asked the Postmaster-General the extent to which the cash-on-delivery system is being used throughout the. country?

In view of the short period during which the service has been in operation, it is not yet possible to give any representative figures.

asked the Postmaster-General whether auxiliary sorters who have no other employment, and whose present earnings are below subsistence, can now be given additional consolidated employment as auxiliary postmen during the morning hours?

The services of auxiliary sorters are only required during the period of evening pressure, and I regret that there is no work during the morning hours which could be given to them without reducing the attendances of other part-time employés.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total number of motor vehicles used by the Post Office; and the number of the same which are British and Foreign, respectively?

The Post Office fleet of motor vehicles number 2,374, all of which were made in this country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will consider the desirability of bringing before the next International Postal Conference the question of allowing samples of intrinsic value to be sent by sample post to destinations abroad; and on what date the next International Conference will be held?

I have been asked to answer this question. I regret that I cannot undertake to propose to the next Postal Union Congress the admission of samples of intrinsic value in the international service. The next congress is due to be held in London in 1929.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the complaints from the crews of British merchant ships at the frequent non-receipt of their letters in foreign ports, even when the ships are making regular voyages or in cases where they remain a considerable time in one port; what are the arrangements for ensuring the delivery of letters from England to British merchant ships abroad; and whether the British Consular officers have instructions to assist in this matter and to endeavour to have these cases of complaint removed?

I am not aware of any recent complaints of delay to letters for the crews of British ships in foreign ports. If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have particulars of any such complaints, I shall be happy to make inquiry. Special arrangements are in force for the delivery of letters addressed to certain lines of mail packets; but, generally speaking, letters are addressed to the ship's agents at the port of call, who deliver them to the ship or forward them if the ship has left. British Consular officers would doubtless give any assistance in their power if complaints regarding the non-receipt of such letters were brought to their notice; and I understand that when letters for the members of the crews of British ships are addressed to a consulate to be called for, special care is taken by the officer it charge of the post to secure their proper delivery.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state for each year

Year		Number of Postmen on the establishment	Letters.	Post cards	Printed Papers.	News papers	Parcels	Registered Letters.	Registered Parcels
			Delivered					Posted.
			Millions.	Millions.	Millions.	Millions.	Millions.	Millions.	Millions.
1911–12	…	45,388	3,187	906	1,067	199	125	Not readily available
1912–13	…	47,129	3,298	899	1,079	202	130	31	2
1913–14	…	48,981	3,478	926	1,172	207	137	33	2
1920–21	…	51,259	3,460	577	1,340	202	137	66	7
1921–22	…	52,924	3,275	471	1,300	185	128	59	6
1922–23	…	50,201	3,300	475	1,500	180	121	55	5
1923–24	…	49,533	3,340	470	1,615	160	126	54	5
1924–25	…	49,645	3,500	465	1,710	165	137	54	5
1925–26	…	50,411	Not yet available

The figures of staff represent the authorised establishment of postmen, but during the years 1922 and 1923 many posts remained unfilled on account of the decline in Post Office business. From the year 1922–23 onwards the figures relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland and exclude the Irish Free State.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total sums received in the six months ending 31st March, 1926, by Great Britain from Germany in respect of cost of occupation and of reparations?

The total amount received by this country from Germany in the six months ended 31st March, 1926, in respect of costs of occupation, Belgian War Debt, and reparations was £5,350,000, out of which approximately 500,000 is payable to the Dominions and Colonies on account of their share of reparations.

Figures for the years 1914–15 to 1919–20 are not immediately available, and in view of the abnormal conditions then obtaining would be of little value. The figures for the remaining years are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he proposes to take in hand the remedying of the grievances of the assessors and collectors of taxes employed by his Department, repeated promises having been made that steps in this direction would be taken?

I am not aware to what grievances the hon. Member refers, and take his question as relating to the reorganisation of the tax collecting service which has at different times been foreshadowed. This matter involves legislation, with regard to which I am not in a position to give any undertaking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the conditions of the service of Income Tax collectors, and the necessity of improving the organisation, is still under the consideration of the Government; and whether he expects to be in a position deal with the matter during the passage of the forthcoming Finance Bill?

The matter is still under consideration, but I fear that I can hold out no such immediate prospect of dealing with it as is suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the statement printed on page 6 of the First Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, which pointed out that in the 1925–26 Estimates the difference between the gross estimates and the total estimated expenditure on behalf of Departments is very great; and whether he proposes to take steps to secure that the Estimates shall be brought more nearly in accordance with estimated expenditure?

