asked the President of the Board of Education what educational authorities, either in their whole area or in parts of it, pay their teachers under the Burnham Scale No- 2; and whether the policy of his Department is sympathetic to the general payment of Scale No. 3?

I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix I of the Third Report of the Standing Joint Committee on the salaries of teachers in public elementary schools, a copy of which I am sending him. The allocated scale has been adopted by all authorities except Carmarthenshire, who pay Scale III in the industrial parts of their area and Scale II in the rural parts. As regards the second part of the question, I think the hon. Member has forgotten that the minimum duration of the present agreement is six years from the 31st March, 1925.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at a Conservative anti Unionist fete held at Farnborough, Kent, on 14th July, part of the entertainment provided was a dancing display given by the children of the infants' department of the local council schools under the direction of the head, teacher of the department; that the department was closed for the day for the purpose of enabling the display to be given; that the chairman of the school management committee is chairman of the local Conservative association that organised the fete; what action he proposes to take in the matter; and what steps he will institute to prevent a repetition of such an occurrence?

I have no information on this matter. As I have already stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Viscount Sandon), on the 7th of this month, the closure of schools on particular days is within the discretion of the local authority and school managers, and is not a matter in which the Board intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of elementary rural schools in the counties of Durham and Yorks (North, East, and West Ridings) in which gardening is not included in the school syllabus?

The following Table shows the number of schools situated within the administrative areas of the counties in question but outside boroughs and urban districts forming part of those areas, and the number of those schools in which, according to the latest available returns (relating to 1925–26), instruction in gardening was provided:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the Inchcape Committee and the Acworth Committee were both in favour of the inclusion in the Indian Railway Board of a business man with business and financial experience, and in view of the fact that the Indian Legislative Assembly had asked for the inclusion of an Indian business man on that board, the Government of India are taking any steps to secure independent business experience for the management of the Indian railways outside the railway officials?

I am unable to find in the Reports referred to any recommendation in the terms suggested. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that an officer specially charged with responsibility on the financial side, the Financial Commissioner, has a seat on the Railway Board.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if representations have been made to the Government of India for and against the removal of the capital of the United Provinces from Allahabad to Lucknow; and whether he can state the intentions of the Government of India and of His Majesty's Government in this matter?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the fact that the Legislative Council of the United Provinces sits at Lucknow instead of at Allahabad. I am not aware whether the Government of India have received any representations or what their intentions are. The subject is not before His Majesty's Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give information as to the strike of 400 weavers of the Lansdowne Jute Mill in North Calcutta, and the reason for the strike?

No report on this strike has yet been received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if legislative effect will be given to the recommendations of the majority of the Tariff Inquiry Committee regarding a levy on the export of oil-seed, bones and other forms of manure from India with a view to promoting the interests of agriculturists in India?

My Noble Friend is not aware that any action has been taken on this recommendation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the representative of the Swadeshi Match Combine in India refused to supply the president of the tariff board, even in camera, with particulars regarding the cost of production of matches by that combine in India, the Government of India propose to undertake legislation to prevent the repetition of such an incident in connection with any future inquiry?

My Noble Friend has not heard from the Government of India on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of acres of game area controlled by the Forest Department of British India?

No, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the facilities provided by the Government's new scheme of foreign credit insurance is applicable to Anglo-Russian trade?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health the number of new entrants to the Civil Service who have been engaged on a permanent basis in his Department since the date of the decisions of the Government to restrict the number of such new entrants to any Department?

The number of new entrants to the Civil Service who have been engaged on a permanent basis in my Department since 11th April, 1927, is 116, resulting from the new work thrown on the Department by the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the particulars and pay scales of the various pre-War quasi-permanent Civil Service clerical grades who were established as a result of the findings of the Royal Commission of 1914, which inquired into the conditions of employment of pre-War unestablished classes in the Civil Service?

Personnel, who prior to the War, belonged to quasi-permanent unestablished clerical grades, and who have since been granted establishment, have normally been established in posts in the general clerical or Departmental clerical classes set up under the reorganisation schemes of the Department concerned. Detailed particulars of such classes will be found in the Estimates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is now able to furnish, as promised, the up-to-date list of situations in the Civil Service falling under Schedule B of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910?

