asked the Secretary for Scotland what are the total numbers of disabled ex-service officers and men who have been trained for agriculture at each of the respective training-establishments in Scotland since 1916; how many of these have been settled on holdings; and how many are still waiting to get holdings?

I am informed that the number of disabled ex-service officers and men who have been trained for agriculture (including gardening and poultry farming) since 1st August, 1917, at the training centres in Scotland under the schemes for disabled officers and men administered successively by the Ministry of Pensions and the Ministry of Labour is 622. Particulars of the centres at which the training was carried out in the earlier years are not available. Since 1st August, 1919, the numbers at the respective training centres are as follow:

West of Scotland Agricultural College, Kilmarnock	115
Aberdeen (including North of Scotland College Farm, Craibstone)	99

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many smallholders and other farmers in Scotland have commenced growing sugar beet; what amount of subsidies have been paid to them by the Government, respectively; what acreage is under crop; what is the sugar output for Scotland for 1925; and whether any subsidies or guarantees have been made by the Government to the Greenock, Cupar, or other factories?

In 1925 sugar beet was grown by 379 farmers and 47 smallholders in Scotland. Statistics for 1926 are not yet available. The subsidy payable under the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, is paid not in respect of the growing of the crop but of its manufacture into sugar and molasses. A condition of the payment of the subsidy is, however, that manufacturers pay to growers a fixed minimum price for the crop. The total area under the crop in 1925 was 1,492 acres. From the Scottish crop of 1925 there were manufactured in Scotland 2,913 cwts. of refined sugar and 3,022 cwts. of molasses. Subsidies amounting to £4,105 have been paid to the Greenock factory in respect of the manufacture of sugar and molasses. No other factory has yet been in operation in Scotland. I am also informed that a guaranteed loan of £80,000, under the Trade Facilities Acts, has been given in respect of the Greenock factory, and that a similar loan of £250,000 has been allocated to the Cupar factory out of a total guarantee of £850,000 to the Second Anglo-Scottish Beet Sugar Corporation, Limited, for the erection in Great Britain of three factories, of which Cupar is one.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the total quarterly circulation of the "Scottish Journal of Agriculture"; how many copies are paid for; what is the annual revenue from advertisements; and what is the annual loss on the publication?

I am informed that the total quarterly circulation of the "Journal of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland" is 1,450 copies; that the number of copies paid for quarterly is 1,198; that the annual revenue from advertisements is £194; and that the annual loss on the publication is £228, of which the sum of £207 is in respect of editorial expenses.

TABLE A.
STATEMENT showing the Total Quantities and Declared Values of the undermentioned Descriptions of Paints, Colours and Colouring Matters registered as Imported into the United Kingdom during each of the Years 1922 to 1925.
—	1922.	1923.*	1924.	1925.
	Quantities.
	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Painters' colours and materials†	63,354	77,168	86,900	104,325
Extracts for dyeing (cochineal, cutch, fustic, etc.)	7,393	6,065	7,538	6,176
Indigo, natural	65	37	42	11
Finished dyestuffs, obtained from coal tar (alizarine, synthetic indigo, etc.).	2,880	2,808	3,541	1,981
Intermediate coal tar products used in the manufacture of dyes (including aniline oil and salt and phenylglycine).	2	68	32	66
Dyewoods (logwood, fustic, etc.)	4,376	1,769	2,218	1,205
Miscellaneous dyeing substances	522	824	894	855
	Declared Values.
	£	£	£	£
Painters' colours and materials†	1,300,593	1,667,152	1,728,850	1,923,874
Extracts for dyeing (cochineal, cutch, fustic, etc.)	548,991	380,327	376,640	282,204
Indigo, natural	45,041	22,429	21,270	6,426
Finished dyestuffs obtained from coal tar (alizarine synthetic indigo, etc.).	1,326,174	1,004,482	1,335,493	646,903
Intermediate coal tar products used in the manufacture of dyes (including aniline oil and salt and phenylglycine).	917	17,062	8,587	12,705
Dyewoods (logwood, fustic, etc).	64,709	24,551	26,771	16,173
Miscellaneous dyeing substances	12,008	27,261	62,999	46,240
* From 1st April, 1923, the above particulars include the imports (if any) into Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Irish Free State. From the same date imports into the Irish Free State are excluded.
† Including materials commonly, but not exclusively, used as painters' materials.

