valuation Act provides, will not take effect till the new valuation lists, to be made under that Act, come into operation. The extent of the relief to farmers will depend on the valuations and the amount of the rates levied upon them, which I am not in a position to estimate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many men have been settled on the land since the Armistice; at what total cost; and whether he can now give any figure as to the amount of such cost as is irrecoverable?

The number of men provided with holdings by county councils and councils of county boroughs on land acquired by them since the 18th December, 1918 (the date of the inception of the Land Settlement Scheme), was, in July, 1925, 20,868, of whom 4,595 had for various reasons relinquished their holdings. The capital expenditure incurred on the acquisition, adaptation and equipment of the land has amounted approximately to £15¼ million, of which, however, some part has been spent on adding to the equipment of land acquired before the War, on which 2,475 men have been settled since the War, in addition to the number mentioned above.The foregoing figures do not include 277 small holdings on estates acquired by the Ministry itself and subsequently transferred to county councils, and 327 small holdings on estates acquired and still retained by the Ministry.With reference to the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's question, a valuation of the councils' small holdings estates, as provided in the Land Settlement (Facilities) Amendment Act of last Session, is now in progress. Pending its completion, it is not possible to add anything to the statement in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Memorandum (Cmd. 2532) which was presented to the House previous to the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the total cost of the Ministry of Mines, including the emoluments of the Minister and staff for the last financial year?

The estimated cost of the salaries and expenses of the Mines Department for the year ended 31st March, 1926, is £186,302.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists among the temporary clerks who sat for the Southborough examination regarding the manner in which the Departmental marks were awarded, many men who had been dismissed by their Departments as low efficient having received higher Departmental marks than men retained by the same Departments, and whether he will consider what steps can be taken to remove such anomalies;(2) whether any allowance will be made in certain Departments, where only Grade 3 clerks were employed, to adjust the disability under which the system of marking has placed them;(3) whether he is aware that, owing to the method of awarding Departmental marks in the recent Southborough examination, it was nearly an impossibility for a Grade 3 clerk to obtain full Departmental marks, and that in consequence a large number of candidates who attained the qualifying standard on the written papers failed solely through low Departmental marks, although their services in the Departments had always been satisfactory; and whether he will take steps to secure a review of the Departmental markings in such cases?

I am not aware that any of the facts are as stated by the hon. Member, or that Grade 3 clerks have been under any disability in respect of Departmental marks. I am not prepared to interfere with the awards of the Civil Service Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can state the estimated increase of population in Australia and Canada during 1911, 1912 and 1913, and during 1923, 1924 and 1925; how much of the increase it attributable to natural growth; and how much to immigration from Great Britain and from foreign countries, respectively?

The following table gives the estimated increase of population in Australia for the years 1911 to 1913 and 1923 to 1925, showing the increase due to the excess of births over deaths, and that due to the balance of immigration over emigration. The net immigration figures do not disclose the proportion of British and non-British migrants, but it is calculated that 85 per cent. of the total number of immigrants admitted into Australia during the last five years were from Great Britain:

—	Estimated Increase of Population.	Natural Increase	Net Immigration
1911	143,624	79,720*	42,664*
1912	164,652
1913	138,700
1923	116,526	78,986	37,540
1924	123,696	79,947	43,749
1925	148,912	110,000	38,912
*Average for the three years.

The estimated increase of population in Canada during the years 1012–13 and 1923–25 was as follows:

1912	…	…	…	460,357
1913	…	…	…	289,000
1923	…	…	…	142,690
1924	…	…	…	143,900
1925	…	…	…	137,460

No information is available as to the proportion due to natural increase of population and to net immigration, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware of the long delays, extending to five and six months, which occur after migrants have been accepted by the Australian authorities and before passages can be secured for them, and can he take any steps to remedy this serious drawback to migration?

I am aware that delays have recently occurred in arranging passages to Australia for accepted migrants, but. I understand that these are entirely due to the disorganisation in the steamship service caused by the shipping trouble in Australia last year.

asked what is the nature of the representation of the Dominions on the Overseas Settlement Committee; whether all are represented arid what actual experience of life and conditions in the Dominions each representative possesses?

The Overseas Settlement Committee does not include any representatives of the oversea Governments, but works in the closest co-operation with the migration authorities of all the Dominions.

asked whether anybody analogous to the Overseas Settlement Committee exists in any of the Dominions; and, if not, whether such bodies could be formed?

