asked the Post-master-General the number of male clerical officers classified as "A" or above average for promotion purposes in each of the following Departments: Accountant-General's Department, Lon- don Telephone Service, Money Order Department, Savings Bank Department, Secretary's Office (London and Scotland, respectively), Engineering Department (Provinces), Stores Department, London Engineering District, and Engineer-in-Chief's Office?

The numbers classified as "A" are as follows:

25, 2, 1, 41, 8, 1, 7, 14, 5 and 17

This classification denotes that the officers concerned are considered to be "eminently fitted for early and special promotion." The reports on which the classification is based are not furnished for the whole staff, but only for those officers in each Department whose seniority brings them within range of consideration for promotion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the aggregate amount of the produce and manufactures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported therefrom and consigned to the following Dominions and countries, and also the amount per head of their respective population for the year ending 31st March, 1.020: India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, France, Germany, United States of America, Italy, and Russia?

Exports or produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom to the undermentioned countries during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1926.

Country. British Exports thereto. British Exports Per Head of Population of Country. £ £ s. d. India 83,843,278 5 3 Canada 27,167,267 2 18 11 Australia 60,854,515 10 3 1 New Zealand 22,846,315 16 19 6 Union of South Africa. 31,826,529 4 3 4 France 29,195,943 14 8 Germany 38,818,920 12 5 United States 50,965,561 9 0 Italy 18,000,915 8 9 Russia 6,564,468 11

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the Blue Goose grape fruit, imported from Florida and stamped on the fruit Colonial Blue Goose Winner; and, inasmuch as this may create an impression that it is British Empire fruit, whether he will consider introducing legislation to deal with the matter?

I have been asked to reply. If my hon. Friend will send me full particulars, I shall be glad to con-

The Net Amount of Customs Duty collected at the Full and Preferential Rates respectively in respect of each of the commodities to which Imperial Preference applies, during the year ended 31st March, 1920, was as follows:— Articles. At Full Rate of Duty. At Preferential Rate of Duty. Total. … £ £ £ Chicory … 43,000 — 43,000 Cocoa … 208,000 527,000 735,000 Coffee … 112,000 92,000 204,000 Dried Fruit … 553,000 12,000 565,000 Hops and Hop Extracts … 116,000 1,000 117,000 Silk and Artificial Silk … 2,584,000 7,000 2,591,000 Spirits … 3,480,000 4,458,000 7,938,000 Sugar … 14,333,000 2,662,000 16,995,000 Molasses … 347,000 10,000 357,000 Glucose … 211,000 2,000 213,000 Saccharin … 1,000 — 1,000 Sugar Composite Articles … 818,000 10,000 828,000 Tea … 870,000 4,910,000 5,780,000 Tobacco … 48,922,000 4,572,000 53,494,000 Wine … 3,660,000 86,000 3,746,000 Cinematograph Films … 102,000 1,000 103,000 Clocks, Watches and Parts … 178,000 1,000 179,000 Motor Cars, Motor Cycles and Parts … 475,000 186,000 661,000 Musical Instruments and Parts … 136,000 2,000 138,000 Lace and Embroidery … 174,000 1,000 175,000 Cutlery … 14,000 1,000 15,000 Gloves … 94,000 — 94,000 Mantles for Incandescent Lighting … 4,000 — 4,000

asked the Under-Secretary of State for- India what action is being taken by the Government of India with a view to abating malaria?

Public health being a transferred subject, anti-malarial measures are a matter for the Provincial Governments except in regard to the health of the Army and to central

sider what steps can be taken in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of duty collected at the full and preferential rate in respect of the commodities to which Imperial Preference applies for the year 1923–26?

I have been asked to reply. The information desired by my hon. Friend is given in the following table:

agencies and institutions for research. The measures undertaken include the destruction of breeding places of mosquitoes by oiling and drainage etc., the prohibition of rice cultivation near certain towns, jungle cutting, propaganda work, the formation of anti-malarial co-operative societies, and the systematic distribution of quinine at low prices. At the same time the area under cinchona cultivation is being steadily increased with the object of making India self-supporting in the matter of quinine.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the conclusions or recommendations of the Flood Inquiry Committee in connection with the floods of the Pegu River, Burma; whether the Pegu-Moulmein railway line has been seriously damaged; and whether the Government of India are satisfied that there is efficient supervision of the waterways concerned?

Owing to the abnormal rainfall in Burma this year, floods have occurred in many places and damage has been caused to the railways. The damage to the Pegu-Moulmein Railway was not considerable, and was quickly repaired. The Flood Inquiry Committee which has been set up by the Government of Burma has not yet, so far as I am aware, submitted its Report. One of the objects of the appointment of the Committee is, no doubt, to ascertain whether the supervision of the waterways is efficient or can be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of emigrants to Palestine during the year 1925; and from what countries, respectively, did they migrate?