asked the President of the Board of trade (1) whether he can state the quantity and value of paints, colours, and colouring matter imported during the years 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925; and whether he can state the proportion admitted by license;(2) Whether he can state the number of licences granted by the dyestuffs licensing committee for the import of dyestuffs during the years 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925, respectively; the approximate values and quantities of the same; and the amount of fees charged?

The following statement gives the information required:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inconvenience and uncertainty among importers of boxes of toy paints, pencils, inks, chalks and crayons owing to the refusal of the Dyestuffs Licensing Committee to grant licences for the import of such articles; and whether he is willing to take the necessary action to ensure a speedy hearing of the test case now pending in the Law Courts between his Department and the importers?

I am aware that licences are not being granted for the importation of some of the articles

The following Statement gives Particulars of the Licences issued during 1925 for the Export of War Material of or over a Value of approximately £500.
Date of Issue of License.		Material.			Approximate Value.	Destination.
1925.					£
22nd January	…	520 sights for howitzers	…	…	15,600	Spain.
26th January	…	Cup leathers, springs, etc.	…	…	1,250	Chile.
3rd February	…	200 revolvers 320	…	…	650	Greece.
		4,000 cartridges	…	…		Greece.
5th February	…	17 depth charge throwers	…	…	3,000	Greece.
		76 steel depth charge carriers	…	…		Greece.
9th February	…	53,000 cartridges	…	…	800	Belgium.
14th February	…	2,000 gun charges and tools	…	…	800	Brazil
17th February	…	8,000 electric primers	…	…	950	Portugal.
19th February	…	10,000 gun fuzes	…	…	7,500	Latvia.
21st February	…	20 Lewis guns	…	…	3,400	Japan.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what licences have been issued for the period ending the 31st December, 1925, for the export of machine guns or other war material to any foreign Powers; when these transactions took place; and what was their exact nature?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th June, 1926, Cols. 2100-2101], supplied the following answer:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Committee on the alleged profiteering in the light-casting industry has completed its inquiries, and when the Report will be laid upon the Table of the House or be available for Members?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Gorbals Division.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received from the Cowes urban district council any scheme under Part II of the Housing Act, 1925, in respect of a part of their district; what steps the district council are taking in respect of houses complained of in another part of their district; and whether, seeing that it is now more than 15 months since the attention of the Department was informally drawn, and about 12 months since their attention was formally drawn, to the condition of the housing of the working classes in Cowes, that the state of things is still substantially the same as 15 months ago, and that during the last 12 months the two complainant Justices have repeatedly protested against the neglect and inaction of the Department, he will say what steps he now proposes to take in the matter?

As indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member on the 8th of June, the matter in question is at present under the consideration of the local authority. The scheme has not yet been submitted to me, but I am making inquiries as to the position, and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state how many houses for the working classes in each of the parishes in the rural district of the Isle of Wight were on 30th June of this year not in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation; how many of these houses were in a state so injurious or dangerous to health as to be unfit for habitation; how many closing orders and repairing notices were issued by the rural district council of the Isle of Wight during the months of May and June this year; how many of those orders and notices have not been complied with; whether repairing notices not being complied with are being enforced; what inspections and re-inspections, respectively, have been made during those two months in that district under Section 8 of the Housing Act, 1925; and what progress has been made in that rural district with the provision of houses under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924?

