asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the superficial area of the naval dock and naval yard at Hong Kong; the estimated value of the land; the number of people employed; and the annual cost of upkeep?

The total area of the land in the occupation of the Admiralty at Hong Kong and Kowloon is about 113 acres. No valuation has been made of any of the property. The freehold is not held by the Admiralty, and in most eases the land is Colonial Government property, which would revert to the Colonial Government should it not be required for Service purposes. The number of people employed at the naval yard is about 2,580, and the annual cost of upkeep approximately £204,000. In addition, 400 persons are employed in the armament, victualling and medical establishments. The total cost of these establishments is about £57,000 per annum.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the desirability of disposing of the naval hospital at Hong Kong, in view of the offer from the Hong Kong Government to place a special department of the new nursing home being erected there at our disposal?

I am not aware of any offer on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how it is proposed that the Federated Malay States shall find the two millions sterling donated to the Singapore naval base whether this comes out of popular taxation; and whether those who are taxed for the purpose have any voice in the allocation of the money?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 1st July.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for the removal of the dry canteen at Bere Island; and, in view of the welfare of the troops on this lonely station being adequately provided for, will he take such action as will result in the men's needs in this regard being met?

The hon. Member is mistaken; the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes dry canteen at Bere Island has not been removed. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to sanction the insertion or addition of a number in the centre of the oak leaf granted for mention in despatches so as to signify the number of times, if more than once, that the recipient thereof has been so mentioned?

The recognition of more than one mention in despatches by the award of distinctive emblems, or by the addition of a number as suggested by the hon. Member, was considered before the existing emblem was approved in 1920, but was found to be impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the extra cost for certain increases in the rates of pay, retiring gratuities, etc., of the Army Medical Corps, Dental Corps, and Veterinary Corps?

The extra cost is estimated at £76,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for War the incidence in the Army at home and abroad of syphilis and gonorrhœa during the last three years for which statistics are available; and in how many of these cases were preventive measures adopted?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the figures in Table 8 of the Report on the Health of the Army for 1924. As regards the second part, I regret that no statistics are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Air Attaches there are, and what is the cost?

The number of Air Attachés is four, and their emoluments, inclusive of the special allowances appropriate to the foreign capitals to which they are accredited, amount to,29,630 per annum.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what action has been taken by the Government of Bengal with regard to the resolution adopted by the Bengal Legislative Council early this year asking for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the causes of unemployment among seamen in Bengal, and make recommendations?

My Noble Friend has no information, but will inquire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what were the imports and exports from India, respectively, for the years 1924 and 1925?

The total value of imports into and exports from British India by sea for the calendar years 1924 and 1925 were as follow:

Year.	Imports.	Exports.
	Rs.	Rs.
1924	319,22,63,158	389,56,20,444
1925	319,05,22,641	411,19,25,735

The total value of imports and exports by land for the calendar years stated are not available. The following are the latest figures available:

Financial Year.	Imports.	Exports.
	Rs.	Rs.
1923–24	19,95,66,560	16,27,63,996
1924–25	23,08,98,140	18,73,72,216

The above figures include treasure and Government stores in addition to private merchandise.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Staffordshire Education Committee are not exercising their powers with respect to the feeding of school children in the mining villages of Penkridge and Huntington; and whether he will inquire into this matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on the 24th June to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson). I understand that, as a matter of fact, the Staffordshire Authority are providing meals at Huntington as well as in a number of other districts in their area.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the education committee of the London County Council on 14th May last respecting the employment of young persons, and whether provision will be made in the Government Factory Bill to embody the points mentioned?

I understand a resolution in general terms was adopted by the committee at their meeting on the 12th May in favour of the Education (Employment of Young Persons) Bill. As regards the last part of the question, I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any further information to add as to the amendment of the 1921 Education Act respecting legislation restricting the hours of employment of young persons?

I am afraid I cannot add anything at present to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member in March last on this. subject.

asked the Home Secretary what is the present position with regard to the Commission considering the question of liquor control in the Carlisle area; and when the Report may be expected?

I understand that the Committee is still engaged on the hearing of evidence, which it is hoped may be completed in the Autumn, and the Committee then proposes to consider its Report.

asked the Home Secretary the number of estates sold under the new Northern Ireland Land Act prior to the 1st May last, and the number of landlords paid; and if he will furnish an estimate of the number of estates likely to be sold and the number of landlords paid by 1st November, 1926, and 1st May, 1927?