The total number of immigrants into Palestine in 1925 was 34,641. Full details of their countries of origin are given on pages 55 and 56 of the Report by His Britannic Majesty's Government to the Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of Palestine and Trans-Jordan for the year 1925 printed and published by the Stationery Office as Colonial No. 20.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will obtain a report from His Majesty's representative in Russia as to the decision of the coal directorate, the governing body of the nationalised coal industry in Russia, to require an annual output from each hewer; what output is required; and how many hours working underground this involves?

I have already made inquiries but cannot confirm the supposed decision of the Russian Coal Directorate. My hon. and gallant Friend has possibly seen a report based on the programme of the Donetz Coal Trust, which provided for an average output per hewer of 763½ tons for the year 1926–27. In other parts of Russia the annual output per hewer varies enormously. The laws of the Union lay down a six-hour day for hewers. Cases of infringement have been reported from time to time and overtime has usually been ascribed to housing shortage at the mines which limits the number of men who can be taken on.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the beneficial effects on animals in the London Zoological Gardens by the use of glass which enables the ultra-violet rays of the sun to reach them; and whether, in view of this successful experiment on animals, he will recommend local education authorities to provide similar glass in schools?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I understand that some preliminary tests and observations have been carried out among school children, but any general recommendation on the subject would be premature at this stage.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men have been discharged from each of the Admiralty and naval establishments in the past 12 months; and how many are under notice of discharge?

The numbers of workpeople discharged from the Vote 8 Departments of the several Dockyards during the past 12 months are: Portsmouth … … 361 Devonport … … 502 Chatham … … 504 Sheerness … … 49 Rosyth … … 975 Pembroke Dock … … 715

The numbers under notice of discharge, or notice to be stood off, in the same Departments of the Dockyards are: Portsmouth … … … 50 Devonport … … … 31 Chatham … … … 34

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-apprentices, discharged from His Majesty's Dockyards, have found work in each of the last three years?

I have not the information necessary to enable me to answer this question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take administrative or legislative steps to transfer the responsibility and payments of the British Board of Film Censors from the cinema trade to the Government, as in the case of other forms of censorship?

The change suggested could riot be made without legislation and, as I have stated in reply to previous questions on the subject, there is not sufficient evidence that the present system of censorship (which I would point out includes an important element of control by local authorities) fails to secure on the whole an adequate standard.

asked the Home Secretary the number of cases since the passing of the Factories Act, 1901, in which the Home Office has taken steps to administer the Act in default of the local authority satisfactorily carrying out the duties with which it is entrusted under the Statute?

There are two provisions in the Act of 1901 under which the Home Office has power to take action in default of the local authority. One is Section 4, under which the Home Secretary can authorise an inspector to carry out all the duties of the local authority both under the Factory Act and under the Public Health Acts in relation to factories, workshops and workplaces. This is a power which would only be used in extreme cases, and there has been no instance of its use since 1901. The other provision is contained in Section 5 and empowers the inspector to serve a notice on the local authority of default in any factory or workshop in regard to any matters within the jurisdiction of the local authority, and if the necessary steps are not taken by the local authority to get the default remedied, the inspector can take action in its place. A large number of notices are served every year by the inspector under this Section, and the hon. Member will find the particulars in Table 4 of the Chief Inspector's Annual Report. 7,086 such notices were served in 1925.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has been requested by the Chief Constable of Monmouthshire to supply additional police for the purpose of giving protection to a number of miners who are desirous of resuming work at the Bedwas Colliery, Monmouthshire; and, if so, what steps he purposes taking in the matter?

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

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, why the building of the Legation at Belgrade has not yet been begun, since the site has been purchased and the money granted?

The plans for the new building are only now completed, and it is expected that building operations will be begun in time to enable the sum of £1,000 voted for 1920 to be spent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of temporary shorthand typists and typists, respectively, employed by the Customs and Excise Department in collectors' offices in London, intermediate and provincial towns, respectively?

No temporary shorthand typists are employed in these offices. Two temporary typists are employed in the collector's office, London, one in an intermediate town and none in provincial towns.

Mr. T. asked the Secretary of State for Air what economies he has effected in the administration of his Department during this year?

I have been asked to reply, and would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to-day to the hon. Members for East Bradford (Mr. Fenby) and the Western Isles (Mr. Livingston) in reply to similar questions asked in regard to other Departments.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in putting forward candidates for openings notified to the Employment Exchanges, preference is given, other things being equal" to ex-service men and to those who have been longest on the unemployed register?

