asked the Secretary of state for War whether, in view of the increased cost of fuel and light and the increased charge for so many necessities in the case of married officers, serving and pensioned, he can see his way to postpone the announced further deduction from the 20 per cent. bonus awarded in 1919?

No, Sir; the reduction follows on the fall in the cost of living since 1st July, 1919, as determined by the Ministry of Labour index figures of comparative retail prices. These figures take into consideration current prices.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of soldiers discharged from the Army in 1926 suffering from tuberculosis; and how many of these men were granted disablement pension?

The number of soldiers discharged from the Army during 1926 on account of tuberculosis was 222, of whom 64 were awarded disability pensions and 84 were awarded non-attributable gratuities.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has read the findings of the court of inquiry into the accident at Stag Lane Aerodrome in which Mr. J. M. Michie was killed, and whether he will publish the findings?

I assume the hon. and gallant Member has in mind the results of the investigation held by the Inspector of Accidents into accidents to civil aircraft. It is not the practice to publish the Inspector's Report, but I can state that the conclusion at which he has arrived is that the accident was due to errors of judgment on the part of the pilot.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can publish in any form the nature of the successful meteorological theories propounded by Dr. J. Bjerknes after his work at the Air Ministry

The general principles on which the Norwegian School of Meteorologists work are set out in considerable detail in the technical journals, especially in the publications (mostly in English) of the Geophysical Institute of Bergen. As regards the work which Dr. Bjerknes carried out at the Air Ministry and which related to the application of the above principles to specific cases, a report has been prepared by him and circulated in manuscript to professional staff of the Meteorological Office; its publication as a Geophysical Memoir of the Office is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that organic heart diseases, such as valvular disease, do not usually affect men until middle age; that a man contracting this disease under 30 years of age may be a complete invalid at 45 years of age; and whether he will consider amending the Pensions Warrant to cover young men who contracted valvular disease of the heart as a result of war service and are not incapacitated until more than seven years after discharge?

I am medically advised that it is most improbable that a young man contracting valvular disease of the heart as a result of his war service would not be noticeably incapacitated until more than seven years after discharge. Should such an exceptional case arise, it would be considered in accordance with the special arrangements to which I have already more than once referred in this House.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is contemplated to nominate any representative of the agricultural industry as adviser to the Electricity Board, so that the benefits of the Electricity Supply Act of 1926 may be secured for that industry?

The manner in which the Electricity Board can best keep itself informed of the special requirements of agriculture in connection with the supply of electricity is a, matter which it will be for the Board itself to determine as occasion may arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any assessment has been made of the damage to British property in China, missionary or private; and whether any claims have been made or are to be made?

There has been no official assessment as yet. Each individual claimant has submitted his claim in the first instance to the nearest British Consular Officer, by whom it has been investigated, and transmitted to His Majesty's Legation, where it has again been checked. A preliminary list of claims was filed with the Wai Chiao-pu on the 13th of May, 1926, but there will probably be many farther items arising out of the recent attacks and disturbances to be added to this list, which includes claims from missionary bodies, from mercantile firms, and from private individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Chinese agents in European countries are buying aeroplanes and aeroplane armament and hiring pilots; and whether he will make diplomatic representations to prevent or restrict such transactions pending the stabilisation of the Chinese situation?

I am fully aware that both parties in the Chinese

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of coal has been imported into this country during the present year, and the net cost of same; also the quantity exported and its value during the same period?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total exports and imports annually between Russia and this country since 1921?

The following statement shows the value of the trade of the United Kingdom with Russia (U.S.S.R.) in the years specified:

The quantity of coal imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during January—the latest period for which information is available—was 1,872,437 tons, and the declared value c.i.f. was £5,215,223. All of this was, of course, contracted for during the stoppage at the prices then ruling. The quantity of coal exported during January was 4,092,879 tons, and the declared value f.o.b., £4,290,806.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of overtime worked by the clerical grades of his Department during the past three months; whether any steps have been taken to reduce such overtime and, if so, the nature of the steps taken; and whether it has been found possible, by curtailing overtime, to absorb temporary clerks declared redundant in other Government Departments?

Figures as regards the provinces are not available. The figure for London is 79,813 hours, of which 41,187 were of a non-recurrent nature in the Savings Bank in connection with the Post Office issue of 4 Per Cent. Consolidated Loan. 25,932 hours were worked in the Money Order Department, where an increase of staff has now been sanctioned. A certain amount of the remainder in other Departments is accounted for by Christmas pressure and temporary delay in filling vacancies. In general, the causes and circumstances of the overtime were for the most part not such as to justify the absorption of temporary clerks declared redundant in other Government Departments; and, in fact, the question of discharging a number of temporary clerks from the Post Office itself is at present engaging attention.