asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the number of temporary medical officers, European and Indian, respectively, serving in the Indian Medical Service at present; and what is the present strength of the Indian Army compared with that in 1922?

The number of temporary officers in the Indian Medical Service shown in the Indian Army List for April last is 138. The number of Europeans among these is negligible. The strength of the Indian Army in 1927 is, approximately, 80 per cent. of its strength in 1922.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, for each year 1923–26, the acreage under poppy cultivation in India; the total amount of raw opium produced; the total quantity of opium exported; and the revenue derived from opium in each of those years in British India and the native States, respectively?

The latest figures available are:

asked the Secretary of State for Air what machines and material belonging to the Royal Air Force will be used in the air pageant at Scarborough on Saturday, 9th July?

There will be no Royal Air Force machines or material at this pageant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of executive officers who have applied to take the staff course during the last 12 months; and the number of these applications that have been refused?

The number of executive officers to be appointed to the Staff Course annually is fixed at 25. The number of applicants during the last 12 months was 77, of whom 25 were selected for appointment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the full particulars of the British scheme to classify and limit warships that was proposed at Geneva?

The following table shows the original British proposals for the classification and limitation of warships, in the form in which they were put forward immediately after the meeting of the Conference on 20th June:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and value of British-made morphia and morphia salts which were exported in the years 1925 and 1926, and the countries to which these exports were consigned; and whether he is satisfied that the morphia so exported was required for medical and legitimate purposes only?

The amount of morphia, i.e., alkaloid, salts and the morphia contained in medicinal preparations, exported to each country in 1925 and 1926 is given in the Table annexed. It is not possible to distinguish between British and foreign morphia, but it may be taken that practically the whole amount exported was of British manufacture. I regret that I am unable to give information as to the value of the exports. No export of morphia is licensed until my Department is satisfied that it is required for legitimate purposes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury with reference to the powers of the Registrar-General of Friendly Societies under Section 50 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893, whether he is aware that this Section provides an inadequate protection for persons insured with companies, either operating dishonestly or in financial difficulties, seeing that the Registrar only has power to appoint an inspector upon the application of one-tenth of the members, and the members are considered to be not those who are insured but the shareholders; and whether, in these circumstances, he will introduce legislation to give power to the Registrar-General to inspect and take action whenever justice may require it?

The power of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies is limited as the question states except in cases where a society is carrying on industrial assurance business. In that case the Chief Registrar can inspect without any application by members. The legislation recommended by the Departmental Committee on the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, contains provisions for enabling the Board of Trade to apply to the Court for power to inspect any insurance undertaking. This matter is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if letters in this country containing the post stamp "Come to Britain" are subjected to a duty by any foreign Governments or Dominions of the British Empire as advertising literature; and the names of the Governments which have taken this action?

The words "Come to Britain" are not used as part of any official postmark. I cannot say whether a letter bearing those words would be charged duty abroad as advertising matter. If my hon. Friend has any information on the subject, I shall be glad if he will communicate it to me, so that I may make inquiry.