I think there is considerable misapprehension on this matter. There is no question of bringing "Estimates more into accord with estimated expenditure" at all nor of altering the present units used for estimating purposes. On the face of each Departmental Vote in the existing Estimates there is a statement of the costs incurred on other Votes, such as Works Votes, Stationery Office Vote, etc., in respect of that particular Department. Naturally the total of these charges and the Departmental Vote often considerably exceeds the Departmental Vote alone. It does not however follow that either Parliamentary convenience or the economical administration of the public service would be served by a change in the method of centralised accounting adopted at present as the result of considerable experience.Indeed if the hon. Member will look at paragraph 24 of the Report he will see that the Select Committee on Estimates themselves state that it would be undesirable to alter the existing system of accounting for such items as Works, Stationery, etc. They referred to the difference which existed in some cases between the total expenditure in connection with a Department and its Vote as an argument for modifying to some extent the rules of debate, which is quite another mater. That and other recommendations of the Committee are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities and value of coal exported from this country for the 12 months ending 31st March last., giving each month separately?

The figures are as follow:

Month.	Quantity of Coal Exported.	Declared Value F. O. B.
		Total Amount	Pet ton.
1925	Tons.	£	s.	d.
April	4,359,817	4,541,333	20	10
May	4,652,464	4,798,756	20	8
June	3,733,845	3,768,521	20	2
July	4,442,256	4,465,092	20	1
August	3,272,110	3,159,952	19	4
September	3,902,006	3,659,844	18	9
October	4,382,484	4,017,907	18	4
November	4,667,768	3,986,720	18	5
December	4,632,051	4,275,360	18	6

1926
January	…	4,148,042	3,821,336	18	5
February	…	4,340,006	4,025,627	18	7
March	…	4,702,536	4,184,079	17	10

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost to date of the Food Council; and what reduction in the cost of foodstuffs has been effected since the Council commenced its work?

The cost to date of the Food Council, excluding certain miscellaneous items such as postage, rent, telephones, heating, and lighting, which are not readily available, is £2,700. It is not possible to estimate how much of the recent reduction in food prices may be attributed to be Food Council's work, but the Index Figure for Retail Food Prices has fallen from 70 per cent. above the level of July, 1914, on 1st September, 1925, to 59 per cent. over that level on 1st April, 1926, which is the lowest post-War figure.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation this Session for the purpose of bringing the law relating to the speed limit for motor vehicles up to date, and making its administration uniform?

The law relating to the maximum speed limit for motor vehicles is a subject which will be dealt with in the legislation which I hope to introduce so soon as Parliamentary time is available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the advisability of making it compulsory for all motor vehicles to carry mirrors so as to reflect overtaking traffic?

I will give this matter consideration in connection with the legislation which I hope to introduce with regard to motor vehicles so soon as Parliamentary time may permit.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of certain contingencies which may arise, causing injury to persons, buildings, fences, crops, or stock during or after the erection of above-ground transmission lines or other electric lines, and that cases have occurred where cattle have died from eating electric wire filings and clippings left in fields after the erection of an electric cable; and whether he will take steps to safeguard the interests of the agricultural community in these respects in connection with the passage of the Electricity (Supply) Bill?

I do not know what particular contingencies my hon. and gallant friend has in mind, and my attention has not been drawn to any case of cattle dying from eating electric wire filings and clippings. As regards the last part of the question, owners and tenants of private land are safeguarded by the existing provisions contained in Section 22 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, and I do not consider that further provisions are necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of education authorities educating children belonging to Poor Law areas outwith their education area, the number of children so educated in the respective education areas, and the respective payments made by the education authorities as provided for by the Education (Institution Children) Act, 1923, for the two years 1924 and 1925?

I am afraid that I have not the information for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give a list of the trade unions that now impose the political levy on their members; and, if the information is available, the total number of members belonging to those unions, the numbers exempted from the levy, and/or the total sums raised or set aside by the unions for political purposes?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leicester, South (Captain Waterhouse)—OFFFICIAL REPORT, 20th November, 1925, col. 790. In addition to the trade unions given in the table then supplied, the following registered trade unions have established a political fund since the 31st December, 1924:

• 1273 T.—Progressive Society of French Polishers.
• 1521 T.—National Union of Gold, Silver and Allied Trades.
• 1873 T.—"Altogether" Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society.

The following trade union which was included in the table referred to has since been removed from the register: