asked the Postmaster-General the number of chars-a-bane or other conveyances that were engaged to transport the employés to and from their occupation from 1st to 14th May, 1926, and the cost of same?

One hundred and thirty-nine chars-a-banc were engaged for the transport of telephone and telegraph employés to and from their work in London, and the cost was about £15,000.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of naval ratings that were employed at the Port of London Authority or other docks in Great Britain from 1st to 14th May; and on what duties they were engaged?

The number of naval ranks and ratings employed at the Port of London Authority or other docks in Great Britain from 1st to 14th May was as follows:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any naval ratings were employed in the mines from 1st to 14th May, 1926; and, if so, in which mines they were so employed, and on what duties they were engaged?

No naval ranks or ratings were employed in the mines.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any naval ratings were employed upon the railways operating in Great Britain between 1st and 14th May, 1926; and, if so, in what capacity they were so employed, and the numbers so engaged?

No naval ranks or ratings were employed on the railways.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, when the parks taken over by His Majesty's Government in connection with the strike will again be available for the public; and what cost, if any, has fallen upon his Department during the period in which these parks have been closed?

Regent's Park has already been re-opened, and Hyde Park is to be re-opened to the public to-morrow. These are the only parks with which the First Commissioner is concerned. He is not yet in a position to state the cost which has fallen on the Department in connection with the use made of the parks during the strike.

asked the Home Secretary the number of casualties and the nature of same that occurred to any of the officers or men of the special constabulary in the Metropolitan Police area since 3rd May?

There were 26 casualties, 18 as the result of assaults and eight as the result of motor cycle collisions, etc. In three cases the injuries were somewhat serious, one special constable suffering a broken wrist, another was stabbed with a chisel, while a third received severe cuts about the face.

asked the Home Secretary how many metal helmets and truncheons were issued to the Special Constabulary recruited in the Metropolitan Police area since 3rd May?

43,800 truncheons were issued to the Special Constabulary, and 11,000 truncheons and helmets were issued to the Civil Constabulary Reserve in the Metropolitan area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any representations as to the hardship which may be caused to prospective candidates for the Consular service by the inclusion at short notice of economics as a compulsory subject at the forthcoming; competitive entrance examination; what action he proposes to take; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused in many directions, he can undertake that alterations in the syllabus of examinations for entrance to the services under his control shall not be made without such notice as shall remove hardship for candidates from the universities?

My attention has been called to the matter, but I am of opinion that it would be impracticable at this date to make any change in the syllabus of the examination this year. I can assure my hon. Friend that in case of any changes in future in the syllabus of such examinations every effort will be made to give adequate notice to intending candidates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will afford opportunities for engine-room artificer apprentices on His Majesty's Ship "Fisgard" taking the open competition in June for 25 special entry cadets for the Royal Naval Engineering College, Keyham, Devonport, or whether he will consider the advisability of filling, in whole or in part, the 25 vacancies for engineering cadets from the apprentices now being trained in His Majesty's Ship "Fisgard" at Portsmouth?

The "Fisgard" Establishment is one for the training of mechanics for His Majesty's Naval Service, and the present facilities open to apprentices of outstanding ability and qualifications to become commissioned officers are considered adequate. The answer to the second part of the question is that such action would not meet the requirements of the Service.

asked the Minister of transport what is the present position of matters as regards the obtaining of way-leave from certain proprietors in Salsburgh to permit of the laying of an electric cable, the want of which is holding up the public lighting of the Salsburgh district, Lanarkshire?

Objection has been taken to the power company's application for the wayleaves to which my hon. Friend refers, and a further inquiry, for which I hope to make arrangements at an early date, will be necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, since the Finance Act, 1925, was in Committee, he has considered the Amendment then moved that upon profits of industrial companies put to reserve for replacement of obsolescent plant and machinery or other purposes of development a lower rate of Income Tax should be payable; what steps, if any, he has taken to consider, in consultation with the interests affected, the best way of giving practical effect to the proposal; and whether he will endeavour, in consultation with the interests affected, to arrive at a solution of the problem capable of adoption when the finances of the country permit it?

The proposal to which my hon. and learned Friend refers has received the careful consideration of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he will continue to explore it, but for the present, at any rate, he does not see his way to make proposals for a relief which would be both costly and complicated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of £1 notes and 10s. currency notes issued for the 12 months to the last convenient date?

The figures are as follow: