asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the acreage of land in Scotland under deer forest in 1906 and the acreage under deer forest in 1926?

No official returns of the area comprised in deer forests were made in the year 1906. The area so comprised in the crofter counties in 1904, according to a Return obtained in 1908, was 2,920,000 acres; and the area of "deer forests and land exclusively devoted to sport" in other counties in 1907 was 561,000 acres. The total area comprised in deer forests in 1926 was returned as 3,113,000 acres, but this area is utilised also to a considerable extent for grazing purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on the feeding and clothing of necessitous children in the counties of Ayr, Dumbarton, Lanark, East, Mid and West Lothians, Stirling, Clackmannan and Fife for the financial year 1925–26; and what was their expenditure from the beginning of the financial year 1926 till 31st December of that year?

No particulars are available as to the expenditure by parish councils on the feeding and clothing of necessitous children, since the records and accounts kept by these councils make no apportionment of aliment as between adults and younger persons. I have, however, ascertained the figures relating to education authorities, and with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

County.	Education Authority's Expenditure.
	16th May, 1925, to 15th may, 1926.	16th May to 31st December, 1926.
	£	£
Ayr	1,844	29,400
Dumbarton	2,118	2,274
Lanark	1,089	4,162
East Lothian	50	8,384
Midlothian	165	13,914
West Lothian	680	1,089
Stirling	1,090	19,894
Clackmannan	157	274*
Fife	5,580	62,816
* It is expected that £77 of this sum will be recovered from parish councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants were settled on small holdings in December, 1914, and what was the total number of applicants, with similar figures for December, 1926?

At 31st December, 1914, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland had received 5,473 applications for new holdings and 3,857 for enlargements of existing holdings, and applicants had been given entry to 434 new holdings and 239 enlargements. At 31st December, 1926, 15,836 applications had been received for new holdings and 6,288 for enlargements, and applicants had been settled on 3,118 new holdings and 1,643 enlargements. I may add that of the total number of applications received up to the latter date, 6,967 had been withdrawn and 108 had been rejected for various reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of applicants for small holdings in Harris who have not yet been granted small holdings; how much land is in the possession of the Board of Agriculture on that island; whether there is sufficient to lay out the necessary number of small holdings applied for; and, if not, whether any action has been or is likely to be taken to acquire sufficient land?

The number of applications received by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for new holdings in Harris which remain undisposed of is 184; the Board do not possess any land in Harris, and it is not proposed that they should acquire any there, but, as I informed the hon. Member on 22nd March, schemes under the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act for the formation of small holdings in South Harris are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that five men have been tried before the sheriff at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court and sentenced to two months' imprisonment; that the men had to state their case in Gaelic, which had to be interpreted into English; and whether he will endeavour, when future appointments as sheriffs are made in the Highlands, to arrange that a knowledge of Gaelic will be one of the qualifications?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the five men who were tried on 1st instant on a charge of breach of interdict. If so, the answer to the second part of the question is, according to my information, in the negative. I have no evidence that a requirement such as is indicated in the last part of the question would be justified on the ground that there is any considerable number of people in the Highlands who know only Gaelic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the difficulties and extra cost of arranging a connection between the Stornoway mail boat and the early morning train to the South?

It is proposed that a new vessel, better and faster than the "Sheila," should be put on to this service, but the additional cost of providing and running a vessel fast enough to ensure connection with the early train at Kyle would be very heavy and greater than would be justified by the traffic and other conditions of the service. In addition to the extra cost, practical difficulties affecting other services would arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what authorities in the Highlands of Scotland have made official inquiries regarding the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; and what authorities have intimated their intention of putting the Act into operation?

