asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of hours of overtime worked in the Ministry of Health since the 16th May, 1927?

I have been asked to reply. The number of hours of overtime worked in my Department from 16th May to 22nd June amounted to 1,971, of which 1,174 hours were worked by the messenger staff, and 474 in provincial offices. My right hon. Friend is taking steps to strengthen the messenger staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of temporary staff employed by his Department in England as Grades I and II shorthand typists and Grades I and II copying typists, respectively; whether any of the staff concerned use any foreign language; whether any allowance is paid for this; and what is the average length of service of those concerned?

The numbers are as follow:Ten shorthand typists, Grades I and II. Average length of service, 11½ months.Twenty copying typists, Grades I and II. Average length of service, 4 years 10 months.The shorthand typists are required to have a knowledge of French, but this is not required in the case of copying typists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of Grades I and II shorthand typists and Grades I and II copying typists, respectively, employed by his Department; and what is the average length of service of those concerned?

The following are the particulars requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the number of the temporary staff employed as Grades I and II shorthand-typists and Grades I and II copying-typists, respectively, in the Dominions Office, Empire Marketing Board, and Overseas Settlement Office, respectively; and what is the average length of service of those concerned?

As regards the Dominions Office headquarters, the shorthand and typing staff are common to the Dominions Office and the Colonial Office, the figures being as follows:

asked the Home Secretary what is the number a temporary staff employed as Grade 1 shorthand-typists, Grade 2 shorthand-typists, Grade 1 copying-typists, and Grade 2 copying-typists, respectively, in each of the following Departments under his control: General Staff (Headquarters; Irish Business Liquidation; London and Provincial Factory Inspectors' Offices, respectively; Anthrax Disinfecting Station; and Prison Commission for England and Wales?

The figures asked for are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of Grades 1 and 2 clerk-typists, respectively, employed in the County Court offices?

I have been asked to reply. The number of established clerk-typists employed in County Court offices is 44, and the number of temporary clerk-typists, 15. Neither of these classes is sub-divided into Grades I and II.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the imminent danger of collapse of a chimney stack in the Homerton district, which is split to the extent of 100 feet of its length; and whether he is satisfied that adequate measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the public in the immediate vicinity?

Yes, Sir. I am advised that all necessary precautions have been taken to prevent danger either to the public or to persons employed on the factory premises. The stack is being demolished, and I am informed that the upper half was successfully taken down yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary whether the illicit importation of drugs into this country has increased since the War; from what countries they are principally introduced; and whether there have been any recent arrests for this offence?

No, Sir. While it is not possible to speak positively in a matter of this kind, all our experience goes to show that the illicit importation of dangerous drugs has diminished since the passing of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920. No arrest of any importance has been made this year. I shall be happy to send the hon. Member—as soon as it is available—a copy of the Report made by His Majesty's Government to the League of Nations on the control of the drug traffic in respect of 1926, which contains a table giving particulars of all cases during the year in which seizures were made.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now give the names of the members who have been appointed on the Committee of Inquiry on the Solicitation Laws; and what will be the terms of reference?

I would refer to the reply which I gave to a question on Wednesday last by the hon. Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Viscountess Astor).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has particulars of the Orders and Regulations under which the milk supply is governed in Holland and Denmark; and how these Regulations compare with those in operation in this country?

I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Lamb) on the 12th May. My right hon. Friend is making more detailed inquiries into the scope of the Regulations in force in the countries to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to a Resolution adopted by the Bath and West of England Society urging the retention of the feet of pigs on the sides of bacon imported into this country, so that it may be possible to detect lesions of foot-and-mouth disease and ascertain whether or not the animals have had that disease; and what steps he proposes to take?

My attention has not been called to the Resolution referred to in the question. I am afraid that the retention of the feet of pigs on sides of bacon imported into this country would not help meat inspectors to determine whether or not the carcases had come from animals which were affected with foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. W. Pritchard, of 136, New Barn Street, Canning Town, E.16, was discharged from the Army on the 1st April, 1916, through deafness caused by the War; that his pension is reduced to 8d. per day; that in 1910 he completed 16 years military service, six of which were spent abroad in various campaigns and eight years in the Army Reserve; that he volunteered for active service in 1914 and was accepted; and that he served in campaigns in the South African War and was in the attack upon Pieters Hill and at the seige of Ladysmith; and if he will consider whether the man's pension can be increased?