The Act of 1925 does not contemplate the sale of indivi- dual estates, but on appointed days, which may vary for different areas, the land automatically vests in the Land Purchase Commission. Before this transfer can take place, full particulars have to be supplied by the landlords. The time limit originally fixed for the lodging of these particulars was 1st October, 1925, but in many cases the owners of estates were unable to comply with the requirements of the Commission within the prescribed period. The period was, therefore, extended, and particulars have now been lodged of over 1,900 estates, comprising 37,000 holdings. Provisional and final lists of land to be vested in the Commission have been published as follows:

	Provisional lists.	Final lists.
	Estates.	Estates.
Published prior to 1st May, 1926	84	54
Published to present date	141	86

In the estates where final lists have been published to date, the total standard price amounts to £112,801 17s. 5d. It is unlikely that advances can be made for the sale of these estates before the 1st November next, and I regret I am not able to give any forecast of the position on the 1st May next.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce a Bill conferring the franchise on women on the same terms as men?

As the hon. Member is aware, it is the intention of the Government to propose a Conference to consider this question and no decision as to when that will be has yet been taken.

asked the Home Secretary whither he contemplates any steps to restrict the use of the words Royal and Imperial in the titles of various corporations having no official or especial connection with the throne or the Empire?

A provision on this subject was included in the Merchandise Marks Bill of 1922 which received a Second Reading in this House, and I hope it may be possible to include a similar provision in any future Bill dealing with detailed Amendments to the Merchandise Marks Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can inform the House how many of the 243 persons recently summoned for exceeding the speed limit on the Great West Road for speeds varying from 30 miles an hour to 62½ miles an hour were prosecuted for a speed in excess of 40 miles an hour, and how many for a speed under that figure; and whether any and, if so, how many were caught when the road surface was wet?

In 232 out of the 243 cases the speed was over 40 miles per hour. In 46 cases the road surface was wet.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any evidence showing a lessened incidence of venereal disease amongst the civil population of this country; and, if so, has he formed any opinion as to the cause of this diminution?

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, there is no compulsory notification of cases of venereal disease in this country. I am, however, advised that the returns received from the treatment centres indicate that there has been a considerable reduction during the past five years in the incidence of these diseases, and particularly of syphilis, amongst the civilian population. One of the objects of the centres is to render the patients non-infective with a view to preventing the spread of venereal diseases, and I am advised that this part of the work of the centres has contributed specially to the decline in the incidence of these diseases. I may refer also to the fact that the recorded mortality from syphilis, and other conditions due to syphilis, has fallen considerably since the institution of special measures for the treatment of venereal diseases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is issuing a new draft Milk and Dairies Order; so, on what date is it proposed that the Order shall come into operation; and when will copies of this Order be available?

Yes, Sir. The Order has now been settled and will come into operation on 1st October. Copies should be available in the course of a week or so.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received representations from local authorities with regard to the increase of mental defectives in the country and the increasing cost of maintaining and extending institutional treatment, the effect of which is usually unsatisfactory and ineffective; and whether he has considered the desirability of introducing legislation for compulsory segregation or such other methods as may be considered necessary for preventing an increase in the number of cases?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but my right hon. Friend is not aware of evidence to indicate that the incidence of mental defect is increasing. Though the cost of maintaining and extending institutional treatment is heavy, my right hon. Friend cannot accept the suggestion that it is usually either unsatisfactory or ineffective. The mental deficiency Act of 1913 already provides machinery by which defectives can be segregated or placed under guardianship or supervision. The absence of sufficient institutional accommodation is hampering the operation of the Act and local authorities have been urged to make further provision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of land has ceased to be used for agricultural purposes in each of the last five years owing to its being taken for building land, for road making, and for other non-agricultural purposes?

I regret that, I am not in possession of this information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total advantage expressed as shillings per cwt. of sugar, including the subsidy on molasses, the subsidy on sugar, and the difference between the Excise Duty and the Customs Duty enjoyed by the home sugar-beet industry as against the similar product of the Briitsh sugar refiners?

The total advantage expressed as shiillings per cwt. of sugar varies in each case. The subsidy on sugar of over 98 degrees polarisation is 19s. 6d. per cwt., and the difference between the Excise and the Customs Duty is 4s. 3d. on sugar of like polarisation. To this must be added the advantage upon the quantity of molasses produced per cwt. of sugar with the appropriate rate of subsidy and the difference in Excise Duty and Customs Duty. This is based upon the average test of sweetening matter in each consignment of molasses delivered from the factory, the rates of subsidy and Excise Duty vary according to such sweetening mutter. The sweetening matter varies according to the sugar extracted. No reliable general average can be given.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the Government's view that arable cultivation should be developed in conjunction with stock raising, he can show from experiments which are now proceeding that arable stock farming can be a paying proposition in this country?

