asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the death of Mr. Charles Knight, a former King's messenger, in Mexico, and what action has been taken by the British Consul in this connection?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Consulate-General has been in close touch with friends and relatives of the deceased, a member of the Consulate was present at the identification of the body, and the Acting Consul-General attended the funeral. There is no reason to suspect foul play. Mr. Knight, in his capacity of honorary King's messenger, rendered very valuable services to His Majesty's Government. The hon. Member has given me, an opportunity, which I appreciate, of putting those services on record.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Spain and Brazil have withdrawn from the League of Nations; and, if so, how it is proposed to make up the contributions to the expenses of the League paid by these two Powers?

His Majesty's Government have received no official notification of the intention of Spain or Brazil to withdraw from the League of Nations. According to a Press telegram from Geneva, the Brazilian Government have handed in to the Secretary-General of the League the formal two years' notice of their intention to withdraw—prescribed by Article 1 of the Covenant. As regards the second part of the question, I am unable to anticipate the decision which may be come to by the League in two years' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the net result of the opinions expressed by the different chambers of trade in this country on the proposals in the Chinese interim tariff which were recently submitted to them for their opinion?

I have been asked to reply. It is impossible to summarise within the limits of the answer to a Parliamentary Question the views which have been received from the various trade associations of this country in regard to the Chinese interim tariff proposals, and the position is complicated by changes in those proposals from time to time. The views of British trade interests have, however, been carefully considered in connection with the attitude which the British representatives at the Chinese Tariff Conference should adopt towards those proposals if and when they again become of practical interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of contributions to the International Institute of Agriculture made annually by this country, and the total expenditure annually of the institute?

The contribution made by this country to the International Institute of Agriculture in 1925 was £2,808 and the total expenditure of the Institute for the same year was approximately £36,300.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give an up-to-date list showing the scale of wages paid under the decisions arrived at by the county committees established under the Agricultural Wages Act, 1924?

The following statement gives the weekly minimum rates in operation for ordinary adult male workers on the 10th June, 1926. In addition to the rates specified, there are in 21 areas special minimum rates of wages for workers employed in attendance on animals, and in one area for workers employed in glass houses1. I shall be glad to furnish the hon. Member with details of such rates and of the overtime rates and rates for women and boys in any areas in which he is interested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the various bacon factories mentioned by his officers as receiving infected pigs are in every case factories where bacon is cured in what is known as Ayrshire fashion; that as a result of this particular method of bacon curing the pigs were sent over without any effort to clean them, and arrived here in a condition practically as dirty as when alive; and whether any cases of infection have been discovered among pigs consigned TO factories other than where Ayrshire curing is adopted?

Carcases of pigs with lesions of foot-and-mouth disease, which were of Belgian and Dutch origin, were found in four bacon factories in the North of England and Scotland. The carcases were what is known as "hair" carcases, i.e., they had not been scalded and scraped in the usual manner. I have no knowledge whether these factories adopt what i.e., known as the Ayrshire system of curing bacon, But since carcases of this class retain the head and feet, it was possible to detect by inspection the effects of foot-and-mouth disease. Other carcases might be equally infectious, but show no external signs of disease.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of licences for male servants taken out for the 12 months ending the last convenient date?

The number of male servant licences taken out in Great Britain for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1926, was 177,499.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the case of Mr. James Reid, of 2, Bellevue Road, Finchley, whose disability allowance was unfavourably varied and finally stopped, and who is now destitute and chargeable to the guardians owing to cardiac disease arising out of war service, and in view of the fact that Mr. Reid has been assessed as 100 per cent, disabled by some of the Ministry's experts?

My hon. Friend has been misinformed as to the facts in this case. Mr. Reid's pension has not been stopped. His case has already been the subject of the most careful consideration by the Ministry, and he is in receipt of pension of 31s. 9d. a week in respect of cardiac enlargement which has been assessed at 50 per cent. This assessment is appropriate to the degree of disablement found by the medical boards which have examined Mr. Reid from time to time, and has been current since the medical board of 6th March, 1924.

asked the Secretary for Mines what were the estimated wages paid in the coal mining industry in the years 1919 to 1925, respectively?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations from the Municipality of Nairn protesting against the proposed downgrading of that office; and whether, having regard, among other reasons, to Nairn being the county town, the office will be maintained on its present status?

I have received representations in the sense indicated. The change proposed is, however, in accordance with the settled policy of the Post Office, and will tend to greater economy and efficiency, without any detrimental effect upon postal services. I regret that I am unable to alter the decision.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of sorting clerks and telegraphists, respectively, male and female; the approximate number that participate in performing counter duties; and the approximate number of counter duties?

The number of sorting clerks and telegraphists is, approximately, 22,600–16,600 men and 6,000 women. The number of counter duties is, approximately, 4,800–2,250 for men and 2,550 for women. I am unable to state the number of officers who actually participate in the counter work; but all sorting clerks and telegraphists are liable to be called upon for that work, and many perform counter and other duties under a system of rotation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number, if any, of unsettled claims in the Reparation Claims Department?

There are awaiting settlement 266 claims dealt with by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action against the £5,000,000 compensation fund, and 325 claims dealt with in connection with the £300,000 fund provided for solatia to belated claimants; and payment of these claims will be made so soon as some further necessary particulars are furnished by the claimants. There are also 56 claims in course of examination. In addition, there are outstanding claims by some 2,100 applicants, who have so far failed either to complete and return the forms issued to them, or to furnish the necessary information to enable their claims to be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the total sums received in respect of the conveyance and distribution of newspapers and mails, respectively, by Royal Air Force aeroplanes during the period of the general strike?

