asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the rubber restriction policy is to be continued after the 1st November next, and, if so, what alterations are contemplated in the regulation of the scheme after that date?

So long as the conditions under which the present scheme is operating remain substantially the same such, for instance, as the area of restriction, I do not propose to suggest to the Governments in Ceylon and Malaya that they should suspend their restriction measures or that the regulations now in force should be materially modified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a new trade treaty has been signed with Jugoslavia; and whether any steps have been taken in this treaty or otherwise to secure the payment of pre-War trade debts to creditors in this country?

A new commercial treaty with the Serb-Croat-Slovene State has been initialled and is expected to be signed shortly. It does not deal with pre-War trade debts. I understand, however, that steps are now being taken with a view to direct negotiations between the debtors and their British creditors in regard to this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles affecting the right of British traders to recover in Germany the value of goods exported from them to Germany prior to the outbreak of war which were commandeered by the German Government, he will say whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken to secure to these British exporters the right of obtaining payment for such goods as have been sold on free-on-board terms through the Anglo-German Clearing House?

If the goods were the property of the British trader and were seized in German territory, he would have been entitled to lodge a claim against the German Government through the Clearing Office under Article 297 of the Treaty of Versailles. If the property had passed to the German consignee, the British trader would have been entitled to lodge a claim with the Clearing Office under Article 296 in respect of a pre-War debt owing by such consignee, provided that the parties concerned were respectively resident in British and German territory on the date of the ratification of the Treaty. The respective time limits for lodging these claims have, however, expired.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any additional inspectors have to be, or have been, appointed, to carry out the work of the Merchandise Marks Act; and, if so, what are the qualifications for such appointments?

No inspectors have been appointed for the purpose of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; and it is not the intention either of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, or of the Board of Trade, to appoint any.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement as to the present position relative to the common rights on the Seaview foreshore, Isle of Wight; and whether he is now in a position to return to Mr. Henry E. Mathews, Roseneath, Seaview, papers connected with the lawsuit in which he was involved some Years ago?

The hon. Member presumably refers to certain foreshore at Seaview which was the subject of the action Attorney-General v. Oglander and Glynn and which was declared, by an Order of the High Court, dated the 13th July, 1920, to be Crown property. This foreshore forms part of that leased by the Crown to the St. Helen's Urban District Council in November, 1925, and the lease safeguards the rights of the public over the foreshore. As to the last part of the question, I am informed that the Department can only trace one paper with any bearing on the lawsuit referred to as having been in their possession,, and this paper was returned to Mr. Mathews in February, 1925.

asked the Postmaster-General the result of the automatic telephone system in operation at Oxford?

The automatic telephone system at Oxford is working satisfactorily.

asked the Postmaster-General if an inquiry has been made into the circumstances attending the disappearance of a mail bag containing letters between Paddington and Fishguard at the end' of January and, if so, with what result; whether another mail hag has disappeared since then; and what steps he is taking in the matter?

I have no knowledge of the disappearance of a mail bag between Paddington and Fishguard at the end of January. A mail bag for London, despatched from Cardiff on the night of the 2nd of February, has disappeared, and the loss of that hag is being actively inquired into by the police and my own officers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet considered the issue of an official publication giving the Post Office rules and regulations in smaller form than the present 1s. Post Office Guide, and at a lower price, say 1d.?

I am proposing to issue an abridged publication of the kind which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind, but I should prefer for the present to reserve the question of price.

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of motor mail' vans now in use by his Department, together with the number of vans that are of entire British manufacture?

The present Post Office-owned fleet of motor mail vehicles totals 1,343 including 270 motor cycles. Of this total, 364 are of entirely British manufacture. The remaining vehicles are also of British manu- facture, except to the extent of about 3 per cent. of their value. Contracts are at present placed for the supply of 121 motor mail vehicles, of which 102 are of entirely British manufacture.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of writing assistants with over and under six years' service, respectively, but with more than two years' service, who have been classified A or above average for promotion purposes in each of the following Departments: the Post Office Savings Bank, the Money Order Department, the London Telephone Service, the Secretary's Office Registry, the Engineering Department, the Stores Department (London), the Stores Department (Birmingham), and the Accountant-General's Department (Edinburgh)?