The deafness which led to Mr. Pritchard's discharge from the Army in 1916 was held to be neither attributable to nor aggravated by service in the Great War, and this finding was upheld, on appeal, by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, whose decision is final. He is, consequently, not eligible for any award of disablement pension under the Ministry Warrants. As, however, his total service with the Colours and Army Reserve amounted to over 14 years and he was finally discharged on medical grounds, he was entitled to a pension of 8d. a day for life under Article 1163 of the Royal Warrant of 1914, but there is no authority under which this can be increased.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for the issue as a White Paper of a comparison of the outline proposals of the Government for the reconstitution of the House of Lords and the proposals with this object in view which were formulated in 1921 by the Government then responsible?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to this question on Thursday last, and which appears in the OFFICIAL REPORT of that date.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the industrial conditions prevailing in the borough of Merthyr Tydvil, caused through the closing down of collieries, he proposes to take any action in order to meet the necessities of the case?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 23rd June to a similar question by the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. R. Richardson).

asked the Pime Minister whether, in view of the desire in the country that the position of the agricultural industry should be considered by the Government owing to the seriousness of the depression in the industry, he will consider setting up a Commission forthwith to inquire into the position of the industry?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to an almost identical question addressed to me by my hon. Friend on the 28th June.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any information of any municipalities that have decided to purchase high-tension cable from abroad during the next 12 months?

I have been asked to reply. Neither the Ministry of Transport nor the Electricity Commissioners have received any such information.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to hold an inquiry on the accident which happened to two electric trains on the District Railway, outside Wimbledon station, on Monday, 27th June, in which several persons were injured; and whether the Report will be published?

I have ordered an Inquiry into the causes of this accident, which will be held on Monday next. The Report of the Inquiry will be published in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport if his Department has received at any time any proposal from the local authorities concerned for the abolition of the toll-gate between Cardiff and Penarth?

Up to the present none of the local authorities concerned has put before me any proposal for the abolition of the toll-gate on the road between Cardiff and Penarth.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of what officials the British mission to Kabul consists; and whether in includes a commercial attaché?

The permanent staff of His Majesty's Legation at Kabul consists of a Minister, a Counsellor, a Secretary, an Oriental Secretary, a Military Attaché and a physician. There is no commercial attaché serving with this mission, but His Majesty's Minister mantains close relations with the Senior Trade Commissioner for India in all matters pertaining to Afghan trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government propose to take advantage of the invitation which has been conveyed by the German authorities to the military experts of the Powers, formerly represented on the Inter-Allied Military Commission of Control, to inspect the work of demolition of the concrete shelters in the eastern fortresses of Germany; whether this invitation has been referred by the experts of the Governments of the interested Powers; and will he arrange for the Report of the results of any inspection that may take place to be circulated to the House as soon as it has been received?

The answer to this question, which was originally put down by the hon. and gallant Member for the 30th June, may be read in columns 586–7 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for that date. I have nothing at present to add to that statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Chief Presidency Magistrate at Madras in connection with the shooting incident during the recent strike against the Burma Oil Company; and whether Messrs. Scott and Farmer, officials of the Burma Oil Company, have been sent for trial (under Section 324 I.P.C.) on a charge of causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, as recommended by the Chief Presidency Magistrate in his Report?

I have not yet seen the report referred to, but I have ascertained that Messrs. Scott and Farmer have been charged and are now under trial.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can now state when it is proposed to begin work on the new India House in London?

I have nothing to add to the reply given on the 9th May to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many European and how many Indian medical officers, respectively, have entered and retired from the Indian Medical Service in each of the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927; what is the total number of each category now serving; and what is the proportion of Europeans to Indians that is considered requisite for the satisfactory working of the service in the military and civil branches, respectively?

The table below shows the recruitment of, and casualties among, permanent officers of the Indian Medical Service during the years 1923–27.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total acreage of land alienated to Europeans in Kenya and the total in occupation; and what amount of land is still available for alienation to Europeans?

I am unable to give exact areas, and the following figures, which relate to surveyed land only, must be taken as approximate:

• Alienated.—6,000,000 acres.
• Under occupation.—4,750,000 acres.
• Remaining available for alienation.—1,500,000 acres.