asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the pit explosion caused by a blower of gas at Ponthenry Colliery, near Lianelly, in which 12 colliers were badly burnt about the head and face; and whether an inquiry is being held?

This has been investigated by the Divisional Inspector of Mines. It was not an explosion in the ordinary sense, but an outburst of gas, accompanied by the ejection of fine coal in large quantities. The gas did not ignite, and the persons below ground received sufficient warning for all to escape to a place of safety. In my reply on 30th June to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Dr. J. Williams) I stated that two or three persons were slightly gassed, but I have since been informed that one man only was affected, and in his case this was due to the fact that his heart was in a bad condition. No one was burnt. Special precautions to minimise danger from these outbursts are in force, and, at the present time, I do not think further inquiry is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking for the study of the Resolutions of the Geneva Economic Conference; and whether His Majesty's Government proposes to take any such action as that taken by the Belgian, German, and Czecho-Slovak Governments for promoting the adoption of the principles therein laid down?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister on the 15th June to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Sir J. Power), and also to that which I gave on the 27th June to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Runciman), copies of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of men that took part and the number of machines used in the air pageant at Hendon on 2nd July, and the estimated cost; and whether any portion of this cost will be borne by the State?

The number of officers and airmen who took part in the display, including both those who flew and those on duty with aeroplanes, was 192 and 792 respectively; the number of machines was 158. The cost of all special arrangements and facilities for spectators at the display is met out of non-public funds; the ordinary running expense of personnel and material employed in the display is not segregated from the normal Service expenditure on training, of which it forms an integral part.s

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of persons that paid for admission to the air pageant held at Hendon on 2nd July; the net amount of money paid in admissions; the number of complimentary tickets issued; whether this pageant resulted in a profit or loss; and can he give the figures?

Public, funds are not concerned with the proceeds of this display, but I am informed that the figures for which the hon. Member asks are not yet available, a number of agents not yet having rendered their returns. It is, however, clear that the display resulted in a most satisfactory profit, and I hope that Air Force charities will benefit very considerably.

asked (1) the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the tonnage added to the Japanese Navy, exclusive of battleships, battle cruisers, and aircraft carriers, since the representatives of the naval Powers met at Washington, inclusive of ships building; and what would be the estimated corresponding obsolescence of tonnage by the time ships building are completed, allowing for the lives of vessels as planned by the British representatives at Geneva;(2) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the tonnage added to the French Navy, inclusive of battleships, battle cruisers, and aircraft carriers, since the representatives of the naval Powers met at Washington, inclusive of ships building; and what would be the estimated corresponding obsolescence of tonnage by the time ships building are completed, allowing for the loss of vessels, as planned by the British representatives at Geneva?

I am afraid that the information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend is of such a nature that any reply would have to be based on assumptions which might prove so incorrect as to make the answer valueless and liable to lead to misapprehensions.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give a Return of the prisoners in Parkhurst Convict Prison who were punished for prison offences during the 12 months ending 30th June, 1927, stating the offence for which punished and the punishment inflicted; if he will say how many educational lectures and how many concerts have during that period been given in the prison for the benefit of the prisoners; and what were the corresponding number of such lectures and concerts so given during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1926?

During the 12 months ended 30th June, 1927, 214 convicts in Parkhurst Prison were punished for prison offences. There were 146 offences of violence, 5 escapes or attempts, 42 offences of idleness, and 415 other breaches of Regulations. The punishment in 374 cases was loss of stage or privilege, in 179 cases alteration of dietary, in 203 close confinement, and in three corporal punishment. During the same period there were six lectures and two concerts, as against 22 lectures and 18 concerts in the previous 12 months, but in the later period educational classes, exclusive of school classes, were instituted, and 22 such classes were held.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what retirement terms are awarded to civil servants when discharged through redundancy?

Under Section 7 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, as amended by Section 6 of the Superannuation Act, 1909, compensation may be granted to a civil servant who is retired in consequence of the abolition of his office or of a reorganisation of this Department by which greater efficiency and economy can be effected. In the case of a civil servant who entered the service after the passing of the Superannuation Act, 1909, the award cannot exceed the pension (if any) plus lump sum which might be granted to him if he were retiring on account of ill-health, the pension being calculated at the rate of one-eightieth of pensionable salary for each year served. In the case of a civil servant who entered the service before the passing of the Superannuation Act, 1909, the award takes the form of an annual allowance at the rate of one-sixtieth of salary for each year served, without any lump sum.