No payment has been received. Mails were carried on behalf of the Post Office, whilst the newspapers distributed consisted almost exclusively of the "British Gazette," conveyed on behalf of the Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Transport, in connection with the mew roads which have been constructed, or are in course of being constructed, by the Road Board, if he will state to what extent has the power been exercised which was conferred upon him under Section 11 of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, to acquire land on either side and within 220 yards from the middle of such roads, and to retain possession of the land thus acquired?

Small parcels of land have occasionally been bought and subsequently sold. The advice of the Land Valuation Department is taken m every case where the purchase of land adjacent to a new road which is to be constructed by my Department appears to offer financial advantages.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of money which has been paid by the Government in grants each year since 1919 towards the training of health visitors?

The grants paid towards the training of health visitors since 1919 have been as follow:

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that under the Public Health (Meat) Regulations of 1908 it was decided to forbid the importation of what were known as box loins of pork from America, he will say when this ban was lifted; if he is aware that lately box loins of pork of a character similar to those banned in 1908 have been offered for sale in Smithfield; and what assurance can his Department or the Smithfield inspectors give that the present imports are more fit for human consumption than those which were prohibited in 1908?

The Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations of 1908 prohibited the importation of box loins of pork not bearing an official certificate of the country of origin which was declared by the Local Government Board to be admissible as evidence that the pork had been found by a competent authority to be free from disease and otherwise to satisfy public health requirements. The official certificates of various, countries have from time to time been declared to be admissible for this purpose. In the case of the United States; of America the prescribed declaration of admissibility was published in the "London Gazette" of the 2nd May, 1922. Before making this declaration, my predecessor satisfied himself that the certificate of the United States Government provided all the necessary guarantees for the safeguarding of the public health.

asked the Minister of Health whether an insured person who is in employment until reaching the age of 60 years or over, and then falls out of work, and remains unemployed until reaching the age of 65 years, is held to be entitled to an old age pension at that age; and, if so, what five years would be taken as the qualifying period, the first five years of insured employment or the last five years?

If the man in question satisfies his approved society that, while he is out of work, he is available for but unable to obtain employment, he will be able to fulfil the insurance conditions for an old age pension on attaining 65, provided that 104 contributions had been paid in respect of him before he fell out of work. The statutory conditions require a period of five years' continuous insurance, not five years of insured employment, immediately prior to the attainment of the age of 65, and the prolongation of Insurance Regulations, made under Section 30 (2) of the Contributory Pensions Act, provide that, in the case of a man who is out of work, his insurance shall remain unbroken so long as he satisfies his society that he is available for but unable to obtain employment.

asked the Minister of Health the future policy of his Depart- ment with regard to the housing subsidy, in order that local authorities may formulate their plans?

As my right hon. Friend has previously stated in reply to questions on this subject, Section 5 of the Housing Act, 1924, requires that the review of the subsidy at present payable shall be undertaken after the 1st October next, and he is not in a position to anticipate the review which must be undertaken under the Statute some months hence. The Act of 1924 contemplates that, in the event of a modification of the present rate of subsidy being made by Order consequent on the review to be undertaken under Section 5, the present rate of subsidy shall continue to be payable in respect of any houses completed by a date to be fixed by the Order. If such an Order is made, my right hon. Friend would propose to fix this date at such a period after the 1st October, 1926, as would ordinarily suffice for the completion of a house which had been bona fide begun on the 1st October.

asked the Minister of Labour the total contribution of the Unemployment Grants Committee towards the development of the Church Field Housing Site, Wednesbury; whether any conditions were laid down by the Committee respecting the wages to be paid; the rate of wages per hour in operation and the district rate per hour for the class of work involved; and whether those employed are in receipt of wages for wet time?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, women, boys, and girls on the Stepney Employment Exchange for the months of March, April, and May, respectively?

The following table shows the number of persons on the registers of the Stepney Employment Exchange during the period mentioned:

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the names and addresses and date of appointment of the Advisory Committee to the Lord-Lieutenant of London, appointed for the purpose of advising as to the selection of new justices of the peace for the southeastern London area?

The two sub-committees of the County of London Justices' Advisory Committee acting for the south-eastern London area were appointed on the 1st January, 1924. The names and addresses of the members are:

Blackheath Sub-committee:

R. G. Brew, Esq., J. P., Snaefell, 306, Brownhill Road, Catford, S. E. 6.

Sir G. H. Hume, J. P., M. P., 83, Lee Road, Blackheath, S. E. 3.

W. T. Kelly, Esq., M. P., 53, Talfourd Road, S. E. 15.

G. F. Rowe, Esq., J. P., 5, Lyncroft Gardens, Hampstead, N. W. 6.

Miss Mabel Crout, J. P., 3, New Road, Woolwich, S. E. 18.

Newington Sub-committee:

The Right Hon. the Lord Marshall of Chipstead, Shabden Park, Chipstead, Surrey.

T. G. Newland, Esq., 44, Blackfriars Road, S. E. 1.

Frank Rider, Esq., J. P., Stanstead House, Durand Gardens, Clapham Road, S. W. 9.

Sir Evan Spicer, J. P., D. L., Belair, Dulwich, S. E. 7.

R. S. Tilling, Esq., J. P., 24, Kensington Gore, S. W. 7.