asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in receipt of the full Report of the recent conference at Simla on opium cultivation in the Indian States; whether he will inform the House of the main decisions there arrived at; and whether he will consider the question of publishing the proceedings of the conference in the form of a White Paper, in view of the public interest in the efforts being made to reduce the world production and consumption of opium for other than purely medical purposes?

My Noble Friend has received a Report. The Conference recommended that a Committee should be formed to conduct a series of local inquiries in which the States concerned would be associated, and suggested terms of reference covering the following questions:

(a) the agricultural and financial aspects of the subject, including the possibility of replacing poppy by other crops and the effect of such substitution upon the prosperity of the States and their subjects;

(b) a searching inquiry into the extent to which opium is consumed, the occasions on which and the purposes for which it is consumed, the manner in which it is prepared for consumption and its physiological effects upon the consumer. The important question to what extent opium is administered to infants was not lost sight of;

(c) The amount of the stocks of opium existing in the States and the best means of disposing of them; smuggling and remedies therefor and, finally, the advisability and practicability of adopting the policy suggested by the Government of India, namely, the discontinuance of cultivation in the States, the purchase of opium by the States from the Government factory at Ghazipur at cost price and a gradual enhancement of the selling price of opium in the States, so as ultimately to equalise it with that prevailing in the adjoining British districts, and thereby to remove the incentive to smuggling into British India and reduce the average rate of consumption in the States.

It is not proposed to publish a White Paper on the subject but a copy of a

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the amount and value of opium manufactured by the Government of India and sold for exportation each year for the last three years and whether any part of the opium sold for exportation under the authority of the Government of India is manufactured in the Indian States?

The following table shows the amount and value of opium manufactured by the Government of India sold for exportation in the last three years for which figures are available:

			Chests of 140 lbs. sold.	Amount realised in Rs.
1923	…	…	7,954	3,13,34,650
1924	…	…	7,379	2,80,06,775
1925	…	…	6,119	2,54,35,350

The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in Burma money is being raised in aid of the Rangoon University fund by means of sales of contracts for gambling; and whether the sale of these gambling concessions receives the support of the authorities?

The practice was confined to one or two districts, and was suppressed by the Local Government as soon as it came to their notice.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any protests have been received by the Government of India against the Government's proposal to give statutory permission to local governments to raise special volunteer police forces; and whether he will state the names of the bodies from which protests, if any, have been received, and the terms of such protests?

The Bill in question has been referred in the ordinary course to local Governments, to elicit official and public opinion. Those opinions, some of which are unfavourable, have now been received, and are being circulated to the Legislative Assembly on whose resolution they were collected. It seems to me, therefore, unnecessary and, perhaps, undesirable to go further into the matter at this stage in this House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the £300,000 estimated as the total cost of the scheme to establish a new India House in London covers all expenditure incidental to the acquisition of the site; whether he will state the whole amount so incurred and the terms on which the site has been acquired; and what part of the estimated recurring expenditure devolving on the revenues of the Government of India as the result of the adoption of the scheme will be due to rent for the site decided on?

No expenditure is being incurred on the acquisition of the site as the ground will be rented on a lease of 999 years. The rent of the site is £6,000 per annum. The exact terms of the lease have not yet been finally approved.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have been consulted by the governing body of the International Labour Office, in accordance with the recommendation of the International Labour Conference, that in co-operation with the Governments concerned a documentary inquiry should be made into the conditions of labour in the chief Asiatic countries; whether he will inform the House if any steps have so far been taken by the Government of India and the other party concerned to carry out this recommendation; and what facilities, if any, are being offered, or are proposed to be offered, to the governing body of the International Labour Office to help them to conduct a full inquiry into the Indian workers' conditions of labour?

The Government of India have been consulted by the Director of the International Labour Office and are collaborating by collecting information as required.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, following the enactment of the Indian Navy Bill, consequent legislation will be introduced in the Indian Legislative Assembly, and when?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I regret that I am not in a position to give the date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State for India has received any communication from the Government of Madras with reference to the Tuticorin harbour scheme; whether he is aware that the revised estimate for carrying out this scheme is 50 per cent. higher than the original estimate and that in consequence there is widespread opposition, including that of the local Indian chamber of commerce, to continuing the scheme; whether he will consider this fact in whatever action he may take; and whether he will recommend to the Government of Madras the advisability of consulting all shades of local opinion before proceeding further with this scheme?

