asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of coal now available for household consumption; whether he is satisfied that the amount permitted cannot be increased; and the average price of such coal sold both by the, ton and by the cwt?

It is estimated that 500,000 tons a week are required to meet the present ration, and I am quite satisfied that it cannot yet be increased. I cannot say what is the average price throughout the country; in Central London the price is 4s. 3d. a cwt.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to introduce legislation to prevent delays in the payment of wages?

The Government of India are considering the question, in consultation with local governments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the result of the inquiry addressed to the Government of India in regard to the Madras Planters' Labour Act?

The position is that the Government of Madras have appointed a committee to consider the question of the repeal of the penal provisions of the Act, but my Noble Friend has not yet received a copy of the committee's report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the number of criminal proceedings taken against plantation coolies and maistries for breach of contract under the Madras Planters' Labour Act during the last year in the Wynad Taluk and the Nilgiris, and what proportion of these proceedings in the Wynad Taluk wee taken by Europeans?

The number of cases of such criminal proceedings in 1925 against plantation labourers and maistries was 1,083 and 101 respectively in the Wynad Taluk and 1,875 and 108 respectively in the Nilgiris. In the Wynad Taluk, where Europeans hold 94 per cent. of the area included in estates, 92 par cent. of the total proceedings were taken by Europeans.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of arrests made, together with the total number of casualities, in connection with the recent riots in Calcutta?

The numbers of arrests made were 500 during the first phase of the riots, i.e., from the 2nd to the 12th of April, and 567 in the second phase, i.e., from the 23rd April to the 3rd May. The casualties, so far as they are known, were as follow: First Phase. Second Phase. Casualties among the public— Deaths 44 66 Injuries 584 391 Casualties among the police— Deaths 2 1 Injuries 91 4 The figures of injuries given include only those serious enough to require hospital treatment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the claims of the Indian members of the Indian Medical Service, so far as they relate to facilities for study, have received further consideration, and with what result?

My Noble Friend has recently sanctioned a scheme of which one of the objects is to provide certain passage facilities for Indian officers of the Indian Medical Service who desire to avail themselves of study leave in this country. I hope that particulars will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the possibilities of developing the dairy industry in Kenya; and whether any and, if so, what steps are being taken to encourage this industry?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and I am now awaiting the observations of the Government of Kenya on the recommendations made in the Fourth Report of the Imperial Economic Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new combine which is to administer the motor transport between Palestine and Iraq will operate under a Government licence; whether organised military protection will be afforded and whether each vehicle or each convoy will be compelled to carry a wireless transmitting and receiving set to ensure the safety of passengers, seeing that the absence of this in the past has been the cause of delay, damage to matériel, and loss of life?

I understand that the main service of the new company will be between Syria and Iraq, though a subsidiary service may be maintained between Haifa and the main route. In Iraq the service will be subject in general to the Regulations of the Iraq Government in the same way as other trans- port services between Iraq and Syria. These Regulations provide, inter alia, that all cars must be officially inspected before departure and must be provisioned for seven days, and that convoys must normally consist of at least three cars. The Iraq section of the route is adequately protected by the police posts and desert patrols of the Iraq Government. If conditions are considered unsafe the convoys are stopped. There is a strong police post halfway across the desert at Rutbah Wells through which all overland traffic is now required to pass. The post is furnished with a wireless station, thus enabling any mishap to be reported promptly either to the Syrian or to the Iraq authorities. I understand that it is not considered practicable, or necessary, that each convoy should carry a wireless transmitting and receiving set.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, prior to 1924, defensive gas instructions, including the use of box-respirators, were stopped in the Navy; when such instruction was resumed; and whether such is now given?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The remainder does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total cost incurred by his Department with regard to the dispute with Captain Ball over the payment of £190 for allowances during the War?

The costs so far incurred on behalf of the Admiralty in connection with the claim against Captain Ball amount to approximately £45. This sum has been added to the amount of the original claim in respect of which proofs have been lodged in the bankruptcy proceedings, and, in view of the fact that Captain Ball is understood to possess property to the value of over £10,000, it is expected that the whole amount will be recovered.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to protect ancient monuments on War Office property, as for example, on the Wiltshire Downs?