A review of the previous classification of Writing Assistants is at present taking place. I will write to the hon. Member when it is complete.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of licensed wireless listeners in Great Britain on the last convenient date, together with the comparative figures for Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, and the United States of America"

The latest available figures which are properly comparable are those for the 1st December, 1926, namely:

	Licences.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland	2,130,000
Germany	1,337,122
Sweden	238,000
Denmark	114,492
Hungary	53,070
Switzerland	51,758

There is no licensing system in the United States of America, and no official statistics of the number of wireless receiving stations are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many appli- cants were accepted in the year 1926 for His Majesty's Air Foree; and how many were rejected on account of some physical or medical disability?

The answer to the first part of the question is 379 men and 1,057 boys; to the second, 258 men and 234 boys.

asked the Prime Minister the value of the contributions per head which are made by Great Britain and each of the Dominions toward the costs of the defence of the Empire?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th November, 1926, col. 535, Vol. 200] supplied the following information:The following gives the information requested for the year 1924–25 based upon expenditure actually incurred in that year according to the latest information available.

	s.	d.
Great Britain (including Northern Ireland)	53	8
Canada	5	6
*Commonwealth of Australia	18	1
New Zealand	9	10
Union of South Africa:
White Population only	13	1
Total Population	2	2
Irish Free State	18	11
Newfoundland	—
†British India	3	3
* This does not include a sum of £2,000,000 (= 6s. 9d. per head) appropriated in 1924 for the Naval Construction Trust Fund. According to latest information it appears that this sum was probably paid into the Trust Fund in the financial year 1923–24.
†In making comparisons between India and other parts of the Empire the relatively low income per head and the standard of living in India have to be borne in mind.

asked the Home Secretary when the committee which was set up in June, 1925, to inquire into the question of the disinterested manage- ment of licensed houses, and of which Lord Southborough is chairman, will issue its Report?

I am afraid I cannot fix a date. I would refer my hon. Friend to the ànswer I gave to the hon. Member for the Pontefract Division (Brigadier-General Brooke) on the 10th February.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether there is any standard of cloak-room accommodation fixed for the needs of staff in Government offices; and whether adequate provision is always made for drying wet clothing and for the disposal of wet umbrellas?

The needs of Government staff for cloak-room accommodation vary to such an extent that it is not practicable to apply a common standard, but cloak rooms or lockers are provided in those cases in which there are large massed staffs. No special provision is made for drying wet clothing or for the disposal of wet umbrellas.

asked how many Government offices employing women on work on machines such as typewriters and calculating machines have a supply of hot water available for the staff; and in how many London offices, where over 100 staff are working, there is no hot water available?

I regret that the information desired can only be ascertained by the expenditure of a large amount of time and labour disproportionate to its probable value, and I hope that the Noble Lady will not press for it. In the majority of offices either a domestic hot water supply or apparatus for heating water is available.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the loans which many boards of guardians have been obliged to raise through the extra num- ber of people having to be relieved by them, caused by the seven months' coal stoppage, he is prepared, in order to avoid undue hardship to the ratepayers within these areas, to extend the time for so long a period as may be required to reduce the burdens to reasonable proportions?

Yes, Sir; the period of repayment of loans raised by boards of guardians on account of the coal stoppage will be determined in each case according to the particular circumstances of the area.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the Report of the first quarter's work of the guardians appointed by him to take over the duties of the Chester-le-Street Board of Guardians; and, if so, when the Report will be published?

My right hon. Friend has received a Report from the Chesterle-Street Board of Guardians, and proposes to present it at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he is aware that Mrs. McGarrigle. of 12a, George Street, Portglasgow, has been refused a pension under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, on the. ground that she is in receipt of a service dependant's pension for her stepson who was drowned in the "Hampshire" in 1916; that she brought up her stepson from seven years of age until he was called up at 18; and whether, as her right to a service pension has been acknowledged, he will consider favourably her claim to a widow's pension under the section of the Act dealing with service dependants?

I have been asked to reply. In view of the payment to Mrs. McGarrigle of the service dependant's pension in respect of the death of her stepson, the award under the Contributory Pensions Act was restricted to an allowance of 5s. per week for her child. This is in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Act which precludes the payment of double pensions except where the service pension is payable in respect of the death of a son during the late War. The Scottish Board of Health have been advised that for purposes of this Section "son" does not include "stepson."

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to extend the period allowed to persons entitled to become voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, or to abolish the time limit altogether?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 17th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair).

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of persons insured under the National Health Insurance Act on 31st December, 1926, and, for comparison, the number on 31st December, 1925?

