asked the President of the Board of Education what decisions were reached as the result of the inquiry made by the Board, with the assistance of a statutory consultative Committee, into the curriculum for the older pupils in elementary schools?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary on the I4th February last to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Dalton), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in Denbigh the local education authority insists upon the production of medical certificates when children are absent from school in consequence of illness, and that parents in the district are complaining against the expense involved; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I am afraid that I have no information on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education in how many cases the Board has made inquiry into the estimated expenditure of a local education authority on fuel, light, and cleaning for the year 1927–28; in how many cases it has asked to be furnished with particulars of the scales of wages paid to school caretakers; whether it is the intention of the Board to prescribe maximum or other limiting standards to wages of caretakers; and what is the amount per child in average attendance that is regarded as adequate for expenditure on caretakers' wages?

The answer to the first part of the question is eight, and to the second part, three; the Board's inquiries in these cases were made in the course of their consideration of the causes of high total expenditure under the head "Administration and Other Expenditure." The Board have not prescribed, nor is it their intention to prescribe, any limiting standard for caretakers' wages or for expenditure upon caretakers' wages.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth as representing the Forestry Commissioners the total number of small holdings at present occupied by landholders and statutory small tenants on the land owned by the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland; the total number of new small holdings constituted by the Forestry Commission in Scotland during each year of their operations; the acreage of land owned by the Forestry Commission in Scotland at the end of each year of their existence; and the number of small holdings it is intended to constitute on the Scottish estates of the Forestry Commission during the current year?

There are 27 small holdings at present occupied by landholders and statutory small tenants on land owned by the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland; in addition 92 forest-workers' holdings have been constituted by the Forestry Commission in Scotland, two in the forest year (ended 30th September) 1925, 39 in the forest year 1926 and 51 in the current year to date; a further 47 are in course of formation and of these 20 should be completed within the current year.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether, seeing that the present limit of cost for the formation of forest-workers' holdings is hindering the work of their constitution in the Western Highlands where they are particularly required, the Forestry Commission proposes to seek sanction for a greater expenditure than £800 for a completed holding in these districts?

The Forestry Commissioners are not proposing at present to seek sanction for a greater expenditure than £800 on the provision of house, outbuildings and equipment on each holding. The cost of the land is not included in the £800.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth as representing the Forestry Commissioners how many forest-workers' holdings have been constituted in Scotland in each year since and including 1924; how many it is proposed to constitute this year and next year, respectively; what are the conditions of tenure; and whether the holders in Scotland enjoy the benefits of the Scottish Small Holdings Acts?

With reference to the first part of the question, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his first question above. The main conditions of tenure are employment in the forest, due payment of rent and termination of tenancy by either side on notice. Consequently forest-workers' holdings are not subject to the terms of the Scottish Small Holdings Acts.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the negotiations for the acquisition by the Forestry Commission of additional areas in the County of Sutherland have yet been concluded; and, if so, with what results?

The negotiations for the acquisition by the Forestry Commission of additional areas in the County of Sutherland have not yet been concluded, but are in an advanced stage with two proprietors for the acquisition of some 750 plantable acres in Dornoch district.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the normal working week and the rate of pay now paid to electricians' mates employed at Waddington, Digby, Cranwell, and Spittlegate aerodromes; how the present rates compare with those paid on the same date last year; and whether any further reduction in pay is contemplated by his Department for this class of worker?

The answer to the first part of the question is 47 hours and 47s. 9d. a week; to the second part, 57s. 4d. a week. As regards the last part of the question, a further reduction to 44s. 1d. a week will take effect as from the week ending 4th August. I may add that the rates paid a year ago were found to be in excess of those paid by local employers to which the revised rates now conform.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the details have been settled by the Government of the Union of South Africa for the mooring-mast base for the use of new Empire airships in that country; whether this contract has now been placed by the Air Ministry on behalf of the South African Government; and can he give particulars?

No, Sir; the details will probably not be settled for some months.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider granting two per cent. Per annum of lieutenancies for accelerated promotion?

No reason is seen for altering the present basis for calculating the numbers of lieutenants allowed under the accelerated promotion scheme. The present numbers are sufficient to meet requirements, and any increase would involve a corresponding reduction in the number promoted for long and zealous service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether foreign banks in Shanghai have recently shipped bullion to Tientsin in British destroyers; and whether this action was taken with the approval of His Majesty's Government?

In the early part of this month the Nanking authorities issued instructions that no movement of treasure was to be effected without a permit issued by their Ministry of Finance. Two British banks at Shanghai were, on the 11th and 12th July respectively, refused permits to ship silver bullion to Tientsin on the ground of the embargo. The free importation and exportation of silver bullion is provided for in the treaties; the illegal prohibition of exportation to Tientsin involved the danger of a serious financial crisis at that port with disastrous results to British interests. His Majesty's Minister accordingly consulted with the

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the Government of India are bearing the whole cost of the building, complete with all fittings and furnishings, of the new India House in London?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount per head of the population expended in respect of each of the public services undertaken or contributed to by the State in 1913 and in 1926–27, respectively?

The amounts issued from the Exchequer to meet expenditure in the years 1913–14 and 1926–27 divided by the population taken as 45,713,000 (Great Britain and Ireland) for 1913 and 45,227,000 (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) for 1926 are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether industrial firms compelled to have recourse to litigation, for example, in defence of patent rights held by them, are allowed to set off the law costs thus incurred against their Income Tax assessments?

