asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that in many of the London tube railways the passengers experience oppressive heat during any breakdown; and whether he will take up with the railway companies concerned the question of improving the ventilation of these underground thoroughfares?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to-day to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Gillett).

asked the Minister of Transport the places in Great Britain where the free passage of the public highway is interrupted by toll bars, bridges, etc., at which payment is demanded?

I should be happy to afford the hon. Member every facility for examining the lists compiled by my Department three years ago giving full particulars of the 64 toll roads and 127 toll bridges then existing in Great Britain, but having regard the cumbersome nature of these records. I do not think their reproduction would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total mileage of classified and unclassified roads in the Counties of Midlothian, Ayr, Renfrew, Banff and Inverness: what amounts were given to each of these counties from the Road Fund towards the maintenance of Classified roads and towards improvements to unclassified roads and their maintenance in the financial year ending 31st March, 1927; and how such amounts compare with the yield of a rate of 1d. in the £ on owners and occupiers in each of these counties?

I have no information as to the yield of a 1d. rate on owners and occupiers in the counties mentioned. The information asked for in the rest of the question is contained in the Table which follows:

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Traffic Advisory Committee have considered, in conjunction with the London County Council, the possibility of relaying tram lines at important intersections of roads, such as Vauxhall Bridge, Elephant and Castle, etc., to render one-way circular traffic at such points a possibility?

The possibility of working a roundabout system of traffic at each of the two points referred to in the question has been very carefully considered by the London Traffic Advisory Committee. In each case the space available for traffic would be insufficient for the successful working of the system without extensive and costly improvements involving the demolition of property.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the present industrial revival in Turkey, this country has secured any of the contracts now being placed by the Turkish Government for railway construction and orders for rolling stock and similar manufactures?

As far as I am aware, British firms in this country have not received any considerable orders from the Turkish Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the figures of British trade with Turkey during the 12 months ending 30th June, 1927; and how they compare with those for the 12 months ending 30th June, 1926?

During the year ended 30th June, 1927, our trade with Turkey was as follows: Imports, £2, 800, 000; exports, £2, 900, 000; re-exports, £108, 000. For the year ended 30th June, 1926, the figures were: Imports, £2, 500, 000; exports, £4, 100, 000: re-exports, £218, 000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will furnish particulars to show the variation between 1913 and 1925 in duties levied on cotton yarn and cotton cloth sent to our chief export markets?

Tables are given on pages 570–576 of the Survey of Overseas Markets, issued by the Committee on Industry and Trade, showing the duties leviable on certain types of cotton yarn and piece goods in a number of foreign and Empire countries, in 1914 and 1924 respectively. The duties in 1914 were, in practically all cases, the same as those in 1913, and the changes in the rates as between 1924 and 1925 were comparatively few.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Port of London Authority is reducing its dock dues; and whether he will introduce legislation to fix dock dues at other ports in conformity with the general fall in prices?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am aware that the Port of London Authority propose to reduce certain of their charges as from the 1st August next. I do not consider that the modification of dock dues is a matter which can be dealt with by general legislation as such dues differ considerably at the several ports owing to the varying nature of the facilities provided, the services rendered and other circumstances. I may say that many of the Special Harbour Acts under which increased maximum charges have been authorised in recent years contain a provision empowering me, on the application of interested parties, to review and, if necessary, revise such charges.

asked the Minister of Health whether the standard commonly used for estimating overcrowding and adopted by the Registrar-General for census purposes is more than two persons per room; and whether he will consider the adoption of a new standard in the 1931 census, taking account of the number of rooms used for sleeping purposes?

The Census Statistics published by the Registrar-General with reference to the prevalence of overcrowding conditions are based upon the total number of habitable rooms occupied by the families enumerated, but they are not limited to the ratio of two persons per room. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question will be considered in connection with the

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the recommendations of the consultative council regarding the proposals made by the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance that the scope of the benefit should be extended to include a consultant and specialist medical service, and that the necessary funds for this purpose should be obtained by a partial pooling of future surpluses of approved societies; and what action it is proposed to take?