Among applicants otherwise equally qualified industrially, a preference is given to ex-service men in selecting applicants on the registers for submission to vacancies notified to the Employment Exchanges. Special arrangements are also in operation for endeavouring to find employment for disabled ex-service men. Subject to the foregoing, the practice is to have regard solely to the applicant's industrial suitability for the employment in question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of bookmakers' certificates issued under the Betting Act to the last convenient date?

The total number of bookmakers' certificates issued up to the 13th November, 1926, was 9,837.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Messrs. Walter Ibbotson and Company (Manchester), Limited, sent a sample of manilla board to the Customs House, London, on the 12th October last, and asked for a ruling as to its being dutiable, pointing out that certain orders for the board depended on the ruling upon the sample, and that despite two further requests so far they have failed to get a ruling; and whether he will take steps to have the required ruling given?

I regret that it has not been possible to arrive at an earlier decision in this case. The sample forwarded with the company's original communication to the Customs was admittedly not a sample of the actual article it was intended to import and after examination it was found necessary to ask the company for a sample of the actual goods. This they were not in a position to furnish, but on the 6th November they forwarded a further small sample stating that the intended importation when completed would resemble this. This sample was too small for an analysis to be made. All that can be said is that, so far as the articles imported are identical with the last sample submitted, it is improbable that any liability to duty will arise. The company is being informed accordingly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider introducing legislation to enforce some sort of penalty on British nationals who reside abroad in order to avoid payment of their obligations with regard to rates and taxes?

The question of evasion of taxation by such methods as those suggested by my hon. Friend, as well as by other methods, is engaging my attention.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the 29 motor accidents, of which nine were fatal, reported to have occurred in the neighbourhood of Farningham village within the last 12 months, he will cause a report to be made to him as to the dangerous nature, or otherwise, of the many roads converging on Farningham village, within half-a-mile of the parish church, most of them winding and with steep gradients; and, following such report indicated, will he, if the need is indicated, cause more adequate danger notices to be erected?

As I explained in reply to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Smithers) on Monday last, I believe the Kent County Council have under consideration proposals for dealing with one road junction, and I will draw the council's attention to the suggestions contained in the present question. According to My information, however, the accidents are, generally speaking, not due to the absence of adequate warning notices or to the condition of the roads.

asked the Minister of Health how many and which local authorities have applied for permission to establish municipal banks since permission was granted to Birmingham?

As far as I am aware the local authorities which have at different times endeavoured to obtain powers by local Act are Swansea, Wigan, Stoke-on-Trent, and Bristol.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department makes a practice of sending inspectors to areas where slum property and overcrowding is known to exist; what is the nature and extent of such inspection; whether recommendations arc ever made to the responsible local authorities; and whether the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark has recently been included in the areas to which visits have been paid and reported upon?

The local authority have the responsibility for the inspection of their district which is specifically made their duty under the Housings Acts. If an area is represented as unhealthy and a scheme is made for the improvement of the area it devolves upon me, as Minister of Health, to hear objections, and to give a decision. In these circumstances it would be undesirable for recommendations to be made to the local authority by my Department, or for a case to be prejudged before the hearing of objections, though I am always glad to arrange for an inspector to confer with a local authority, at their request with regard to a particular area. In London unhealthy areas are inspected by the London County Council, as well as the borough council, and areas are scheduled by the county council in the order of their urgency.

asked the Minister of Health what was the rate of infant mortality per 1,000 births during the first three-quarters of the present year, or if he has not yet received those figures, then the figures for the first half-year, in Wigton, Cumberland; and the like figures for the other urban districts in Cumberland and for Carlisle?

For Carlisle the provisional infantile mortality rate (deaths under one year of age per 1,000 live births) for the first three quarters of 1926 is 80. No other figures are at present available for that period. Figures for the first half-year will, however, shortly be forthcoming for all the urban districts in question, and I will send them to my hon. Friend as soon as they are available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an analysis of the Supplementary Estimate for the relief of unemployment, showing the amounts allocated to the three purposes mentioned in the Estimate: loans for approved works, loans for general purposes to distressed local authorities, and loans to Poor Law authorities; and whether he will give a similar analysis of the original Estimate and of the first Supplementary Estimate (H.O. 104, of 1926)?

I have been asked to reply. The provision in the Estimate is required almost entirely for loans to Poor Law authorities, and no specific allocation was made to the three purposes referred to. Loans from the Vote are made only in the case of local authorities who find themselves unable to raise loans in the ordinary way. Since the beginning of the financial year sums of £23,761 and £4,779 only have been required to be advanced to local authoritics for the purpose of approved works for the relief of unemployment and to distressed local authorities for general purposes respectively.