At the request of the Government of Madras, the Secretary of State has appointed an expert committee of harbour engineers to examine the scheme, the latest revised estimate for which was about Rs.57 lakhs as against an original estimate of about Rs.40 lakhs. A memorandum from the West Indian Chamber of Commerce has been communicated to the committee. As regards the last two parts of the question, further consideration of the matter must await the receipt of the committee's report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in connection with the change in the manner of assessment of Income Tax of incomes derived from the sale of tea in India, he will state on whom the responsibility will be thrown of determining how far in each case profits are agricultural or non-agricultural; and whether the Government have yet issued any notification of the change in the rules relating to assessment of Income Tax or whether no such change in the rules is necessitated?

I am referring the hon. Member's inquiry to the Government of India, and will communicate with him on receipt of their reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is with the consent of the Government of India and of His Majesty's Government that the Government of Madras have issued orders under Rule 23 (1), Government Servants' Conduct Rules, prohibiting Government servants from subscribing to the khadi fund in aid of the All-India Spinners' Association; whether he is aware that this association is in no sense a political association, in spite of its affiliation with the All-India Congress organisation; and whether he is aware that this association in its constitution declares that it is unaffected and uncontrolled by politics, by political changes, or political bodies, and that while an integral part of the congress organisation has an independent existence and powers?

So far as my Noble Friend is aware, the orders referred to were issued by the Government of Madras on their own initiative. My Noble Friend has no official information regarding the association in question, and would be very reluctant to interfere with the discretion of the local Government in this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what progress has been made in connection with the new cantonment scheme at Mingaladon; what is the estimated total cost; when the accommodation for troops will be ready; and what strength in troops is it intended to station at Mingaladon?

The work on the new cantonment is well in hand, but the date on which the accommodation for troops will be ready cannot be forecasted with any accuracy. The estimated total cost is Rs.95 lakhs. The new cantonment is designed to accommodate the troops at present stationed in the cantonment at Rangoon, namely, 1 Battalion British Infantry, 1 Battalion Indian Infantry with ancillary troops with the exception of one company of British Infantry and one company of Indian Infantry, which will be retained in Rangoon itself.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that an American citizen, Mr. Frank Dutton Jackson, has been served with a notice to remove himself forthwith from British India by sea from the port of Calcutta; whether representations with regard to the matter have been received from the American Consul- General in Calcutta; and what, is the reason for the action taken by the Government?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, to the second, so far as I am aware, in the negative. The order is due to the opinion of the Bengal Government that this individual's conduct is such as to render his continued presence in India undesirable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of Mr. G. Kaula, Accountant-General, Central Revenues, to the Government of India, in which he states that frauds and embezzlements appeared to have occurred under almost every budget head; and what action the Government propose to take in the matter?

My Noble Friend is alive to the importance of the question raised by the hon. Member, which is receiving the attention of the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to introduce legislation amending the Bamboo Paper Industry (Protection) Act, 1925, at the forthcoming Session of the Indian Legislature, and on what grounds?

The Government of India intend to introduce legislation at the forthcoming Session to amend the Bamboo Paper Industry (Protection) Act, 1925. Copy of a Press communiqué made in India on 1st July is being placed in the Library.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give information as to the facilities which at present exist in India for the training of young men for entry into the commissioned ranks of the proposed Indian Navy; and if, in connection with the proposed force the Government of India propose, or have considered any proposal, to institute a naval college in India to train chosen Indian young men to qualify in naval engineering, naval construction, and allied subjects?

No special facilities at present exist in India for the training of young men for entry into the commissioned ranks of the proposed Indian Navy, but steps are under consideration to assist Indian candidates to qualify themselves for commissions when the Royal Indian Navy is formed. There is no intention of instituting a naval college in India for this purpose, since the expense of such a college would be out of all proportion to the anticipated scale of recruitment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the recommendations made by the Sandhurst Committee and the Auxiliary and Territorial Force Committee are still under consideration by the Government of India and His Majesty's Government; and whether their decision as to the action to be taken may be expected to be intimated?

In regard to the Auxiliary and Territorial Force Committee, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to-day to a question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly). The recommendations made by the Sandhurst Committee are still under consideration by the Government of India and His Majesty's Government, and I am unable to say when an intimation of the action to be taken thereon may be expected.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is contemplated making any reduction in the numbers borne in the reserve destroyers to be laid up in the basin of Rosyth?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of yesterday (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1257–8).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the majority of the married officers and ratings in the reserve destroyers to be transferred to Rosyth have their homes in or near Portsmouth, Plymouth, or Chatham; and whether any assistance will be given to these married officers and ratings to meet the cost of transferring their homes to Scotland?

