asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what action has been taken by the Indian Government in order to study the possibility of improving the lac output?

The Indian Lac Association for Research is financed by the proceeds of a small duty on exports of lac. The association has opened a research institute, with laboratories near Ranchi, and has laid out experimental plantations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the amount of stick lac exported from Burma during the year preceding the last convenient date, the value of such stick lac, and the country to which it was exported?

The quantity stick lac exported from Burma to countries outside India during the year ended 31st March, 1925, was 744 cwts., valued at Rs.53,027, all of which went to the United States of America. Exports from Burma to other parts of India of lac, chiefly stick lac, during the same year amounted to 59,668 cwts , valued at Rs.37,92,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when a member of the solicitor branch of the legal profession was last appointed to a position as salaried sheriff substitute?

The last appointment of the nature referred to by the hon. and gallant Member was made in June, 1910.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in Arbroath, Brechin, Bervie, Forfar, and Montrose, respectively, who have been disqualified for extended benefit since the beginning of this year; and how many of these were granted benefit by the local rota committee?

The only figures available are those relating to the work of the local employment committee at Arbroath, which includes Brechin, Forfar, Montrose, Carnoustie, and Kirriemuir. During the period 9th January, 1926, to 14th June, 637 applications for extended benefit were disallowed, of which 98 had previously been recommended for allowance by the committee. Particulars for Bervie are not available, as the figures for that district are included with those of 15 other local offices in the returns from the Aberdeen Local Employment Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any information is available as to the number of persons who pay Income Tax on incomes below £300; from £300 to £400; from £400 to ,£600; from £600 to £1,000; from £1,000 to £2,000; from £2,000 to £5,000; from £5,000 to £10,0000; and over £10,000?

I regret that, under the present system of charging the Income Tax, it is impossible to classify the Income Tax payers by ranges of total income. As regards incomes of £2,000 and upwards, however, the latest particulars of the numbers of persons assessed to Super-tax will be found in Table 74, on page 109, of the 68th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper 2547).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position with regard to the claims made by the American packers against the Food Department, and the amount of such claims now outstanding; whether these claims have been before the Court of Arbitration and the Court of Appeal; and whether he will state the approximate cost, including salaries and accommodation of staff, incurred by forcing these claims through the Courts.

One of the claims came before an arbitrator, who gave his final award in September, 1925. The claimants unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal in March last. The time for appeal to the House of Lords has not yet expired. Another claim has been settled by negotiation, and the remainder are proceeding before the appropriate tribunal. The amount of the claims outstanding is £2,100,000. The approximate cost to date, including law charges, salaries and accommodation of staff, is £19,000.