The preparation of a revised list has involved considerable labour and numerous detailed inquiries, but I hope that it will be completed in the near future.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if any decision has been reached with regard to the proposed abolition of the Department of Overseas Trade;(2) if any decision has been reached with regard to the proposed abolition of the Mines Department;

Nothing can at present be added to the replies which have already been given on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in what Departments fractional periods of years are allowed to count for retired pay; in what Departments it is customary to allow officers to complete a stated period after reaching the ordinary age for retirement in order that they should derive the benefits in their pensions; and in what Departments neither of these procedures is followed?

In none of the three fighting services, to which I presume the hon. Member intends to refer, are officers allowed to count fractional periods of years for retired pay or to complete a period after reaching the age of compulsory retirement in order to obtain an increased rate of retired pay.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the cost that has been incurred during the last 12 months in issuing the 29 leaflets, posters, brochures, etc., drawing attention to the advantages of the telephone system, giving the estimated cost for each leaflet, etc., separately, and the number of each that have been issued?

No separate record of the cost of this service is kept by the Stationery Office, and it would not be possible to give the detailed information desired without a laborious reference to the printers' bills. A very rough estimate, however, based on an examination of a number of the principal items issued shows that about £1,000 was spent on the printing of these documents during the last 12 months. As stated by the Postmaster-General in his reply to the hon. Member on the 12th July, some 4,000,000 copies of the various documents have been issued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much non-interest bearing debt in the form of paper currency was redeemed between March, 1920, and March, 1923, and to what extent interest-bearing debt was increased in the same period; and how much silver coin and Bank of England notes was withdrawn from circulation in the same period, apart from increases of the latter issued in exchange for gold?

I ought to remind my hon. Friend that currency notes do not constitute "debt." The reduction in currency notes in the period indicated was £49,756,000. Silver coin withdrawn from circulation was approximately £9,500,000. The active circulation of Bank of England notes increased by £2,616,000. The gold in the Issue Department increased by £14,036,000. My hon. Friend is mistaken in supposing that there was any increase in interest-bearing debt in the period in question. The annual debt returns show a substantial decrease.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the notice issued by the London and North Eastern Railway Company, dated 6th April, 1927, to merchants in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth to the effect that no more common-user wagons would be supplied for sea-borne coal; and whether, in view of the agricultural nature of this district and the consequent need for cheap coal, the Ministry of Transport will take up this question with the railway company with a view to this facility being restored?

The railway company are under no obligation to provide wagons in this district for coal traffic, but I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to their notice.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give any information as to when the remaining stages of the widening of Ferry Lane, Tottenham, will be completed?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 9th May last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Lieut.-Colonel Howard-Bury). No fresh development has since occurred.

asked the Minister of Transport when the underground railway works now in progress under Piccadilly Circus were authorised; when they were commenced; what is the reason for the long period taken in their completion; and what steps his Department have taken to expedite the matter so that the hoardings and other temporary erections at this point may be cleared away and the whole of the thoroughfare there made available again for public use?

The works were authorised by a Bill which obtained the Royal Assent on 2nd August, 1923. Actual operations commenced in February, 1925, and work is being carried on continuously by day and night shifts. In view of the intricate nature of the works to be carried out it is not considered that the period will have been unduly prolonged if, as is anticipated, the works are completed by the end of 1928. My Department has been in constant consultation with the railway company relative to temporary hoardings and openings necessitated, and now only one erection on the central island, guarding the main entrance to the works, remains.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farmers in England and Wales in 1913, and the number at the latest convenient date?

According to the Decennial Census of Population the number of farmers and graziers in England and Wales was 228,788 in 1911, and 264,093 in 1921. No later figures are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many vacant farms existed in England and Wales on the latest convenient date?

I regret that I have no information with regard to this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present number of unsatisfied applicants under the Small Holdings Acts for small holdings in each county of Wales?

The following is a tabular statement giving the information supplied by the respective county councils.Statement showing the present number of unsatisfied applicants for small holdings in each county in Wales and Monmouthshire.