asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Ceylon Government has declared in favour of prohibition; and what is being done to give effect to this policy?

So far as I am aware, the Ceylon Government have made no such declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the petition from the Paradura Mahajara Sabha with reference to the action of the Ceylon Government in overriding a resolution of the legislative council of Ceylon, and renewing a hotel licence in Paradura after the residents had by the exercise of local option voted for the closing of all licensed premises within the area; the reasons for this procedure; and what action has been or will be taken in the matter?

I have received a memorial from the Panadure Mahajana Sabha, with the Governor's report on it, and have replied fully in a despatch which will be published in Ceylon. The circumstances are not exactly as suggested in the hon. Member's question, and indeed the people in the area concerned have now by means of a local option poll expressed their wishes in favour of the continuance of the hotel licence in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a petition from the Trinidad Working Men's Association suggesting that the Arbitration Board to be appointed under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance should be composed of a chief commissioner and two assistant commissioners, and not of one commissioner only; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The provision in the law of Trinidad to which exception has been taken by the Trinidad Working Men's Association is derived from the law of India. No experience of its working in Trinidad is yet available, and the Governor and I are agreed that at present any suggestion for amendment is premature.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in the Calcutta riots there is reason to believe that the consumption of intoxicating liquor has played no inconsiderable part in fomenting the actions and bitterness of feeling between Hindus and Mohammedans; what action the Government took in the closing of the liquor shops; and to what extent there has been a drop in the revenue?

There is nothing either in the official reports on the riots or in the questions which were asked regarding them in the Bengal Legislative Council to indicate that intoxicating liquor had anything to do with the riots. There is no mention of liquor shops. Presumably their business was affected as all other business in the disturbed areas; and no doubt the owners closed them when other shops were closed. But this is not specifically stated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what progress is being made in the development of the Indian Navy?

Legislation, both here and in India, will be necessary for the inauguration of the Royal Indian Navy, and I hope it will be possible to introduce a Bill in Parliament at an early date. Meanwhile, the Government of India are already working out proposals to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee which investigated the question. The Committee's Report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, has been accepted in principle by Noble Friend and the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the approximate gross earnings of the Indian State Railways during the 12 months preceding the last convenient date, together with the figures for the previous year?

The approximate gross earnings of the Indian State Railways (including State lines worked by the State and by companies, but excluding those owned by Indian States) for the year ended 31st March, 1926, the latest accounting period, were Rs. 99,20,02,000. The corresponding figure for 1924–25 was Rs. 100,33,10,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what measures have been adopted to reduce the consumption of opium in India, following the conference of Ministers of Excise from the various Provinces held at Simla?

My Noble Friend has not yet received a report of the proceedings of the conference referred to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the ultimatum forwarded to the Nizam of Hyderabad in August last has resulted in any administrative changes in the State; and, if so, of what nature?

The questions of administrative reform that have been raised in the recent communications between the Government of India and the Nizam are still under discussion, and I am not yet in a position to state the results. I must not be understood as accepting as accurate the description in the question of the action taken by the Government of India in August., which is, I presume, based on newspaper. reports.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what action has been taken by the Government with a view to the enforcement of the Child's Act (India), 1924?

I assume that reference is intended to the Bombay Children Act, 1924. As explained in the Bombay Legislative Council on the 2nd August last, the Government of Bombay were hoping shortly to bring parts 2 and 3 of the Act into operation, and for that purpose rules had been drafted and circulated to several societies and persons interested. Certain difficulties were being experienced in connection with finding homes to which children could be sent and providing the necessary funds. No later information is at present available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what steps the Government propose to take to give effect to the recommendations of the Mercantile Marine Committee (1924), as to the reservation of Indian coasting trade and subsidiary matters?

The Government of India are opposed to the recommendation of the Mercantile Marine Committee regarding the reservation of the Indian coasting trade, but they are taking steps to establish a training ship at Karachi as recommended by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women are engaged in the Army, Navy, and Air Force canteens; how many have applied for positions; and how many have been tried and found unsuitable?

I have been asked to reply. This is a detail of administration of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, which does not come within the purview of the War Office.

asked the Postmaster-General why, in view of the fact that entertainment forms the bulk of broadcasting programmes, steps were not taken in constituting the Board to include persons with special knowledge of entertainment?

The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Broadcasting Committee that the governing body should not be composed of persons representing various interests, but should be persons of judgment and independence. They will have every opportunity of technical and expert advice from advisory committees and the staff of the British Broadcasting Company which they will take over.

asked the Postmaster - General the salaries, with bonuses, if any, paid to the directors of the British Broadcasting Company; and how they compare with the salaries to be paid to the governors of the new Corporation?