Every possible care is taken to avoid damaging ancient monuments and works on the Wiltshire Downs, as far as they are known to the military authorities. I am consulting my right hon. and Noble Friend the First Commissioner of Works whether any further steps are necessary or possible to safeguard works of national interest in this and similar areas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when the safety razors are served out to the troops, they will be of the type which will permit stropping; if so, whether the soldiers will be supplied with the necessary strop on with the customary box machines for stropping; and, if not, whether the Army Council is taking into consideration the cost to private soldiers who will he compelled to buy new sets of blades every few weeks?

The safety razor can be stropped: but strops were not supplied with the long-handled razors and will not be supplied with the safety razors. As regards the last part of the question, many soldiers, I believe, provided themselves in the past with safety razors at their own expense, and I do not think the free issue of the razor in the future will, generally speaking, cause any extra cost to the private soldier.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Gillette plants and factories at Slough and Montreal are the property of an American company; that the registered capital of the English Gillette Company is no more than £6,000; whether these facts were included in the application of Gillette Safety Razors, Limited, to he placed on the War Office list; and, if not, and if the facts are correct, whether he will cancel the present contract and re-open it to all British manufacturers;

(2) whether the recent War Office contract for razors and razor blades stipulates the use of British steel;

(3) whether it is still the practice of the War Office to place contracts with manufacturers and not with brokers, agents, or distributing firms: and, if so, whether this policy was carried out in the case of the recent order for safety razors and blades;

(4) whether the recent contract for razors was considered by the Services Contracts Co-ordinating Committee; whether all manufacturers supplying the Admiralty or Air Ministry with razors were invited to tender; what principles govern the submission of contract questions to the Co-ordinating Committee; and whether the maintenance of lists of manufacturers and the examination of claims to be placed on the list is carried out on behalf of the Co-ordinating Committee or is triplicated in the three Service Departments?

The contract provides for the manufacture of the holders at Slough and the blades at Montreal. British steel only is being used. I understand that deliveries are now complete. The normal practice of the Department is to place contracts only with manufacturers, but when the manufacturer has a sole selling agent we are obliged to contract with that agent if we want to purchase the goods. Neither the Admiralty nor the Air Ministry purchases safety razors, and consequently neither Department possesses a list of manufacturers of this article. The contract was not considered by the Contracts Co-ordinating Committee. That Committee deals with all questions of general contract principle affecting the regulation and co-ordination of Navy, Army and Air Force purchases, but it does not itself consider the many thousands of separate contracts placed by the three Departments. Separate lists of manufacturers are maintained by each of the throe Departments, and applications from firms to he placed on those lists are examined by the Departments to which the applications are addressed. But the information obtained as to the capabilities of such firms is regularly exchanged between the three. Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for War what saving is anticipated following the introduction of War Department constabulary at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock, and the Royal Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey?

The estimated annual saving, excluding the ultimate savings on non-effective charges, is approximately £3,300.

asked the Secretary of State for War what factories are engaged in the manufacture of poison gases and other chemicals for war purposes, and the establishment in each case?

There is one research establishment at Sutton Oak at which small quantities of gas required for experimental purposes are produced, but the establishment is mainly concerned with research and experimental work. It has a staff of eight with some 55 subordinates.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many live animals have been used since 1st January, 1925, for experimental purposes at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station: the numbers of the different kinds of animals used; how many were killed by experiments; and how many had to be destroyed as a result of the effects of the experiments?

The information asked for in respect of the period 1st January, 1925–31st October, 1926, is as follows: Animals. Number used. Number killed by experiments. Number destroyed. Rabbits 849 187 488 Guinea pigs 209 44 164 Mice 60 20 40 Goats 40 12 28 Cats 58 24 26 Rats 11 8 3 Horses 17 — 17

The horses used for experiments were suffering from some incurable disability which would, apart from the experiment, have necessitated their destruction. As regards the other animals it was not the policy from 1st January, 1925, to 16th February, 1926, to destroy animals which had apparently suffered no harm, but as it was difficult to be certain that the animals had not received any injury and there was considerable danger of subsequent experiments being vitiated, it was decided to re-introduce the procedure of destroying all animals.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of naval, military, and Air Force officers employed at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station; the number of civilian scientists; and the number and nature of the subordinate staff?

The staff at the Experimental Station, Porton, for which provision is made in Estimates 1926, consists of 22 naval, military and air officers, 56 civilian scientists and one naval, 68 military and 120 civilian subordinate staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the decision by the Board of Inland Revenue withdrawing for the year 1926–27 and subsequent years the concession under which relief has been allowed to Income Tax payers for life assurance on the joint lives of partners, he will make provision for the continuance of such allowance to existing policy holders and will limit the alteration suggested to policies on joint lives taken out after a given future date?