The personnel who will constitute the maintenance staff of the destroyers sent to Rosyth will not necessarily be the same as those now borne in the reserve complements. As is the practice in the case of men drafted for service at Rosyth or Port Edgar they will be, as far as possible, selected from volunteers, and non-volunteers will be relieved as soon as volunteers are available. They will thus be serving under the same conditions as those applying to personnel drafted to other naval services in Scotland, which do not include assistance of the nature referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that only one examination for promotion has been held in His Majesty's dockyards since 1914, in order to maintain the highest efficiency and encourage employés in the dockyard service, he will consider reverting to the system which prevailed before the War of holding regular examinations, annual or at least triennial, for promotion to the rank of draughtsmen, inspectors, foremen. etc.?

These examinations are held as considered necessary by the Admiralty, having regard to the extent to which the current examination list has been used and the number of vacancies forthcoming in the next two or three years. It has not been the practice to hold them at regular intervals, and owing to the uneven occurrence of vacancies it is not necessary or desirable to do so. The question of holding new examinations is at present under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that hard-lying money was paid to the crew of His Majesty's Ship "Mutine" and His Majesty's Ship "Herald" while under refit when on surveying duties in foreign waters, he can see his way to reconsider his decision with regard to the withholding of hard-lying money from the crew of His Majesty's Ship "Ormonde" while under refit at Bermuda during her recent commission on the North American and West Indies Station; whether, seeing that it is customary to pay hard-lying money to ratings in surveying ships when employed on sea service, he is aware that this money was not paid to the crew of His Majesty's Ship "Ormonde" from 26th October, 1926, to the date of her arrival in England from Bermuda, 17th November, 1926; and whether he will see that this money is paid?

The payments of hard-lying money to the crews of His Majesty's Ships "Herald" and "Mutine" during periods of refit were erroneous. Steps have already been taken to adjust the underpayments to the crew of His Majesty's Ship "Ormonde" in respect of her passage home from Bermuda.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the cost of the personnel of the Navy and also the cost of the staff at the Admiralty for the years ending March, 1914 and 1927?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply yesterday to the hon. Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne, East (Mr. Connolly) [OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1253–55].

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the type of locker at present fitted in small craft is unsuitable for the purpose intended; and whether he will consider the fitting of a larger type when circumstances admit, observing that an improved design would not entail an increase of space?

The type of locker fitted in small craft is not considered unsuitable for the intended purpose. The question of fitting in small craft lockers of increased capacity has already been fully considered in response to a request of the 1926 Welfare Conference, and a reply has been given that considerations of space render this impossible where the lockers also have to be used at seats.

asked the President of the Board of Education what number of scholars were attending our elementary and secondary schools in England and Wales on the 31st March, 1914, 1921 and 1927?

The following table shows the numbers of pupils attending public elementary schools and grant-aided secondary schools in England and Wales on the dates to which the returns related:

Public Elementary Schools.
31st January, 1914	…	…	6,035,649
31st March, 1921	…	…	5,854,068
31st March, 1927	…	…	5,597,020

Grant-aided Secondary Schools.
31st January, 1914	…	…	187,207
1st October, 1921	…	…	362,025
1st October, 1926	…	…	376,829

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the estimated average attendance in the elementary schools for the current year and what was the average attendance for last year; and whether the reduction in average attendance is responsible for the decrease in the grant to local education authorities in respect of elementary education of £394,808?

The average number of children in attendance at public elementary schools in England and Wales for the year ended the 31st March, 1927, was 4,970,470. With regard to the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on the 24th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether the Bill for compulsory military service in Kenya provides that a conseipt may be liable to service in any part of East Africa;

The Kenya Defence Force Bill, which is the correct title of the Measure referred to, was passed by the Legislative Council by 33 votes to 1, the only dissentient being an Indian Member, who, while agreeing to the Measure, considered that it should have included Indians as well as Europeans. As my right hon. Friend stated on the 18th July, the authenticated copies of the Ordinance have not yet arrived. As presented to Council, the Measure was confined to service within the Colony, and this was emphasized in