Under the Articles of Association of the British Broadcasting Company the remuneration of the directors, apart from the emoluments of the managing director, is limited to £500 a year for the chairman and £200 a year for each of the nine other members of the board. The Charter provides that the governors of the new Corporation may receive remuneration not exceeding £3,000 for the chairman, £1,000 for the vice-chairman and £700 for the other governors. In 1924 a bonus of £2,000 was paid to the directors of the British Broadcasting Company. The directorate of the Corporation are precluded by their Charter from accepting any bonus.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the criticism of the inadequate fees paid to artistes for broadcasting; and whether he will consider the desirability of devoting the whole of the fees for licences to the better payment of artistes and the provision of up-to-date entertainment programmes?

The question of the remuneration of artistes will be a matter for consideration by the governors of the new Broadcasting Corporation. I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion in the latter part of the hon. Member's question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the British Broadcasting Company had accepted the manuscript of a speech to be delivered from the Dundee studio on the 3rd instant, by Dr. Ernst Deissmann, of Berlin, and that the subject was the entrance of Germany to the League of Nations; and why instructions were sent on the 1st instant that the speech was not to be permitted?

The British Broadcasting Company submitted to the Post Office a draft of the proposed speech, with an inquiry whether it could be broadcast if certain statements which it contained were omitted. The speech was of a political and controversial character, and the company were informed that it would be advisable that it should not be broadcast.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total expenditure incurred in advertising His Majesty's Stationery Department publications during the 12 months preceding the last convenient date?

The expenditure incurred in advertising Government publications in the Press during the past financial year amounted to £1,009. The cost of printing, duplicating and distribution of circulars, &c., issued with the object of stimulating sales during the same period is estimated at £450.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will, for the convenience of Members of the House, cause the Appendix to the Report of the Committee on Public Assistance, issued in 1923, which sets out the various forms of public assistance provided by central and local authorities, to be brought up to date and issued as a separate Paper?

I do not consider that the changes that have taken place since the issue of this Appendix are sufficient to justify the expenditure of time and money which would he involved by its revision and reissue as a separate Paper.

asked the Minister of Health when the Actuary's Report on the second valuation of approved societies will be issued?

The Government Actuary's Report on the second valuation of approved societies is in an advanced stage of preparation, but the date of publication cannot yet be stated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the Report of the Select Committee on Nursing Homes; and if he intends to initiate legislation next Session, with a view to adopting its recommendations?

The Report is now under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement in regard to legislation to give effect to the Select Committee's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give a list of the boards of guardians which have been authorised by him to borrow money for the purpose of defraying expenses of out-relief and those which have up to date borrowed sums of money for this purpose?

The following is a list of the boards of guardians who have been authorised to borrow money for the purpose of defraying expenses of out-relief: STATEMENT as at 11th November, 1926, of names of boards of guardians to whom loans have been sanctioned in respect of abnormal expenditure on relief: Abergavenny. Llanelly. Ashby de la Zouch. Madeley. Ashton-under-Lyne. Mansfield. Auckland. Merthyr Tydfil. Alnwick. Middlesbrough. Barnsley. Monmouth. Barrow-in-Furness. Morpeth. Barton-upon-Irwell. Neath. Basford Newcastle-under-Lyme. Bedwellty. Belper Newcastle-upon-Type Bermondsey. Newport (Mon.). Bethnal Green. Nottingham. Birmingham Nuneaton. Bootle Oswestry. Bridgend and Cow-bridge Penistone. Burnley. Pontardawe. Burton-on-Trent. Pontypool. Cannock. Pontypridd. Castle Ward. Pontefract. Cheadle. Poplar. Chesterfield. Prescot. Chester-le-Street. Redruth. Chorley Ross. Clutton. Rotherham. Cockermouth. Salford. Congleton. Sedgefield. Crickhowell Sheffield. Dartford. South Shields. Dewsbury. Southwell. Doncaster. Stepney. Dover. Stoke and Wolstan-ton. East and West Flegg. Sunderland. Durham. Swansea. Easington. Tadeaster. Foleshill. Thorne. Gateshead. Tynemouth. Gower. Warrington. Greenwich. Wellington (Salop). Guisborough. Wakefield. Hartlepool. Westbury-on-Severn. Hawarden. Hemsworth. West Derby. Hexham. Walsall. Holywell. West Ham. Houghton-le-Spring. Whitehaven. Lanchester. Wigan. Leeds. Woolwich. Leigh. Worksop. Lichfield. Wortley. Lincoln Wrexham. Llandilofawr.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government propose to introduce legislation to give effect to the findings of the recent Report of the Royal Commission on Lunacy?