The subject to which the hon. Member refers was considered by the Consultative Council at their meeting on the 21st July. I am, informed that they desire to give the matter further consideration before communicating to me their final views.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give particulars bearing on the quantities of flour and offals imported and the export of offals, providing a comparison between the latest available figures and those of a date immediately pre-War and those of about 25 years ago?

The imports of wheat meal and flour, and imports and exports of wheat offals in respect of Great Britain and Ireland in 1903, 1913 and 1926 were as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information which will show when the sittings will commence of the Commission appointed by the Governor of British Guiana which is to recommend measures of reform in the constitution of the Colony; and can he state the full terms of reference?

The Commission has already commenced sitting. The terms of reference are as follow: To advise upon the steps which should be taken to confer power upon the Governor to carry into effect measures which he and the Secretary of State consider essential for the well-being of the Colony, whether by an alteration in the relative powers and in the composition of the Court of Policy and the Combined Court, or by the substitution of a new Legislative Council in which the Crown would possess powers of effective control over financial as well as other matters; and generally upon any other improvements, such as those suggested by the British Guiana Commission, which might be effected in the constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many, and which, of the recommendations of Lord Mackenzie's Committee on Trawling have already been put into force; and when he proposes to put into force those recommendations not already enforced?

The position is as follows:Recommendations 1, 2 and 3. —It is expected that the Report of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea on the question of the Moray Firth will be received by His Majesty's Government at an early date, and its bearing on these recommendations will be fully considered.Recommendation 4. —The question of preventing the destruction of immature fish is receiving the careful and active consideration of the International Council.Recommendations 5, 6, S and 9. —I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a question by the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair).Recommendation 7 contained several proposals for improvement of the protection service. Subject to what was said in yesterday's reply with respect to auxiliary vessels and wireless, effect has been given to these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Second Scottish National Housing Company have allocated a further 1, 000 steel houses to be built by Lord Weir; whether sites have yet been obtained from any of the Scottish municipalities on which these 1, 000 houses may be erected; and, if so, in which localities?

The Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust), Limited, have contracted with the Cardonald Housing Corporation, Limited, for a further 542 steel houses. Sites have been obtained for these houses at Springboig in the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire adjacent to Glasgow. These sites were acquired by purchase from private individuals. No sites have been acquired from municipalities.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the recent alterations in the times of the deliveries in the Metropolitan area have caused delay and inconvenience to business firms; and will he reconsider this matter?

I am not aware that any recent alterations have caused delay or inconvenience. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the intention of his Department to replace the male staff at the Devonport post office by women workers?

The question of assigning the counter and telegraph work at the Devonport post office to women is under consideration, but no conclusion has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received any complaints within the last three months as to the delay caused by the congestion or the absence of privately-owned coal wagons; and, if so, what action he has taken in these cases?

I have received no complaints of this nature within the last three months.

asked the Secretary for Mines when his Departmental inspectors last reported upon the condition

Four underground inspections have been made at this colliery this year, the last on 17th June. The inspectors found nothing as regards the temperature or other conditions making the mine unfit to work in.

asked the Minister of Labour whether steps have been taken to give effect to Section 18 of the Mining Industry Act as regards restricting the engagement in coal mines of persons from outside the industry?

Yes, Sir; an undertaking was signed on 20th July by the Mining Association of Great Britain, and will come into operation on 1st August. The undertaking is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the body of Flight-Lieutenant L. W. H. Phillips, who crashed near Chengchow Island, west of Hong Kong, has been found; whether the machine or any parts of it have been found and is an inquiry being held into the causes of this accident?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, two floats of the aircraft were found on the day of the accident, but no further discoveries have been reported. As regards the last part, the usual court of inquiry will be held.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Employment Exchanges in London are less used by the public than those in the pro- vinces;and will he assign any reason for this?

As far as I am aware, it is not the case that the Employment Exchanges in London are less used by the public than those in the provinces. If the hon. Member will let me know the grounds on which he bases his assertion. I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in the Borough Employment Exchange, the amount of illness and consequent sick-leave granted to members of the staff is proportionately higher than that in other Labour Exchanges?

The average amount of sick-leave at this Exchange works-out at a high figure owing to the prolonged absences of three officers on account of serious illness. It seems clear, however, that this is merely an unfortunate coincidence, and that there is no, ground for attributing it to the conditions of work at the Exchange.