No bodies similar to the Oversea Settlement Committee at present exist in any of the Dominions, but the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia has recently announced its intention to appoint a Commonwealth Migration Commission which it is understood will be thoroughly representative in character to advise on matters relating to migration. His Majesty's Government cordially welcomes the appointment of this Commission, but the establishment of similar bodies in other Dominions is, of course, a matter for the oversea Governments concerned.

asked how many training centres for British migrants there are in each of the Dominions, where they are situate, and the numbers in training in each; and whether the accommodation in each case is sufficient to prevent congestion?

Generally speaking, the view held in the Dominions is that the establishment of special training centres overseas for British migrants is unnecessary, and that the migrant can best obtain the necessary experience by working for wages, under a private employer. The only actual training centres at present in operation overseas are for a limited number of boys. Arrangements are, however, made in connection with all land settlement schemes for the supervision of the settler in the initial stages of settlement by experienced officers of the oversea Government concerned, and there are also numerous agricultural schools and colleges and experimental farms in the Dominions where settlers, both men and women, who so desire can take short courses at a moderate charge in the various branches of agriculture and domestic science.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will devise better methods for supplying full and reliable information to potential Dominion settlers?

The Oversea Settlement Committee have recently given this matter their careful consideration, and steps are being taken to improve the arrangements for distributing information regarding oversea settlement.

asked the Minister of Health whether insured women compulsorily retired from their normal insurable occupation before or after 4th January, 1926, who are willing, capable, and available for insurable employment but unable to obtain such, are treated as entitled to the benefits conferred by the prolongation of the National Health Insurance Act, 1921, and the prolongation of the Insurance Regulations, 1925; and whether they are treated as insured persons qualified for the full benefits under the Widows' Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925?

The conditions for extension of insurance under the National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) Act, 1921, and the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions (Prolongation of Insurance) Regulations, 1925, are the same for insured women as for insured men. In the ordinary case it rests with the insured person's approved society to consider and decide, subject to the member's right of appeal, whether the conditions have been satisfied, and in the circumstances put in the question it may be presumed that a society would come to the conclusion that insurance should be prolonged. If, however, the hon. Member has in mind any particular case in which the provisions are thought not to have been correctly applied, and will send me details, I will have inquiry made. So long as insurance continues by virtue of the above provisions the insured person's rights under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, remain unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for H, Colonies the amount of loans already raised by the East African Dependencies: the rates of interest charged; the sums already repaid: and what share in the assets created by the loans is held by the British Government?

Northern Rhodesia and Tanganyika have received loans from Imperial funds amounting to £238,000 and £3,085,891 respectively. Terms of repayment for these "Loans-in-aid," as they are more correctly called, have not yet been finally arranged. The desired information as regards the other East African Dependencies is set out in the cable annexed. No share in the assets created by any of these loans is held by the Imperial Government, but it will be seen from the table that, in general, the loans advanced by the Imperial Government are secured by law on the revenue and assets of the borrowing Dependency.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to extend to the officers and other ranks serving in the Navy, Army, and Air Force the privilege of an appeal to an appeal tribunal against the decisions of the respective Departments in the matter of pensions, similar in character to the provision made far men who served in the forces during the Great War

I have been asked to reply. The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to state whether, when the services of Mudir Mohamed bin Salim were dispensed with in Kenya in 1924, other officers of a standing junior to Mohamed bin Salim were retained in the service?

Yes, Sir; when the Arab staff was re-organised with a view to economy in 1924, two Mudirs junior to Mohamed bin Salim were retained. One had been appointed to Mambrui in 1921 on account of exceptional qualifications. The other, like Mohamed bin Salim, was in the Mombasa district, and it was decided on the recommendation of the Resident Commissioner to retain the junior man. This decision was arrived at solely in the interests of the public service. Seniority is not, of course, the determining factor in the consideration of such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company have issued a notice requiring Asiatic and African passengers to Kilindini and Mombasa to pay a landing deposit of 200 shillings or its equivalent in rupees; whether the agents are, in this matter, acting under the instructions of the Government of Kenya: and, if so, the reason for this discrimination?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. The practice alleged is similar to that of certain steamship companies, which require a deposit of 750 shillings from European passengers. The companies no doubt wish to safeguard themselves against having to take away passengers who are refused admission by the immigration authorities. The latter are empowered by law to require a deposit from any, immigrant who is unable to satisfy them that he is not a "prohibited immigrant" under the law, the deposits being 750 shillings for Europeans and 200 shillings for Asiatics and Africans.