The Ministry has itself undertaken no experiments to test whether it is profitable to devote arable land to the raising of stock, although the Oxford Institute of Agricultural Economics has recently started conducting experiments and obtaining cost accounts bearing on this subject. If the hon. Member refers to arable dairy farming, I may explain that some experiments oil small farms were initiated some years ago and are still in progress, mostly now under the control of the Oxford Institute. So far as these experiments have hitherto gone they have not shown that arable dairy farming can be made profitable where, as in their case, all labour employed has to be paid at current rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture approximately what proportion of the revenue of farms in England and Wales is derived from the sale of animals and animal products?

It is estimated that of the total value of the output from farms in Great Britain livestock and livestock products, including poultry and eggs, account for between 70 and 75 per cent. Figures are not available for England and Wales as distinct from Great Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount so far advanced to farmers under the Credit Act of 1923 for the purpose of purchasing their farms?

Advances made to farmers by the Public Works Loan Commissioners, under the powers conferred by Section 1 of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, amount to £3,511,212. In addition, advances amounting to £7,674 have been made by the Minister of Agriculture to agricultural credit societies, under Section 2 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether the person or persons to be appointed in the place of the elected board of guardians under the Board of Guardians Bill will have all the powers now possessed by a board of guardians, or whether they will be subject, in the performance of their functions, to the directions of the Ministry of Health?

I would refer the hon. Member to the terms of the Bill, which now has been circulated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated gross expenditure on the Army, Navy, and Air Force, respectively, for the 12 months ending 31st May, 1926?

The figures for the 12 months ending the 31st May, 1926, are not available. It will not be possible to state the gross expenditure until the appropriation accounts for the financial year 1925–26 are complete; the latest figures available are those of the issues from the Exchequer for the Services in question, which arc contained in Table I of the Financial Statement, 1926–27, House of Commons Paper 69 of 1926, namely:

	£
Army	44,250,000
Navy	59,657,000
Air Force	15,470,000

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of employés at the Royal Mint; the number who are ex-service men; and the proportion of disabled ex-service men employed, together with information as to what proportion of men discharged since January, 1925, were disabled ex-service men?

The total number of industrial employés at the Royal Mint is now 335, of which number 166 are ex-service men. 48 of the ex-service men are disabled. Of the 86 men discharged since 1st January, 1925, four were disabled.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the cases of ex-Warders Richard Bailey, Pentonville, John Williams, the late James Silvester, Parkhurst, and the late Sidney Aggett, Rochester, who were officially recalled for duty in the prison service in 1918, after they had reached the age of 60 years, under Section 11 of the Superannuation Act of 1859; and whether, as the Section in question exempts persons from service after reaching the age of 60 years, in the special circumstances he will consider such extended service for superannuation purposes?

The eases of these officers have been under consideration, but as they were over 60 at the date of recall, the Treasury have felt themselves precluded by the terms of the Superannuation Act, 1859, from counting the additional service for pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that in the computation of pensions Civil Service pensioners receive no benefits under the Superannuation Acts for an uncompleted year's service, he will give consideration to amending the Acts in order that this practice may be discontinued?

The hon. Member has asked this same question on the 18th of December, 1924, on the 12th of March and the 4th of May, 1925, and on the 22nd of April, 1926. On each of these occasions the answer has been in the negative, and to that answer I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what body is responsible for the administration of the office in Cockspur 'Street bearing the name of His Majesty's Eastern African Dependencies; who is responsible for the policy advocated or urged by that office and what control, if any, he exercises over its administration?

The Eastern African Trade and Information Office is responsible to the various East African Governments by which its expenses are borne. I have, therefore, ultimate control over the administration of the office, the business of which is to supply information and not to advocate or urge any policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the full Report of the Masai Inquiry Committee; and if this Report will be laid before the House?

A copy of the Report was sent to the Library of the House on the 3rd of June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the policy of the Government in Kenya Colony remains that indicated in the despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1921, which laid down that Government officials should take no part in recruiting labour for work for private employers; and whether it is made clear to officials that no pressure shall be brought to bear on the natives to influence their choice as to whether they will cultivate their own land or work for white settlers?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether officials in Kenya are forbidden to influence the choice of a livelihood by natives and are especially forbidden to persuade them that it is their duty to work for wages in preference to cultivating land of their own?