I have asked the local authority to furnish as far as possible the information which the hon. Member desires, and I will communicate with him. As regards the latter part of the question, the local authority have arranged for the purchase of sites in three parishes and have entered into a contract for the erection of six houses in one of the parishes.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Chertsey Rural District Council have allowed the plans of their new houses to be inspected by two women, who have made suggestions as to the most suitable type of accommodation; and will he suggest to local authorities the advisability of obtaining women's points of view when they are proceeding with their housing schemes?

In a manual which was issued by my Department on the preparation of State-aided housing schemes, it was suggested that in considering the internal arrangements of houses local authorities would no doubt obtain the co-operation and advice of competent women. I do not think it is necessary to make further representations to local authorities in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the financial position of the Pontypridd Union, the second largest Poor Law authority in the kingdom; that the bank intimated that they cannot permit any further overdraft; that the Poor Law authority was given permission by him to borrow £20,000 on condition that the scale of relief was reduced; that at a special meeting of the board held last week it was reported that £130,000 had been spent on extraordinary relief and that the total indebtedness of the board was over £250,000; if he can state the scale of relief paid out by the Pontypridd Poor Law authority; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have seen the newspaper reports relating to difficulties which have arisen in the Pontypridd Union and I am inquiring into the position. Sanction to an overdraft of £20,000 was given as stated and the total for which temporary overdraft has been sanctioned amounts to £210,000. The present scale of relief in the union is 23s. for a man and wife, 2s. for each child, with a maximum income for any household of 35s.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any proposal has been made in the League of Nations Council that Article 6 of the Draft Slavery Convention, referred to the Governments by the last assembly of the League, shall be amended in the direction of a more explicit denunciation of the exaction of forced labour for private profit; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government on this question?

So far as I am aware the answer to the first portion of the question is in the negative. Article 6 of the Convention is approved by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Postmaster-General how the number of telephone subscribers per head of the population compares with those of the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Germany; and what efforts are being made to increase the number of subscribers?

The number of telephones per 100 inhabitants in Great Britain is 3·28. The figures for the other countries mentioned, for the latest date available, namely 1st January, 1925, are:

United States	14·2
Canada	11·6
Sweden	6·9
Germany	3·9

As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Pancras North on the 15th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now say what decisions have been reached, and what changes will be made, as a result of the recommendations of the Committee appointed to consider the question of promotion of artificers in the Royal Artillery?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave the hon. and gallant Member on 15th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the disappointment and dissatisfaction caused by the cancellation of certain annual Territorial training camps, including that to which the Lincoln Battalion was to proceed, he will sanction the holding of the annual Territorial training of the 138th Brigade at some place other than Rhyl?

In cases where it has been found necessary to cancel Territorial Army training camps it has been left to General Officers Commanding-in-Chief, to make such arrangements for alternative local training as are practicable within the funds allotted, and I do not wish to interfere with the discretion given to them in this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount paid as licence duties on motor cars in the County of London for each of the years from 1923 to 1925, inclusive, together with the amount authorised by the Minister for road improvements in the county for each of those years?

The Road Fund, into which are paid the licence duties on motor vehicles, is a national Fund, and I consider it inadvisable to publish the amounts collected by various local authorities. I hope the hon. Member will not press for the information.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now make any definite statement as to the relaxation of the Government order that the railway passenger services all over the country must be reduced by 60 per cent.; and whether he is aware that many companies are in possession of sufficient coal to enable them to run extended services for the benefit of seaside resorts?

I am not aware of any Order to the effect suggested by my hon. Friend but, as I have already explained to the House, I impressed upon the railway companies at an early stage of the emergency the importance of conserving coal in view of the stoppage in the mines. It has been left to the companies to use their discretion in meeting first the more essential needs, and in deciding how far they are justified in extending services they must have regard to their supplies present and prospective. I may add that in recent weeks the consumption of coal by the railway companies

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any statistics exist showing the damage done to poultry by dogs?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of Members of Parliament in receipt of State pensions at 1st May, 1926; and the annual charge in respect thereof, stating the highest and lowest pension so paid per annum?