I am advised by the Scottish Board of Health that official inquiries regarding the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, have been made by the following local authorities in the Highlands of Scotland, which have been taken to be the area as defined in the Highlands and Islands (Medical Service) Grant Act, 1913:

• Highland District Committee of Perth-shire,
• County Council of Ross-shire,
• South Western District Committee of Ross-shire,
• Western District Committee of Ross-shire,
• Easter Ross District Committee of Ross-shire,
• Lewis District Committee of Ross-shire,
• Aird District Committee of Inverness-shire,
• Inverness District Committee of Inverness-shire,
• Skye District Committee of Inverness-shire,
• North Uist District Committee of Inverness-shire,
• South Uist District Committee of Inverness-shire,
• Mainland District Committee of Shetland,
• Mainland District Committee of Orkney,
• Caithness County Council,
• Sutherland County Council,
• Ardnamurchan District Committee of Argyllshire,
• Mull District Committee of Argyllshire, and
• Lorn District Committee of Argyllshire.

As regards the second part of the question, the District Committee of the Black Isle District of Ross-shire have intimated that they are prepared to adopt a scheme under the Act, and a scheme has been provisionally approved by the Board for the Mid Ross District of Ross-shire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of the grants applied for and the total amount distributed under the agricultural drainage scheme in Scotland during each of the years 1921 to 1926 inclusive?

The information required by the hon. and gallant Member is as follows:

Scheme.	Total of grants applied for.	Total payments made by Board of Agriculture under the respective schemes (to 31st March, 1927).
	£	£
1921–2	27,835	14,773
1922–3	82,300	38,621
1923–4	80,963	32,048
1924–5	109,543	29,831
1925–6	25,417	9,109
1926–7	38,573	13,551

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the new Regulations governing the training of midwives have increased the financial burdens on Scottish maternity hospitals; whether the financial difficulties experienced by these hospitals have been considered by him; and whether he is now prepared to recommend to Parliament that grants should be given to Scottish maternity hospitals commensurate with those given to similar hospitals in England?

I am aware that the receipts of the Scottish maternity hospitals have been diminished by a decrease in the amounts received in fees from pupil midwives. The grants referred to in the question are not, of course, grants to the hospitals as such, but are grants for the purpose of aiding students undergoing a particular course of training. I think that the diminution in entrants may be attributed to the economic consideration that the average earnings of a registered midwife in Scotland do not provide a living wage rather than to the Regulations of the Central Midwives Board (Scotland) which lengthened the period of training. I have, however, taken steps to have the position of the hospitals carefully and sympathetically considered, but I am not yet in a position to make any recommendation to Parliament.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether any schemes are being undertaken to extend the operations of the Forestry Commission in the county of Sutherland?

The Forestry Commissioners have been negotiating for the acquisition of additional areas in Sutherlandshire, but a settlement has not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of retired officers at present employed for recruiting purposes; and what is the rate of pay?

My hon. and gallant Friend will find the information fully set out on page 49 of the Army Estimates for 1927.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there has been an increased output of goods manufactured in trades protected under the Safeguarding of Industries Act since its introduction; and, if so, to what extent?

I presume that my hon. Friend's question relates to articles of the kinds covered by Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921. I would refer him to the Report of the Special Committee on those industries which was published in April of last year [Cmd. 2631]. From that Report he will see that, in practically all the industries to which it relates, production initiated during the War had been maintained since the passing of the Act, in spite of adverse economic conditions, and that in a number of cases there had been a marked advance alike in quantity and in quality of output.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what, if any, has been the cost of the Government Committee on Trade and Industry; and if it is intended to dissolve the Committee when it issues its Report, as anticipated, towards the end of the current year?

The cost of the Committee on Industry and Trade since its appointment in July, 1924, so far as the Board of Trade is concerned, has been £10,069 including the salaries of the permanent officials occupied with the work, but exclusive of charges for stationery and printing. My hon. and gallant Friend will, no doubt, appreciate the fact that this difficult inquiry has made very heavy demands on the time of the members, who have given their services gratuitously and in the majority of cases have made no claims for expenses. It is not intended to continue the Committee in being after it has presented its final Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the negotiations for the Anglo-Spanish Commercial Treaty have now been completed; whether this agreement has now been signed; and when it will expire?

The reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the new arrangement is to remain in force for an indefinite period, subject to the right of either party to denounce it at three months' notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the general Report on the Census of Production is likely to be published?