The change of practice to which my hon. Friend refers was the result of the judgment in the High Court given on 15th June last in the case of Wilson v. Simpson. There is no legal authority for making the discrimination which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give, in sterling at $5 to the pound, the total war indemnities due to the United States, the annual payments, the interest charged, the period of the loans, and the total payment over the period?

I assume that my hon. Friend desires particulars of all payments due to the United States either from Germany in respect of reparation and similar obligations or from other European Governments in respect of loans made by the United States during and immediately after the War. The following particulars are drawn up on this assumption; but I do not consider that the term "war indemnities" can properly be applied to either class of payment; and it is obviously inappropriate to payments due on loans.

(1) Payments to the United States of America in respect of German, Reparation and similar obligations.

Under the provisions of the Paris Agreement of 14th January, 1925, sums to be paid by Germany to the United States in respect of reparation and cost of occupation are a charge on the annuities payable under the Dawes Plan.

Under Article 3 of this Agreement the United States are entitled to receive the sum of 55 million gold marks (£2,750,000) each year from 1st September, 1926, till the outstanding costs of the American Army of Occupation (amounting to about £49 millions) are extinguished. This payment is a first charge on cash transferred out of the Dawes Annuities after the provision of the sums necessary for the service of the international loan and for the current costs of the various Inter-Allied Commissions.

Further, under the same Article the United States are entitled to 2¼ per cent. of all receipts from Germany on account of the Dawes Annuities available for distribution as reparations, provided that the annuity resulting from this percentage shall not in any year exceed the sum of 45 million gold marks (£2,250,000). The amount that is being paid to the United States in respect of this percentage for the two years to 31st August, 1926, was 34,880,000 gold marks (£1,744,000) and the amount payable during the year ending 31st August, 1927, is 24,326,000 gold marks (£1,216,300).

(2) Payments to the United States of America in, respect of War and post-War debts of other European Governments.

The War and post-War debts due by other European Governments to the United States Government, as stated in American publications, and the total payments to be made over a period of 62 years in the case of the debts which have been the subject of funding agreements are as follows:— — Principal Debt as funded. Aggregate amount of payments to be received over the 62 years period. £ £ Great Britain 920,000,000 2,221,193,000 France 805,000,000 1,369,534,820 Italy 408,400,000 481,535,500 Belgium 83,556,000 145,566,100 Poland 35,712,000 87,137,510 Czechoslovakia 23,000,000 62,562,287 Serb-Croat-Slovene State. 12,570,000 19,035,527 Roumania 8,918,000 24,501,252 Estonia 2,766,000 6,666,228 Finland 1,800,000 4,339,011 Lithuania 1,206,000 2,906,388 Latvia 1,155,000 2,791,727 Hungary 387,800 938,648 Total 2,304,470,800 4,428,707,998 The rate of interest charged is 3 per cent. for 10 years and 3½ per cent. for the following 52 years, except in the cases of Belgium, France, Italy and the Serb-Croat-Slovene State, in which cases the rates charged are the following:

Belgium.— No interest on pre-Armistice debt.

Interest on post-Armistice debt at reduced rates for 10 years: thereafter 3½ per cent.

France. 5 years, nil; 10 years, 1 per cent.; 10 years, 2 per cent.; 8 years, 2½ per cent.; 7 years, 3 per cent; 22 years, 3½ per cent.

Italy.— 5 years, nil; 10 years, ⅛ per cent.; 10 years, ¼ per cent.; 10 years, ½ per cent.; 10 years, ¾ per cent.; 10 years, 1 per cent.; 7 years, 2 per cent.

Serb-Croat-Slovene State.— 12 years, nil; 3 years, ⅛ per cent.; 14 years, ½ per cent. 3 years, 1 per cent.; 3 years, 2 per cent; 27 years, 3½ per cent.