The Report of the Royal Commission is receiving careful consideration; and, until the recommendations have been examined in all their bearings, it is not possible to indicate the nature and extent of any legislation which the Government may be able to introduce.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take any administrative or legislative action to compel the use of the humane killer?

As I informed the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Roy Wilson) on the 12th March last, I cannot see my way to introduce legislation. As regards administrative action, I may observe that local authorities have power (but cannot be compelled) to make byelaws with the object suggested, and more than 200 have already done so. I do not think that any special action is desirable.

asked the Home Secretary how much money was received from countries other than Russia for the relief of miners; what were the countries: and how much was received in each case?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the ungrammatical wording of the recent notice, Instructions to the Public, as to coal permits; and whether he will take steps to secure adequate supervision of future notices?

am obliged to my Noble Friend for giving me this opportunity of saying that I have recently read an anonymous letter in the "Times" on the same subject, but that otherwise I have no knowledge of the document referred to, except that-it certainly did not come from my Department, and that it is not only ungrammatical, but also inaccurate. Consumers are, of course, quite free to change their merchants.

asked the Home Secretary if he can now make a statement regarding the administration and allocation of the voluntary fund collected by the "Times" newspaper on behalf of the police force in recognition of their services during the general strike?

I hope that the charter establishing the fund will be submitted shortly to His Majesty in Council. The terms of the draft charter arc published in the "Times" to-day.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the annual cost incurred for the cleaning of the windows of the Palace of Westminster, together with information as to the number of windows subject to the existing contract?

The contract price for cleaning the windows is £1,104. I regret that it is not possible to state the exact number of windows.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many counties have demonstration farms; whether these farms showed a profit or loss in 1925; what were the profits or losses; and whether the Government or the ratepayer makes good any losses?

Seventeen counties in England and Wales have demonstration farms, all of which made a loss in 1925. Details are given in the attached table. These losses include loan and landlords' charges which do not appear in an ordinary trading account, and they would be considerably reduced if figures representing fair rents were substituted for these charges. Moreover, it is important to remember that for experimental and educational purposes, much work is done on these farms which would not be done on an ordinary commercial farm, and materially adds to the cost of conducting them. If the Ministry is satisfied, after considering reports on the farms and investigations of accounts by its technical officers, that these losses are reasonable, two-thirds of the losses are borne by State funds and the remaining one-third by the rates.

The following is the table of losses on County Educational Farms: Country. Farm. Loss (including subsidiary accounts and experimental work). £ Cheshire Reaseheath 3,703 Cumberland Newton Rigg. 678 Durham Houghall 3,019 Hants Sparsholt 627 Herts Oaklands 3,221 Kent Grove End 1,689* Lines (Holland) Kirton 1,852 Northants Moulton 870 Northumberland Cockle park 694† Somerset Cannington Court. 2,094 Staffs Rodbaston 2,035 Sussex East Wales 1,718 Sussex West Kingsham 223‡ Yorks Garforth 1,658 Caernarvon Madryn 594 Carmarthen Pibwrlwyd 2,520 Denbigh Llysfasi 2,158 Glamorgan Tregroes 339 Monmouth Usk 261 * Loss is likely to be reduced by additional receipts on sale of hops. † Excludes grant (£350) to Armstrong College. ‡ Loss includes £201 experimental work not included in the Trading Account but excludes profit £2,012 on the Capital Account.

asked the Minister of Transport the total amount of public money that has been given or lent for roads at the Welwyn Garden City?

A grant of £500 was made from the Road Fund to the Welwyn Rural District Council two years ago towards an expenditure of £5,012 which the Council proposed to incur in constructing a new road-bridge over the London and North Eastern Railway as part of the principal arterial road through the Welwyn Garden City. I can only speak for the Road Fund, and am not aware of any other grants or loans towards roads on this estate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any steps have been taken or contemplated by his Department with a view to affording adequate safeguard against accidents at level crossings?

The proper protection of the public at railway level crossings is a question that is continually being dealt with by my officers. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that the appropriate protective measures depend to some extent upon the circumstances of each particular case, but he will find a general description of the requirements and recommendations generally made on pages 15 and 16 of the "Requirements for Passenger Lines and Recommendations for Goods Lines" issued by my Department, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to a number of fatal and other accidents where the owner of the motor vehicle was not insured against third-party risks and consequently no compensation was recoverable by the sufferers; and will he introduce a Bill to compel all owners of motor vehicles to take out an insurance policy against third-party risks?

I have received representations with regard to accidents in cases where owners of motor vehicles were not insured against third-party risks and were not in a financial position to pay compensation. I am considering the question of compulsory insurance in connection with the Bill relating to road vehicles which I hope to introduce, but as my hon. Friend knows the difficulties are considerable.