The preparation of the final Report cannot be begun until the series of preliminary Reports now appearing in the Board of Trade Journal has been completed. Up to the present date, 28 out of a total of 121 schedules have been reported on in these preliminary Reports, in seven issues of the Journal. I hope the final Report may be ready in about a year from now.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will institute a full investigation into the price-fixing associations concerned with the production or sale of various building materials?

asked the Minister of Health why, in spite of lower fuel costs, the price of bricks, cast-iron goods, glazed ware, and other building material still remains higher than before the coal stoppage; and whether he proposes to take any action?

The Inter-Departmental Committee on the Prices of Building Materials, which is presided over by my hon. Friend the Member for the Ripon Division (Major Hills), keeps in constant touch with and investigates prices of building materials. In their last Report the Committee state that they are taking steps to inquire into the reasonableness of present prices. I have no doubt that a report will be made to my right hon. Friend in regard to the matter in due course.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the new system of remedial exercises introduced by Guy's Hospital, including physical jerks; and, in view of the opinion of the hospital authorities that this special system increases the physical power of patients, will he consider introducing it in the hospitals and institutions under his direct supervision?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is aware of the department for remedial treatment to which the hon. Member refers. Similar departments exist in other large hospitals, and patients needing this form of treatment receive it under medical direction not only in the larger, but also in many of the smaller hospitals. My right hon. Friend does not see any necessity to take any action in the direction suggested.

asked the Minister of Health when the Departmental Committee on Local Government Superannuation is likely to present its Report and recommendations?

I understand that this Committee are now engaged in the preparation of their Report, but I am unable to say definitely by what date the Report will be available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in many casual wards inmates have to lie on cement or brick floors; whether this is allowed by regulations; and whether, if it is, he will take immediate steps to have them so amended as to prohibit this?

The regulations require the guardians to provide proper sleeping accommodation, and my right hon. Friend has, as at present advised, no ground for supposing that they are not observed.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total poor rate in the £ in the Poor Law area of Bainbridge, Wensleydale?

I am informed by the clerk to the Aysgarth Board of Guardians that a precept has been issued for the levy of a rate of 2d. in the £ to meet the common charges of the Union for the half-year ending 30th September, 1927.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the number of fatal accidents in mines in the months of January, February, and March, 1926, and what was the number of non-fatal accidents during the same period; what has been the number of fatal accidents in mines in the months of January, February, and March in 1927, and the number of non-fatal accidents for the same period; and if he can state the proportion to the number employed in both periods?

During the first three months of 1926, there were 306 deaths from accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act and 1,214 persons were seriously injured. The death-rate per 1,000 persons employed was ·27 and the serious injury rate 1·07. The corresponding figures for the first three months of 1927 which were increased by the serious disasters at Cwm and Bilsthorpe were 324, 1,291, ·31 and 1·25, respectively. I regret that comparable figures as regards the less serious nonfatal accidents are not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the negotiations recently carried on for the amalgamation of a large group of collieries in the Forest of Dean; what is the attitude of his Department towards such negotiations; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the possible effects of such amalgamation upon the wages of the miners and the cost of coal to the consumers, as the result of increased co-ordination in respect of electrification, pumping equipment, transport, sales, and utilisation of coal barriers?

I have no information beyond that which has appeared in the Press. If any scheme of amalgamation is submitted to me under Part I of the Mining Industry Act, 1926, it is my duty, on being satisfied that, prima facie, it is a scheme to which the Act applies, to refer it to the Railway and Canal Commission for their consideration and decision. It is still possible, however, for a scheme of amalgamation to be carried through without resort to that Act, and in that case it does not come before my Department for any inquiry.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the amount of money that has been obtained by fraud from the State in the four prosecutions against colliery owners who were charged with obtaining falsely from his Department during the subvention period substantial sums by pretending larger sums of money had been paid in wages than were actually paid?