Thirty - seven Members of the House of Commons were in receipt of pensions from public funds, including War pensions, so far as I have been able to ascertain them, on the 1st May, 1926. The annual cost of their pensions is £16,965. The highest pension is £1,127 10s. per annum; the lowest £84 per annum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of Cabinet Ministers and paid Parliamentary Secretaries in receipt of State pensions, and the annual charge in respect thereof, giving the rate per annum of the highest and lowest pension paid?

No Cabinet Ministers or paid Parliamentary Secretaries are in receipt of State pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of ex-Cabinet Ministers in receipt of State pensions at 1st May, 1926, and the amount of pension per annum in each case and the total annual charge in respect thereof?

There are only three ex-Cabinet Ministers, namely, Lord Haldane, Lord Olivier and Lord Thomson, who were on 1st May,1926, in receipt of State pensions. The amounts were £5,000, £1,375 and £174 10s. per annum respectively (total cost, £6,549 10s.). None of these is a pension under the Political Offices Pensions Act, 1869.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the British oil companies, whose wells, plant and other effects were destroyed in Rumania in 1916, pay British Income Tax?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are precluded from disclosing information as to the Income Tax paid by any individual person or company, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the British companies to which he refers are being treated in conformity with the Income Tax Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of money subscribed in Great Britain since 31st December, 1923, for German Government loans of which the British Government is a guarantor, together with the rate of interest and terms of repayment?

The British Government is not a guarantor of any German Government loans.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the rate of pension payable to established civil servants with basic salaries of £100, £200, £300, £400, and £500, respectively, after 20, 30, and 40 years' service, respectively; the weekly rate of contribution, or the annual, or the percentage of salary which would be considered necessary to provide the pension if placed on a contributory basis; and the total amount paid in Civil Service pensions and in retiring grants, respectively?

On the assumption that the awards fall to be calculated on actual salary, and that there are no other pensionable emoluments, the awards under the Superannuation Act, 1909, in the cases cited by the hon. Member would at the present cost-of-living figure now be as follow:

1. Salary (Actual), £100.
Bonus at Cost-of-Living Figure of 70, £66 15s.
Service in Years.	Basic Pension.			Supplementary Pension (Current Rate).			Additional Allowance (Lump Sum) (including Supplement).
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
20	25	0	0	16	13	9	101	10	10
30	37	10	0	25	0	7	159	16	4
40	50	0	0	33	7	6	223	1	10

2.Salary (Actual), £200
Bonus at Cost-of-living figure of 70, £99 1s
Service in Years.	Basic Pension			Supplementary Pension (Current Rate).			Additional Allowance (Lump Sum) (including Supplement).
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
20	50	0	0	24	15	3	185	12	0
30	75	0	0	37	2	10	292	2	4
40	100	0	0	49	10	6	407	15	6

3.Salary (Actual), £300.
Bonus at Cost-of-living figure of 70, £123 5s.
Service in Years.	Basic Pension.			Supplementary Pension (Current Rate).			Additional Allowance (Lump Sum) (including Supplement).
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
20	75	0	0	30	16	3	265	11	0
30	112	10	0	46	4	4	417	18	11
40	150	0	0	61	12	6	583	8	6

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there is great delay in obtaining from the Stationery Office Custom Form 126, and that, as long ago as 27th May, Goldsborough Toffees, Limited, Knaresborough, ordered two dozen, but could not obtain any until 19th June, when three forms were received; and, seeing that so small a delivery is of little use to a business house, and that great inconvenience, expense, and loss of business is occasioned through non-receipt of forms in proper quantities, he will at once take the necessary steps to have the matter put right?

I much regret the inconvenience to which my hon. Friend refers. There was some delay in printing a fresh supply of the form owing to consideration of points of detail in which it required revision, and the delay was greatly increased by the recent emergency. Adequate supplies are now available and all orders have been cleared.