asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a petition, signed by 97 per cent. of the tradesmen and shopkeepers in the Broughty Ferry district of Dundee, recently petitioned the city council praying them to carry out The Dundee Boundaries Act, 1913, so far as its provisions concerned Broughty Ferry; that no arrangement has yet been made for fulfilment of those conditions; and whether he will, as now suggested by the petitioners, take any steps to facilitate implementing of the legal settlement made in 1913?

I have received a copy of the petition referred to in the question. The suggestion made in the second part of the question is not in accordance with the information which I have received from the Town Clerk. As regards the third part, I have no jurisdiction to intervene in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the average prices for sheep stock at auction sales are stated by the Highland Society to have been 52s. to 85s. for ewes, and 32s. to 52s. for lambs, at Whitsunday, 1921, and 56s. to 88s. for sheep. and 36s. to 82s. 2d. for lambs at Whitsunday, 1925; and whether he can give corresponding figures for 1926?

The figures quoted by the hon. and gallant Member correspond approximately with those given in a Table published in the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland for 1926 as representing the range of prices of Cheviot sheep in Scotland throughout the years in question. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the claim of the staffs of the three Scottish agricultural colleges to salaries equal to those paid to corresponding officers in England has been considered; what is the amount of the sum involved; and whether provision will be made n the Estimates for the year 1927–28 for establishing equality of remuneration as between Scottish and English staffs?

I regret that it has not yet been found Possible to devise a method satisfactory to all parties of giving effect to the proposed revision of the salaries of these staffs. In these circumstances it has been necessary to frame the Estimates for the coming year on the basis of existing arrangements, but it does not follow that the matter could not be dealt with during the year if a satisfactory solution could be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Government commandeered the "Lady Tennant" and took her from trading between the Western Highland ports; whether this ship has since been replaced; if not, whether it is the intention of the Government to replace it with another ship; and, if not, why?

I have made inquiries, and understand that the vessel "Lady Tennant" was never commandeered by the Government. It appears that in 1917 she ran for a time under the direction of the Ministry of Shipping, but at that date she had already ceased to work on the West Coast of Scotland. The vessel was sold in 1916 by its former owners to Messrs. Langlands, who, prior to and in the early years of the War, ran a service which I understand was similar to that now given by Coast Lines, Limited, with the steamer "Durham Coast," calling at Stornoway twice fortnightly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a new scale of dental fees for work under the National Health Insurance Act was, on 1st October, 1920, agreed between approved societies representing the majority of the insured population in Great Britain and the dentists' professional organisations, and that the central executive of the Sons of Temperance Approved Society, by resolution, accepted the new scale; whether his attention has been drawn to a circular letter issued by the secretary of the Glasgow district of that approved society informing members of the Sons of Temperance Approved Society in Scotland that it is not proposed to issue dental letters except to members in places where dentists are willing to operate on the 1925 scale; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter under the society's scheme of additional benefits or under the Regulations with respect to withdrawal of approval, or otherwise?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My attention had not previously been drawn to any circular letter of the nature referred to by the hon. Member, but I am having inquiries made, and as soon as the facts have been ascertained I shall consider the position.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed in Devonport in connection with State-assisted schemes, specifying which schemes since 1st April, 1926; and how many are now being built?

I am unable to give separate statistics for Devonport, but in connection with State-assisted schemes in the County Borough of Plymouth, which includes Devonport, 64 houses were completed by private enterprise between the 1st April, 1926, and 1st February, 1927, under the Housing Act of 1923, and 82 under the Act of 1924. In addition 214 houses were completed by the corporation under the Act of 1924 during the same period. 340 houses are at present under construction in State-assisted schemes and 256 have been arranged for but not commenced, while authority has been given for an additional 284 for which arrangements have not yet been made.

asked the Minister of Health if he proposes to hold an inquiry into the application he has received from the Rural District Council of Reigate, Surrey, for sanction to the borrowing of a loan for the purpose of providing a, main drainage system for the Parish of Walton-on-the-Hill; and, if so, the date and place of such inquiry?

An inquiry will be held on the 1st proximo, at 11 o'clock, at the Church Institute, Walton-on-the-Hill.