The approximate number of persons insured under the National Health Insurance Act. in England and Wales, on 31st December, 1925, was 14:196,000. The necessary information is not yet available to enable the number insured on 31st December, 1926, to be furnished for comparison, but I am advised that they are roughly the same as in the previous year.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the need of dwellings for workpeople in Teignton, and that the council of that town has not taken any action under the Housing Acts either by way of subsidy or in erecting houses; and if the Ministry of Health is taking any action?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the urban district of Teignmouth. I am aware of the need for houses for workpeople in that district, and one of my inspectors has recently conferred with the council with a view to their undertaking the erection of a number of houses. I understand that stops are being taken to secure a site for the erection of houses, and I have arranged that when the site has been chosen, the inspector shall pay a further visit in order to assist the council in the preparation of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that no progress has been made in the fulfilment of the scheme proposed in 1924 for the erection of six houses in the parish of Lytchett Matravers, Dorset; that the medical officer of health, Dorset, drew attention to the shortage in his annual report for 1925; that the parish council made complaint to the Ministry of Health last spring; that the local branch of the British Legion wrote to the Ministry last year drawing attention to the state of housing in the parish; and who is responsible for the continued delay in this matter?

I am aware of the scheme to which the hon. Member refers. I approved the council's proposal to erect six houses in this parish on 4th November, 1925, and have subsequently communicated with the council with a view to progress being made with the scheme. I understand that the delay is due to difficulties relating to the acquisition of the site. I am urging the council to take steps to expedite the acquisition, and to obtain tenders for the erection of the houses.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built at Oldbury to the last convenient date under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, and what is the reason that further progress has been held up?

Between the passing of the Housing Act of 1923 and the 31st January last, the erection of 358 houses by the council and 575 houses by private builders has been approved. In October last the council put forward a provisional programme for a further 262 houses to be erected by the end of 1927. At that time they were behindhand with their existing contracts, and to avoid an undue congestion of the housing programme, with consequent adverse effect on building prices and delay in the completion of contracts, I gave my approval only to a first instalment of 50 houses. Early last December the council were informed that if prices for this instalment IN ere satisfactory and further satisfactory tenders could be obtained early this year, I would agree to their proceeding with a further 100 houses. An application was made at the beginning of the present month, and I have now approved the erection of a further 100 houses, subject in the case of 56 to satisfactory tenders being approved. The council have not dissented from my view that the putting out of contracts should be so regulated as to maintain, as far as possible, a steady and continued output of houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the lowest and the highest price paid for Weir, Atholl, and Cowieson houses in Scotland, inclusive of land, drainage, and paths during the year 1926 by the Scottish Board of Health and local authorities, respectively?

No houses are being built by the Scottish Board of Health, but I assume that the Noble Lady desires information as to the houses being built by the Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust), Limited. During 1926, the highest and lowest contract prices for these houses were for three-apartment flatted houses, Weir, £361 10s.; Atholl, £388, subject to a possible reduction to £380 12s. 6d. if the latter firm obtain further orders from outside sources; for three-apartment bungalow houses, Weir, £369 Cowieson, Z380; for three-apartment two-storey cottage in blocks of four, Cowieson, £3g0; and for four-apartment semi-detached two-storey cottages, Weir, £399 10s. Except in the case of the Cowieson types, the price of which includes the cost of a certain amount of drainage work, none of the prices cover the cost of land, drainage or paths, as these are not included in the contracts with the firms named, and the price therefore is not yet available.The highest and lowest contract prices per house for these makes contracted for by local authorities during 1926 were Weir, highest, £440 (three-apartment bungalows), and, lowest, £430 (three- apartment bungalows); Atholl (three-apartment flats), highest, £455, subject to a reduction if the firm receives a minimum number of other orders, and, lowest, 2409; Cowieson, nil. These prices do not include the price of land which, except in one case, was taken on feu.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far from Shanghai the Cantonese forces now are; and whether he has any information as to the intention of the Cantonese commander to pursue the advance?

The latest report shows that the Cantonese forces have now occupied Hangchow, which is approximately 100 miles from Shanghai. I am unable to give any information as. to the future plans of the Cantonese military leaders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with appeal tribunals for the police forces of Scotland?

I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on the 17th instant. The proposals now being considered relate to Scotland as well as England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of the steamers engaged in the West Highland transport; the retrospective dates on which he steamers were built; and which steamers are carrying mails for the Government?