Convictions have been obtained in three out of the four cases in which prosecutions were instituted. The amounts in respect of which the persons concerned were charged and found guilty are £574, £87 and £200. In the remaining case the trial has not yet taken place.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amounts of British coal exported to France, Belgium, Germany, and the United States of America, respectively, during the first

Destination.	Coal Exported during the first three months of—
	1925.			1926.			1927.
	Quantity.	Average declared value per ton f.o.b.		Quantity.	Average declared value per ton f.o.b.		Quantity.	Average declared value per ton f.o.b.
	Tons.	s.	d.	Tons.	s.	d.	Tons.	s.	d.
France	3,104,636	20	10	2,556,355	16	2	2,468,076	18	6
Belgium	930,091	17	10	554,355	14	6	731,360	16	9
Germany	930,943	17	4	1,050,931	14	2	759,406	16	8
United States of America	27,643	31	4	413,367	40	7	51,700	25	11

asked the President of the Board of Trade the length of stay in this country of the Prussian Commission which is at present studying harbour and general conditions connected with the fishing and allied industries; which towns the Commisison is visiting; and exactly what investigations it is carrying out?

I have been asked to reply. The Commission arrived in this country on the 24th March and left on the 1st April. It visited Aberdeen, Hull, Grimsby and Fleetwood. The main objects of the Commission were to study the organisation at these ports for the landing and distribution of fish, and as regards Fleetwood to investigate the system employed there of coaling trawlers.

asked the Minister of Labour how many permits were issued for the immigration of aliens to employment in this country during 1924, 1925 and 1926?

The number of permits granted under Article 1 (3) (b) of the Aliens Order, 1920, during 1924 was 3,875, during 1925, 5,349 and during 1926, 5,540.

The figures are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that no shelter from the weather is now provided for persons waiting to sign on at the Darlington Employment Exchange; and whether he will issue immediate instructions for suitable arrangements to be made?

The existing premises at Darlington are not regarded as satisfactory and provision for a new building has been made in the current Estimates. The timing system which is in operation at Exchanges obviates the need for attendance before the appointed time for signing.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of persons who have been refused unemployment benefit at the Leek Exchange, the Biddulph Exchange and the Kidsgrove Exchange, all of North Staffordshire, during the six months ending 31st December, 1926, and for the two months ending 28th February, 1927; and the reasons given for refusal of benefit?

The figures are as follow:

RECOMMENDATIONS by the Local Committees at Leek, Biddulph and Kidsgrove for disallowance of applications for extended benefit.
Reasons for disallowance.	Six mouths ended 10th January, 1927.			Two months ended 14th March, 1927.
	Leek.	Biddulph.	Kidsgrove.	Leek.	Biddulph.	Kidsgrove
Not normally insurable and not seeking to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment.	6	2	7	7	—	2
Insurable employment not likely to be available.	3	4	16	6	1	12
Not a reasonable period of insurable employment during the preceding two years.	25	70	61	21	14	73
Not making every reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment or not willing to accept suitable employment.	82	28	136	43	7	90
Single persons residing with relatives.	99	78	57	25	26	37
Married women who could look for support from their husband.	42	32	26	5	8	26
Married men who could look for support from their wives.	8	3	—	2	1	—
Working short time but earning sufficient for maintenance.	38	21	—	9	28	5
Aliens	—	—	—	—	—	—
Postponed for a definite period	—	25	—	—	—	—
Total	303	263	303	118	85	245

Statistics of the disallowance of claims for standard benefit in these areas are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any joint action has been taken between the British and French Governments on the subject of Italy and Yugoslavia relations: whether joint representations have been made to Rome and Belgrade; and with what success?

The British, French and German Governments have been in consultation on this subject. There have been no joint representations to the Italian and Jugo-Slav Governments, but the hope has been expressed that the two Governments will as soon as possible try to clear up recent misunderstandings by means of frank and friendly conservations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how

France is the only State which has hitherto ratified the Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a considerable number of members of the administrative class in the Foreign Office and the Diplomatic Service have a father or mother who was not of British birth; and whether, in view of the likelihood that this influence might tend in special circumstances to weaken their single loyalty to this country, he will take steps to ascertain the exact number of such cases and consider whether some further safeguards are necessary?