(The agreement relating to the French Debt has not yet been ratified by the Legislature of either country and that

THE ANNUAL PAYMENTS in the case of the most important Debts are as follows:— — United Kingdom. France. Belgium. Italy. £ £ £ £ 1922–5 … … 96,386,000 — — — 1926 … … 32,180,000 6,000,000 768,000 1,000,000 1927 … … 32,030,000 6,000,000 820,000 1,000,000 1928 … … 32,250,000 6,500,000 940,000 1,000,000 1929 … … 32,118,000 6,500,000 1,090,000 1,000,000 1930 … … 32,156,000 7,000,000 1,240,000 1,000,000 1931 … … 31,988,000 8,000,000 1,460,000 2,924,250 1932 … … 32,220,000 10,000,000 1,590,000 2,941,225 1933 … … 36,780,000 12,000,000 1,690,000 2,958,175 1934 … … 36,556,000 15,000,000 1,810,000 3,015,100 1935 … … 36,332,000 16,000,000 1,910,000 3,091,950 1936 … … 36,108,000 18,000,000 2,534,500 3,188,700 1937 … … 36,884,000 20,000,000 2,543,300 3,325,325 1938 … … 36,625,000 21,000,000 2,551,400 3,401,775 1939 … … 36,366,000 22,000,000 2,538,800 3,518,125 1940 … … 37,107,000 23,000,000 2,546,200 3,634,325 Ten years—1941–50 … … 364,102,000 249,000,000 25,381,900 47,341,300 Ten years—1951–60 … … 361,422,000 250,000,000 25,405,500 69,938,300 Ten years—1961–70 … … 362,730,000 250,000,000 25,416,300 94,791,750 Ten years—1971–80 … … 370,983,000 250,000,000 25,496,500 123,662,000 1981–84 … … 147,847,000 100,000,000 10,263,600 60,858,400 1985–87 … … — 73,534,820 7,570,100 47,944,800 Total … … 2,221,193,000 1,369,534,820 145,566,100 481,535,500

In addition to the above Debts, the following have not yet been the subject of funding agreements:— Principal and Interest to 15 November, 1925. £ Armenia … … … … … … … … 3,091,838 Greece … … … … … … … … 3,600,000 Russia … … … … … … … … 52,198,280 There is also a post-war debt of £6,254,484 due by Austria, the payment of which has been postponed for a period of 20 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received any payment in respect of the debt instalment due from France this year; whether he has been in negotiation with the French Government with a view to rendering Treasury aid for the stabilisation of the franc; and whether any steps have been taken by the British Government to that end?

The sum of £2,000,000 was received from France as a first instalment in respect of her War Debt on 15th September last. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the negative.

relating to the Serbian Debt has not yet been ratified by the American Legislature.)

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the allegations regarding the impurity of the flour sold to the general public; and what, if any, steps he is taking or has taken in this matter?

I am aware that it is a common practice to add certain chemical substances to flour with the object of modifying its baking properties. The question whether such additions are objectionable on grounds of health and what restrictions, if any, should be placed on them in the interest of the public health has been referred to a Departmental Committee for consideration and report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the procedure adopted by the Governments of other countries in insisting on the sole use of non-inflammable films at cinema displays has not been adopted by him for this country?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I do not know of any country in which the sole use of non-inflammable films is insisted on by the Government. If my hon. Friend is referring to France, I am informed that the decree which was issued some time ago prohibiting the use of inflammable films in Paris has been postponed and has not yet been brought into operation. The position at present is that no really non-inflammable film has yet been produced and that the less inflammable kinds of film which have been produced ale subject to certain drawbacks which have militated against their adoption. In these circumstances, and in view of the fact that the use of inflammable films is governed in this country by very strict regulations which, as experience has proved, provide adequate safeguards, there seems no case for any Government action in the mater at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a list of the plumage illegally imported and confiscated under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1921, including the names of the species and the approximate amount of plumage in each case from 1st July to 30th September?

I have been asked to reply. The following is a list of birds (14 in number) the plumage of whicn, was illegally imported and was confiscated by the Custom authorities under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1921, during the period 1st July to 30th September, 1926, together with the approximate amount of plumage involved in each case:

Name of Bird and Approximate Quantity of Plumage. Avocet.—1 skin. Burma Pigeon.—2 wings, 1 tail. Bird of Paradise.—17 skins, 1 head, 2 millinery mounts. 904 Egret.—159 feathers, 4 millinery mounts. Grebe.—1 dress trimming. Heron.—140 feathers, 1 head, 1 millinery mount. Indian Roller.—1 skin, 2 wings, 5 feathers. Kingfisher.—28 ornaments each containing a small portion of plumage. Peacock.—198 feathers, 2 fans, 2 tails, 1 wing, 1 millinery mount. Reeves Pheasant.—144 feathers, 2 fans, 2 millinery mounts. Pelican.—1 skin. Rook.—5 feathers. Rhea Darwini.—84 feathers. Stork.—47 feathers.