I am informed that the steamers mentioned in the following lists are engaged in transport services to the Western Highlands. The information given in the second column as to the year of building is extracted from the Mercantile Navy List and Maritime Directory. Information as to the vessels which carry mails is given in the heading to the first list and in the notes to the subsequent lists.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many applicants were accepted in the year 1926 for His Majesty's Army, and how many were rejected on account of some physical or medical disability?

I regret that information is not available for the exact period mentioned by the hon. Member, but the figures of acceptances and rejections for the recruiting year ending 30th September, 1926, will be found in the Table, on page 12, of the General Annual Report on the British Army for 1926, recently presented to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recruiting depots are maintained by the War Office and at what annual cost?

The number of Army Recruiting Zones is 66. The total estimated annual cost, as shown on page 46 of Army Estimates, 1926, is £129,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give figures showing the total amount of the administrative expenses of the miners' welfare fund central committee for each of the

Country.			Coal.	Coke (in terms of coal).	Lignite (in terms of coal).	Total (in terms of coal).
			Metric tons (2,204 lbs.).
France	…	…	4,545,802	4,766,943	216,870	9,529,615
Belgium	…	…	2,576,558	348,399	39,563	2,964,520
Italy	…	…	1,907,156	2,721	—	1,909,877
Total	…	…	9,029,516	5,118,063	256,433	14,404,012

The total output of coal from the Saar Mines in 1925 was 12,989,849 metric tons, but as the Saar is part of the French Customs Economic Union, information is not available as to the quantity of that coal consumed in France.

It is impossible to answer the second part of this question. Much of the administrative work of the Miners' Welfare Fund is performed by the staff of the Mines Department, in conjunction with their other duties. As regards the members of the staff whose whole time is so occupied, no comparison can be made betwen 1924 and 1926, because in 1924 the Miners' Welfare Committee paid the Industrial Welfare Society to do for them certain technical advisory work. This has so increased as to lead the Committee to take it into their own hands. As regards the first part of the question, the expenses borne by the fund were £2,865 8s. 4d. in 1924, and £3,905 16s. 2d. in 1926. The total expenses to date amount to under 7s. for every £100 of the total allocations.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of reparation coal Germany sent to different countries in 1925; the amount of coal mined in the Saar Valley for France; and when these artificial coal exports from Germany and the Saar Valley will cease?

The quantities of coal, coke and lignite supplied to France, Belgium and Italy on reparation account during the year 1925 were as follow:With reference to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given to him on 14th June last (OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 196, col. 1983/4), and 3rd August, 1925 (OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 187, col. 964). Those arrangements are still in force.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total area of land to be surrendered for the proposed widening of Kensington High Street; and what proportion of the cost of such widening will be paid from public revenue?

The area of land to be surrendered along the frontages in Kensington High Street proper is, I am informed, about 16,270 square feet. The provisional financial arrangement is that the cost of the widening shall be borne in equal thirds by the London County Council, the Kensington Borough Council, and the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the area of land to be surrendered by the Crown for the proposed widening of Kensington High Street; and whether the Crown is receiving any consideration in cash or otherwise for the land so surrendered?

The area of land to be surrendered by the Commissioners of Crown Lands is about 6,700 square feet. The surrender of the land and the widening of the road form part of an agreement come to with the Kensington Borough Council and the firm, occupying the bulk of the existing premises fronting the portion of Kensington High Street in question. This arrangement will enable re-building of the Crown premises to be effected on an enlarged site which will include the roadway known as Burden Mews and at present subject to public rights. No cash consideration will he payable to the Crown in respect of the land surrendered except as regards a small area which is not in the occupation of the before-mentioned firm. A portion of Kensington Gardens extending to three-eighths of an acre is also being surrendered by the Office of Works. No consideration is being paid in respect of this area.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will ascertain what would be the approximate cost of supplying each Member of Parliament with a yearly season-ticket between his constituency and London; and whether such cost would be greater or less than the cost of Members travelling under the present system of voucher s, and the amount of such difference?

The estimated cost for the current financial year of Members travelling under the present system of vouchers is £33,500. The approximate cost of supplying every Member with a yearly season-ticket between one station in his constituency and London, and by one route only, would be £70,000, or more than double the cost of the present system.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Members of this House avail themselves of the right to free travelling between London and their constituencies?

The number of Members who have obtained warrants for this purpose is 471.