The statement in the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is, I believe, correct in so far as it relates to mothers. As regards the second part, no case has arisen in the past to lend substance to the fears which the hon. and gallant Member appears to entertain, and my right hon. Friend does not consider that the inquiries which he suggests, or any additional safeguards are necessary beyond those already existing, and which were summarised in the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member on the 22nd of July, 1925.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of passengers to and from the Continent for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date who have not been in possession of regular passports?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the hon. Member has in mind the special arrangement whereby passports may be dispensed with in connection with excursion traffic. The total number of aliens who travelled on both inward and outward excursions under this arrangement during 1926 was 3,835. I regret that complete figures for British subjects are not available, but the number carried by the special Folkestone-Boulogne boat during July, August and September was over 25,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the proposal to permit the entry of Northern troops into the Legation quarter at Peking was known to or authorised by His Majesty's Government before it took place; and whether their approval has been notified in any way after or before consulting the American Government in the matter?

His Majesty's Government were informed beforehand that the Ministers of the Protocol Powers, including of course the United States Minister, would be prepared in certain specified circumstances and conditions to authorise the entry of Metropolitan police into the Legation quarter. His Majesty's Government issued no instructions to His Majesty's Minister at Peking on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the proposal to picket the Union of Socialist Soviet Republic's Consulate at Shanghai was known to His Majesty's Government before the picketing took place; whether His Majesty's Government or the commander of the forces at Shanghai were consulted in the matter in any way, or expressed any approval thereof; and whether the Municipal Government of Shanghai Settlement confer in such matters with the British commander?

The proposal was not known to His Majesty's Government before the stationing of guards took place. As regards the second part of the question I would refer the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay papers showing the negotiations that have taken place between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States regarding the Chinese situation?

No, Sir. It is not the intention of my right hon. Friend to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the British troops in China have been supplied with tear gas?

It is not in the public interest to state the armament of the British troops in China?

asked the Home Secretary the number of clubs that have been struck off the register in the Metropolitan area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the situation of these clubs; and whether they have been, in the ordinary terms, night clubs or social clubs?

All available information on this subject is to be found in the Volumes of Licensing Statistics for each year, and I would refer the hon. Member to Table V of those Volumes. The Volume for the year 1926 is in course of preparation. Taking the County of London as probably the most convenient area for the purpose, it may be stated provisionally that the number of clubs struck off the register during the year, after legal proceedings, was 69; the distribution being as follows:

Blackheath	…	…	2
Finsbury	…	…	1
Hanover Square	…	…	5
Holborn	…	…	5
Kensington	…	…	6
Newington	…	…	1
St. James	…	…	32
St. Marylebone	…	…	2
St. Pancras	…	…	3
Strand	…	…	8
Tower Hamlets	…	…	3
Wandsworth	…	…	1
			69

I have no information which would enable me to answer the last part of the question.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to an inquest held on two workmen, named Frank Scott, of Tonbridge, and Dennis Batchelor, of Leigh, who lost their lives in an explosion at the powder mills of Messrs. Curtis and Harvey at Leigh, near Tonbridge; and if, in view of the evidence given by His Majesty's inspector of explosives, in which he stated that he could form no theory as to the cause of the fire, he will have an inquiry set up to thoroughly investigate the circumstances?

Experiments with the powder involved are being made, and the investigation into the accident by the Explosives Department of the Home Office is still proceeding.

asked the Home Secretary whether prisoners in Parkhurst prison are now confined to their cells for some 15 hours without being allowed to leave them under any circumstances; what is the nature of the sanitary accommodation provided in the cells; and whether any such rule is in force in other prisons?

The majority of convicts at Parkhurst are locked in their cells at 5 p.m., and unlocked at 7 a.m.; a certain number of well-behaved long sentence convicts are not locked up till 7 p.m. A chamber utensil is provided in each cell and facilities are given for any man who wishes to empty his utensil about 7.30 p.m. Any prisoner can also by ringing his bell summon the officer on duty, should that be necessary, at any time. These arrangements have been in force for some years and are similar to those at all other prisons.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the formation of further companies to administer private estates; and what steps it is proposed to take to deal with the growing practice of converting private estates into companies?