The question whether expenditure incurred by a trader is admissible as a deduction in the computation of his liability for Income Tax purposes depends upon whether the expenditure is of a revenue, as opposed to a capital character and is laid out wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of the case which he has in mind, I will gladly have it investigated and will communicate the result to him in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that he is in negotiation with the authorities of the Channel Islands with a view of preventing persons escaping taxation, he will say whether such negotiations are proceeding satisfactorily; and whether there is any probability of such negotiations resulting in an agreement for retrospective payment of taxation from the Houston estate?

My right hon. Friend is glad to say that though various details remain to be worked out, agreement on all essential points was reached during these discussions. He hopes therefore to be in a position to place definite proposals before the House next year, as was foreshadowed in his Budget Speech.In regard to the last part of the question, it is not contemplated that the legislation next year should be retrospective, but a claim for duty in the case mentioned is being pursued under the existing law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of distilleries actually at work in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, respectively, on 30th September, 1925 and 1926?

The numbers asked for were as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received an invitation to a quadruple-power conference to be held in Paris between Britain, Italy, France, and Spain for the purpose of assisting the negotiations with regard to Tangier?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the average prices of parlour and non-parlour houses included in contracts let by local authorities during each month since December, 1926?

The following statement shows the average prices of houses included in contracts let by, or in direct labour schemes of, local authorities during the undermentioned months.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of persons who will obtain old age pensions next January as a result of the reduction of the age to 65?

According to the estimate of the Government Actuary, the number of persons who will be en-titled to old age pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, in January next is 466,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the expenditure incurred by county councils in Scotland for bank interest, owing to the greater part of this year's expenditure falling to be paid in the two first quarters of the year, and that no part of the grant on classified roads is received until after the close of the financial year, he will accede to their appeal that a substantial payment to account be made during each quarter of the year?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the grants towards maintenance expenditure on classified roads. These grants are not paid after the close of the financial year but at the end of each quarter on the basis of the expenditure incurred during that quarter. As I stated on 13th July, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton), I have carefully considered the request that the payment should be made at the beginning of each quarter instead of in arrear, but I regret that I do not see my way to alter the present procedure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship inflicted upon inventors by applications for patents received on the 3rd June being post-dated to the 7th June; whether this is the usual practice; and if he will say what steps are taken to prevent confusion arising in the event of an application for the same invention being actually received from another source on the 7th June?

Under the Patents Rules, 1920, the four days from the 3rd to the 6th June, inclusive, were excluded days for the purposes of the Patents Acts, and, therefore, applications for patents reaching the Patent Office during that period were dated the 7th June, in accordance with the usual practice. I am not aware that any hard-ship or confusion has arisen in con-sequense of this practice; but if my right hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any specific case he may have in mind, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many inquiries have been held under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; what orders have been issued as a result of such inquiries and upon what goods; and the nature of the orders thus made, together with a list of the goods to which such orders had reference?

Nine inquiries, under Section 2 of the Act, have been held by the Standing Committee appointed by the Board of Trade, and two by the Standing Committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Scotland. No Orders have yet been made, but an Order was laid in draft before this House yesterday relating to certain descriptions of iron and steel, gold and silver leaf, and woven labels of textile materials.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the expense to which the trades unions of this country will be put in amending their rules on the passing of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill; and whether the cost of amending the rules will be met by grants from the Exchequer?

No, Sir; there is no provision for such a grant. Clause 4 (5) of the Bill enables unions, if they think fit, to alter their rules for the present purpose by means of a summary procedure, and thus to reduce expense.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases referred to the Ministry of Labour officials at Cardiff for decision, the number of cases where the decisions of the local committees have been upheld, and the number of decisions in favour of the branch managers or insurance officer, when these have been at variance with the recommendations of the committees?

Between 14th December, 1926, and 13th June, 1927, the recommendations by the local committees at Employment Exchanges in the Wales Division, numbering 220,380 were accepted in all but 1,965 cases (or 0·8 per cent.). Of the latter figure, 1,851 cases previously allowed were disallowed, and 114 cases previously disallowed were allowed.

asked the Home Secretary why in future the lost property office of the Metropolitan police will not be permitted to answer inquiries on the telephone?

I think there is nothing I can add to the statement already communicated to the Press by the Commissioner of Police which my hon. Friend has no doubt seen.

asked the Home Secretary if he has any information as to the incidence of lead poisoning from any firms of women decorators?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary if his Department has any record of cases of lead poisoning among women employed in the painting of buildings; and, if so, what is the number of cases of lead poisoning so recorded among such women for each of the last 10 years?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part therefore does not arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any further communications from the juge d'instruction who is investigating the murder of Nurse Mary Daniels at Boulogne; whether all questions on the commission rogatoire have been completely answered; and whether the juge d'instruction has asked for any further information which has not yet been supplied?

I do not receive communications from a juge d'instruction direct but only from the French Government. The questions in the Commissions Rogatoires which I have received have, I understand, been answered by the witnesses, so far as they were willing to answer them. They cannot be compelled.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that new and rigorous regulations are being applied to the officers' messes in the various prisons; and whether he will inquire into the reason why such regulations are being applied?

The rules for officers' messes were revised by the Prison Commissioners in January last. The object of the revision was to secure more efficient control, by the committees, of the financial affairs of the messes, and I am satisfied that this was desirable.