In addition to the foregoing, three consignments of miscellaneous prohibited plumage were seized.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state in detail the nature of any guarantee given since 1st January, 1926, to any sugar-beet companies under the Trade Facilities Scheme?

Guarantees have been given to sugar-beet companies under the Trade Facilities Acts since the 1st January, 1926, as follow: £ Anglo-Scottish Beet Sugar Corporation, Limited 240,000 Orchard Sugar Company, Limited 100,000 The loan to the Anglo-Scottish Beet Sugar Corporation was to enable the company to bring its allied company, the Second Anglo-Scottish Beet Sugar Corporation to the production stage.

The loan to the Orchard Sugar Company, Limited, was to enable the company to complete its equipment and operate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average yield per acre of sugar-beet in this country during 1925–26, and how this compares with the figures for Holland, Germany and Hungary?

The following statement shows the acreage, total production and yield yer acre of sugar-beet in Great Britain, Holland, Germany and Hungary for the year 1925: Country. Average yield per acre. tones. England and Wales … 7.82 Holland … 13.42 Germany … 10.21 Hungary … 9.23

asked the Minister of Agriculture the minimum rates of wages fixed by the Agricultural Wages Committee in the various counties throughout the country, together with the overtime rates for weekdays and

Agricultural Wages Committee Area. Minimum Rates in operation on 8th November, 1926. Minimum Rate (per week). Hours per week. Overtime Rates (per hour). Weekdays. Sundays. s. d. d. d. Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire 30 6 48 9 11 Berkshire 30 0 50 8 8 Buckinghamshire 31 0 48 9 11 Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely 30 0 48 9 11 Cheshire 35 0 54 9 9 Cornwall and Scilly Isles 31 0 51 9 10 Cumberland and Westmorland 31 0 48 8½ 8½ Derbyshire 8d. per hour. 54 8 10 Devonshire 32 6 50 8½ 10 Dorsetshire 30 0 48 8 8 Durham 32 0 50 9, 10* 10 Essex 30 0 50 9 9 Gloucestershire 30 0 48 9 11 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 30 0 48 8 8 Herefordshire 31 0 48 9 9 Hertfordshire 31 0 48 Time and a quarter.† — Kent 32 6 48 9 10 Lancashire— Eastern Area 42 0 60 11 11 Northern Area 37 6 60 11 11 Southern Area 33 6 50 11 11 Leicestershire 34 0 54 9 11 Rutland 32 6 54 9 11 Lincolnshire— Holland 35 0 48 9, 10½* 11½ Kesteven and Lindsey 32 0 48 9½ 11½ Middlesex 33 0 48 10¼ 10¼ Monmouthshire 32 0 48 9½ 11½ Norfolk 30 0 48 9 11 Northamptonshire and Soke of Peterborough. 30 0 48 9 11 Northumberland 33 0 48 Time and a quarter. Time and a half. Nottinghamshire 32 0 50 9½ 11½ Oxfordshire 30 0 48 9 11 Shropshire 32 6 54 9 9 Somersetshire 32 0 50 9 9

Sundays, as compared with the rates paid in 1914?

Particulars of the current minimum and overtime rates of wages applicable generally to male agricultural workers aged 21 and over, as fixed by the Agricultural Wages Committees, are hereafter given. In some areas special rates have also been fixed for special classes of workers, e.g., those engaged in tending animals.

Insufficient information is available as to wages in 1914 to enable precise comparisons for each county to be made far that year, but it is estimated that on the average of England and Wales as a whole wages of ordinary agricultural labourers were then about 18s. per week:

Agricultural Rates Committee Area. Minimum Rates in operation on 8th November, 1926. Minimum Rate (per week). Hours per week. Overtime Rates (per hour). Weekdays. Sundays. s. d. d. d. Staffordshire 31 6 54 9 9 Suffolk 30 0 48 9 9 Surrey 32 3 50 10 11½ Sussex 31 0 48 9 10½ Warwickshire 30 0 48 9 11 Wiltshire 30 0 50 8 8 Worcestershire 30 0 48 9 9 Yorkshire— East Riding 35 0 48 10 1 0 North Riding 33 0 48 10 1 0 West Riding 36 0 48 11 1 1 Anglesey and Carnarvon 31 0 50 9 9 Carmarthenshire 31 0 54‡ 8½ 8½ Denbighshire and Flintshire 30 6 50 9 9 Glamorganshire 36 0 48 10 11 Merionethshire and Montgomery shire. 31 6 54 9 9 Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire 31 0 50 8½ 9½§ 11 Radnorshire and Breco 31 0 48 9 9 * Applicable only to Saturday afternoon. † No overtime rate on weekdays except for Saturday afternoon. ‡ Including Sunday. § For first three hours of employment.

asked the Minister of Health what result has accrued from his representation to the Stepney Union as to the impropriety of its action in requiring candidates for the post of dispenser to join a trade union approved of by the guardians?