I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend said in his Budget speech on this and allied subjects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the present duty would be on 100 gallons of natural Portuguese wine not exceeding 14 per cent. absolute alcohol; how many gallons of proof spirit would be required to fortify such 100 gallons to the average strength of Portuguese wines as imported into this country; what would be the duty at the present rate on such spirits; and what is the existing duty on the resulting mixture of natural wine and spirits?

The present duty on 100 gallons of Portuguese wine not ex-ceeding 14 per cent. absolute alcohol, if the wine is imported in cask, is £12 10s. The quantity of proof spirit required to fortify such wine to the average strength of Portuguese wines as imported into this country would be about 14 gallons, on which the duty at the present rate, if the spirit were British, would be about £51. The duty on 114 gallons of Portuguese wine if imported at average strength would be about £34.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated yield to the Revenue resulting from the imposition of the duties under the Safeguarding of Industries Act from the date when they were first imposed up to the present time?

The approximate total net receipt derived from the several safeguarding duties from the date of imposition up to the 31st March, 1927, is as follows:

	£
Key industry goods	2,277,000
Depreciated currency goods (to 19th August, 1924)	504,000
Cutlery	92,000
Gloves	701,000
Mantles for incandescent lighting	15,000
Lace and embroidery	395,000
Packing or wrapping paper	495,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as the powers of the Estimates Committee have proved insufficient to check public expenditure, he will consider the desirability of the establishment of a Finance Committee, with real and ample powers to examine and deal with the Estimates of each Department of State before their presentation to Parliament, and whether it is proposed to make any changes for the purpose of instituting an effective control of expenditure?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 24th March to the hon. Member for the North-West Division of Camberwell (Mr. Campbell).

asked the Postmaster-General what postal facilities exist for sending letters to Tristan da Cunha; and whether it is possible to improve them?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, there is no regular communication with the island. A call was arranged in January of last year by the Royal Research Ship "Discovery" and another in March of this year by the Steamship "Suveric." Mails were sent to the island on both these occasions, and I understand that it is hoped with the co-operation of the steamship companies to arrange a yearly call in future.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of stamp-selling machines at present in use by his Department?

The approximate number is 2,500. They are installed in pairs, selling ld. and ½d. stamps.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction created by the transfer of the Llandyssul sub-offices, situated in Cardigan, to the control of the Carmarthen Head Office; whether he is satisfied that the estimated saving through the reduction of Llandyssul will materialise; what was the relative expenditure on the salaries of the postmaster and indoor staff at Carmarthen and Llandyssul, respectively, at the end of September, 1926, and at the end of February, 1927; and whether, seeing that administrative efficiency and economy would be secured if some of these sub-offices were transferred to Aberystwyth and some to Cardigan, in view of their proximity and the close relationship which exists between them and these head offices, he will reconsider the whole question of the allocation of these sub-offices?

I am aware that resolutions were passed by local bodies against the change before it was carried out, but the services to the public were not affected. I am satisfied that economy has been realised. The annual cost of the salaries of the Postmasters and indoor staff at Carmarthen and Llandyssul respectively at the end of September, 1926, and the end of February, 1927, was: Carmarthen, £3,990 and £4,499: increase, £509; Llandyssul, £1,538 and £699: saving, £839; net saving, £330 per annum. A further saving of £60 will result when redundant staff at Llandyssul can be disposed of. The advisability of transferring parts of the area to the control of Aberystwyth and Cardigan was fully considered, but it was found that the course adopted was preferable.

asked the Postmaster-General what further steps have been taken by his Department, since his reply of 3rd August last, relative to the annoyance experienced by wireless listeners in coastal districts owing to the use of spark transmitters by ships?

I would refer the hon. Member to the oral reply given to-day to the hon. Member for West Islington (Mr. Montague) on this subject.