The policy laid clown in 1921 is still followed, and administrative officers take no part in recruiting labour for private employers. They are instructed to impress on the headmen and people that the Government desire both the economic development of the reserves by the natives themselves and the general development of the colony as a whole; to place no unnecessary restriction on natives desiring to leave the reserve for work, whether on Government railways, etc., or on farms; and to encourage young unmarried men who so desire, to do so. Officers in districts containing non-native estates are required to give sufficient care to the conditions of housing, feeding, and medical and educational attention of those Africans. The question of labour policy was considered at the recent Governors' Conference, and I am awaiting a despatch from the Governor of Kenya on this matter so far as that colony is specially concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the object of the inquiry into the labour problem which is being conducted by the chief native commissioner of Kenya Colony, with the aid of the district commissioner and the elected member of the legislative council; and what is the reason for the holding of the meetings of the committee in camera?

I cannot yet add anything to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 21st of June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Committee appointed by the Government to inquire into the question of the poll tax in Ceylon, and what steps the Government propose to take to give effect to the Committee's recommendations?

I cannot at present add anything to the reply given to the question addressed to me by the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) on the 24th June.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give any approximate figures as to the extent to which the distribution of coal in the home trade of Great Britain is split up among separate traders?

According to evidence given before the Royal Commission, the number of coal factors in England and Wales may be estimated to be nearly 2,000, and the number of retail merchants in Great Britain is probably not less than 27,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of separate ownerships of coal mines in Great Britain; the numbers included which are limited liability companies; and the total number of directors of these limited liability companies?

According to the latest information available there are in Great Britain 1,417 undertakings com- prising coal mines of which 927 are limited liability companies. I cannot say what is the total number of directors of these companies, but some information on this subject is to be found in Table 9 of Appendix 18, Volume 3 of the Report of the recent Royal Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of cotton yarn and of cotton goods manufactured of all kinds, other than yarn, imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the years, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925, respectively?

The following statement shows the total declared values of cotton yarn and cotton manufactures (excluding apparel and embroidery) imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1921 to 1925. For the years 1921 and 1922 and for the first three months of 1923 the figures relate to Great Britain and Ireland, and, for that period, I am unable to furnish particulars of the imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland. For the last nine months of 1923 and for 1924 and 1925 the figures relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.For the years 1924 and 1925 the exports to Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded in the published statistics of the Irish Free State are added, in order to assist in making comparisons between the earlier and the later years of the period. Similar information for the last nine months of 1923 is not available:

Declared Values of the Total Imports into the United Kingdom from all Countries.
Year.	Cotton Yarns.	Cotton Manufactures (except Apparel and Embroidery).
	£	£
1921	353,933	5,533,070
1922	491,194	6,347,489
1923	664,802	8,053,148
1924	802,679	8,517,018
1925	896,174	8,934,667

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what further call, if any, it is proposed to make on the guarantors of the British Empire Exhibition?

I understand that the liquidators are considering what further call it will be necessary for them to make upon guarantors of the British Empire Exhibition, and that the liquidators will make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received the Reports of the London and Home Counties Traffic Committee upon the conditions of traffic in Northern. London and in East London, respectively; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in regard to the recommendations?

I have already received the Report of the London Traffic Advisory Committee on the travelling facilities from and to North London, and I am now awaiting their Report with regard to East London. Questions arising on the improvement of travelling facilities to and from these areas are so inter-related that I think it necessary that the two Reports should be considered together before any decisions are taken on the. Committee's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Labour why the privilege of a free railway warrant has been taken away from unemployed persons who have to go from the Saddleworth area to Oldham to attend the Court of Referees; and will he have the privilege restored?

There has been no restriction in the issue of free railway warrants to unemployed persons in Saddleworth who are summoned to attend Courts of Referees at Oldham. There has, however, been a recent change applying to all parts of the country in respect of claimants for extended benefit summoned to appear before Rota Committees. In such cases a free warrant was formerly issued to such persons if resident five miles or more from the place of interview. The distance has now been extended to six miles, which is the distance at which a claimant is normally excused from signing the unemployment register. Uniformity is thus secured, and I do not think that any serious hardship arises from the extension.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank owing to the existing arrangements whereby only £1 can be withdrawn on demand, irrespective of the amount standing to the depositor's credit; and will he consider a review of the existing Regulations with a view to enabling the withdrawal of a large proportion of any total deposit?

The Regulations concerning the withdrawal of deposits on demand from a Post Office Savings Bank account are at present under consideration. I am not yet in a position to say whether any extension of the limit will be possible.