As I have informed my hon. and learned Friend the general question involved in such cases as the one to which he refers is under consideration by the Government, and in the circumstances it did not seem to me that any useful purpose would be served, at the present time, by making representations in this particular case.

asked the Minister of Health, whether, in order to provide adequate security against irregularities that may arise in the payment of workmen's wages by local authorities, he will

consider the necessity of officers paying such wages entering into a security bond to the amount of money likely to be handled by them during the course of their employment?

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to a question on the 23rd November last, there is statutory requirement for the giving of security by officers in the case of all the principal classes of local authorities. I may add that it is the practice of a district auditor to draw attention to cases where adequate security is not given by officers whose accounts are subject to his audit.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone directories issued to telephone subscribers in Great Britain for the period of each six months during the 12 months ended on the last convenient date?

The number of telephone directories issued to telephone subscribers for each of the two six-monthly periods ended 31st December, 1925, and 30th June, 1926, was approximately: 1st period … … 1,076,800 2nd period … … 1,127,700.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the circulation of the London Telephone Directory?

I have been asked to reply. The circulation is about 390,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the advertisements appearing in the London Telephone Directory are let out to private contractors; and, if so, whether this contract is subject to tender?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is in a position to make any statement with regard to the sum of £481,000 now in hand paid for licences in respect of wireless broadcasting?

I propose to make a statement concerning the financial arrangements in connection with the broadcasting service at an early date on the Supplementary Estimate for the payment in respect of the service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the Aberdeen staff as a result of fully qualified officers being parsed over for promotion, that Messrs. Milne, Watt, and Buchan, the senior officers on the acting list, have been passed over for Messrs. Dawson and Cumming, who are both junior and less qualified; that the recommendations invited from the staff side of the local Whitley Committee have been turned down without adequate explanation; that the staff have lodged an emphatic protest against local methods; if he will state why these pass-overs have taken place; and if he will take steps to clear up the circumstances of the new appointments?

I am aware of the circumstances. Messrs. Dawson and Cumming were promoted because they were considered to be fully qualified for promotion and the best qualified officers in their class. I can find no reason to dissent from this view; and I am satisfied that the promotion board gave full consideration to the representations made by the staff side of the local Whitley Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether copies of telegrams are kept by the Post Office authorities, and, if so, for what length of time; and whether, in the case of Police Court proceedings, any facilities are given for the tracing of telegrams?

The original forms of telegrams are retained by the Post Office for periods varying from three months in the case of inland telegrams to 15 months in the case of radiotelegrams. Inspection of telegrams is permitted to the senders or the addressees or by authority of one or other of those persons; and telegrams are produced in Court on service of subpœna.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the lack of telephone facilities in Yorkshire whereby farmers are handicapped, since they are not able to ascertain market prices before sending their animals many miles to market; and whether he will consider devoting some of the money in the fund set aside for telephone development in rural areas towards reducing the guarantee in order that a telephone may be provided in every village?

It is the practice of the Post Office to install telephone call offices without guarantee wherever the receipts are likely to meet the cost of maintaining and operating the service, and a large number of such offices have been opened in rural areas during the past few years. If, however, the facilities were provided without regard to financial results, heavy lasses would inevitably follow, and I regret that it is not practicable, therefore, to dispense with some guarantee where a call office is likely to be unremunerative. I shall be glad to quote the terms under which call officee could be provided at any particular villages in Yorkshire which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Home Secretary how many motor accidents have been reported to the police in the vicinity of Farningham village during the last 12 months; how many of these necessitated medical attention; and how many were fatal?

Twenty-nine accidents near Farningham village were reported to the police within the 12 months. In 14 of these cases medical attention was required, and seven resulted in fatal injuries.

asked the Home Secretary if he is yet in a position to state whether the suggestions as to the reclamation of fallen women contained in the annual report of the Chief Constable for Glasgow for 1925 have yet been considered; and whether there is any intention of carrying out such suggestions in the Metropolitan Police area?

I have seen a paragraph in the report referred to in which it is suggested that a Court shall have power to commit a woman found loitering for purposes of prostitution to a place of detention instead of inflicting a fine. Any such proposal would require legislation, but I will bear it in mind when I have before me the recommendations of the Young Offenders Committee.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the volume of traffic at the junction of Station Road and High Street, Cheam; and whether it is possible to arrange for e point-duty constable to be stationed on this point during busy hours?

In view of the traffic at this spot, a constable has been on duty there between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. since 25th July last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state if the British bondholders of the German issue of the Tientsin Railway Loan will be treated equally to the other non-enemy bondholders of the same issue in respect of those numbers of bonds which were specially examined by the solicitors of the Chinese Legation in London and duly approved by the Chinese Government in Peking as good bonds; and whether further representations have been made by the British Minister in Peking to remove any discrimination in respect of these bonds and to protect the British bondholders?

There has not, so far as I am aware, been any discrimination in treatment as between British and other non-ex-enemy holders of validated bonds of the German issue though there has, as the hon. Member is aware, been discrimination as between holders of the German issue as a whole and holders of the British issue, the position in regard to which was described in the reply given to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Forrest) on the 10th of March last. As the whole of the issue of both the Tientsin-Pukow loans is now in default, the question of discrimination no longer arises, and His Majesty's Minister at Peking continues to press the Chinese Government to meet their obligations in respect of these loans.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the two British ships "Wanhsien" and "Wantung," which were seized by General Yang-Sen on 30th August, have yet been released; whether they are now in a place of safety; and, if not, what news he has of them?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 28th September to the Leader of the Opposition. News has since been received of the safe arrival of the second steamer at Ichang.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the fact that the charge now being made for the necessary visa on the passport of an intending traveller from this country to Germany is 25s.; and whether he will endeavour to obtain from the German authorities a reduction of this charge to a more reasonable sum?

The actual position is not quite as stated by my hon. and learned Friend, the fact being that the fees charged for German visas granted to British subjects are based on a scale varying according to the nature of the visa to be granted. The lowest charge is 2s. for a visa valid for a single journey and return or for transit through Germany with a validity of three days; the highest fee charged is £3 for a visa valid for any number of journeys during a period of 12 months; the fee of 25s. mentioned by the hon. and learned Member is for a visa valid for any number of journeys during a period of three months. A proposal for the abolition of visas between Great Britain and Germany has recently been received from the German Government and is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the personnel of British Consulates in some European countries are suffering financial loss through the fluctuations in monetary currencies; will he consider the advisability of adopting some method of adjustment to meet the recurrent changes or, alternatively, instituting a system of payment of wages and salaries on a sterling basis; and if he is aware that in some British Consulates there exists no system of promotion, and the absence of opportunity to rise is bearing harshly on many British subjects of long service?

The matter referred to in the first and second parts of the hon. Member's question is receiving the most earnest consideration, and it is hoped that a satisfactory solution will shortly be found. As regards the third part, I would explain that the clerical staffs of British Consuls are generally recruited locally. The circumstances of their employment make it impossible to provide for them regular avenues of promotion. Entrance into the Consular Service proper is now entirely by means of an examination conducted by His Majesty's Civil Service Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any official action has been or is to be taken in regard to the Report of the Conference of Governors of the East African Dependencies held at Nairobi in January and February last?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply. I have given careful consideration to the resolutions of the Conference, and am in communication with the Governments of the East African Dependencies in regard to them. In many cases the resolutions deal with matters on which action is proceeding. In other cases I am awaiting a further expression of local views.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it is intended to issue the Report dealing with the flight of Wing-Commander Pulford and his colleagues, regarding the flight of the Fairey-Napier aeroplanes from Cairo to the Cape and back?

The issue of the Report, which has been unavoidably delayed as the result of Wing-Commander Pulford's posting to a new appointment, will take place, I hope, in the immediate future.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange that in all cases in which it is proposed to employ non-British labour, material, or capital in meeting the requirements of the purchasing Departments, opportunity shall be given to the Minister of Labour and the President of the Board of Trade to recommend alternative all-British sources of supply, in which any extra expenditure involved would be justified in the national interest?

The existing machinery provides for inquiry of all Departments whose special knowledge may be of advantage in discovering British sources of supply.