—	1913–14	1926–27	Per Head of Population.
			1913–14.			1926–27.
CONSOLIDATED FUND SERVICES.	£	£	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1. National Debt Services	24,500,000	378,584 000		10	8½	8	7	5
2. Payments to Northern Ireland Exchequer.	—	5,767,000		—			2	7
3. Road Fund	1,395,000	17,373,000			7½		7	8
4. Payments to Local Taxation Accounts	9,734,000	14,172,000		4	3		6	3
5. Other Consolidated Fund Services	1,694,000	2,869,000			9		1	3
Total Consolidated Fund Services	37,323,000	418,765,000		16	4	9	5	2
FIGHTING SERVICES.
6. Army (including Ordnance Factories)	28,346,000	43,600,000		12	5		19	3
7. Navy	48,833,000	57,600,000	1	1	4	1	5	6
8. Air Force	—	15,530,000	—				6	11
Total Fighting Services	77,179,000	116,730,000	1	13	9	2	11	8
CIVIL ESTIMATES.
9. Education	19,499,000	51 935,000		8	6¼	1	2	11½
10. Old Age Pensions and Widows	12,869,000	34,284,000		5	7½		15	2
11. Ministry of Pensions	—	63,264,000		—		1	8	0
12. Ministry of Labour and Unemployment Grants and Insurance.	602,000	18,024,000			3¼		7	11½
13. Police	1,626,000	7,741,000			8½		3	5
14. Ministry of Health and Scottish Board of Health (including Housing and Health grants).	5,203,000	21,350,000		2	3¼		9	5
15. Other Civil Estimates	14,102,000	43,888,000		6	2¼		19	5
Total Civil Estimates	53,901,000	240,486,000	1	3	7	5	6	4
REVENUE DEPARTMENTS.
16. Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue.	4,483,000	11,514,000		2	0		5	1
17. Post Office	24,607,000	54,900,000		10	9	1	4	3
Total Revenue Departments	29,090,000	66,414,000		12	9	1	9	4
Grand Total	197,493,000	842,395,000	4	6	5	18	12	6

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state in detail 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 Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to introduce compulsory military service into Iraq?

A Conscription Bill was introduced in the Iraq Parliament in June last. Consideration of the Measure has been postponed until next November. I am unable to say what final decision will be taken in regard to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total net income from agricultural land in England and Wales as assessed under Schedule A; and the total amount recovered by owners of land on account of special expenditure in the years 1913 and 1925, respectively?

The gross annual value of all lands assessed under Schedule A in England and Wales was, for the year 1913–14, £36,871,000; for the year 1925–26 it is estimated to be about £42,000,000. I regret that I am unable to divide these figures as between agricultural land and land used for other purposes, or to state the net income corresponding to them. The Income Tax repaid in respect of the excess cost of maintenance, repairs, etc., of lands was approximately £50,000 in 1913–14, but no corresponding figure is available for the year 1925–26, for which year lands cannot be distinguished from other property.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can indicate the grounds on which he considers it impracticable to issue Regulations to compel millers in this country to mill a given percentage of English wheat?

The proposal would entail transporting home-grown wheat to mills at ports, where only a small percentage of such wheat is used, and sending imported wheat to inland mills, where in many cases the percentage of home-grown wheat used is high. This would be costly and wasteful. There are also considerable administrative difficulties; for example, it would not be easy to decide on the exact figure at which the percentage should be fixed; if too high a figure were taken an actual shortage of wheat would occur and it would become impossible to give effect to the Regulation; if too low a figure were taken, the Regulation would obviously not have the effect desired. In any case, considerable supervision of the milling industry would be necessary, which if not impracticable is highly undesirable. Unless it increased the price of wheat and therefore of bread, it would not help the British farmer. I am advised that it would increase the price of bread, and on this account the proposal is politically impracticable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Memorandum of the Local Government Board of January, 1895, as to the powers and duties of rural district councils with respect to rights of way, roadside wastes and commons is still in force; whether he can state the cases in which since that date the Ministry has consented to the enclosure of any common or any part of a common; and whether in all cases where application for enclosure has been made the parish and district council has, in accordance with the above Memorandum, had due notice of the proposed enclosure?

The Memorandum to which the hon. Member refers is now largely obsolete, but in so far as it points out that notice of any proposed enclosure of a common must be given to the parish and district councils concerned, it still holds good. Since 1895 the Ministry of Agriculture has consented in 128 cases to the enclosure of commons or parts of commons; and in every instance notice of the proposed enclosure was given to the parish and district council except in one case of urgency affecting a small area in Wales.

asked the Minister of Health, if he has now received the Report of the Inquiry instituted by his Department with respect to the alleged maladministration of outdoor relief in the Prescot Union, founded on allegations given in a Press interview by the relieving officer before submitting such charges to the board of guardians; and, if so, what is the nature of such Report?

Yes, Sir. The Report, while not supporting certain allegations of injudicious action on the part of the guardians, to which prominence had been given in the local Press, contained certain criticisms and suggestions which have been considered by the guardians, and I now have before me proposals made by them to meet those criticisms.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply the number of persons in receipt of out-door relief, and the amount of money expended, in Durham County during the first six months of 1924?

The average number of persons in the unions in the union county of Durham in receipt of out-relief in money and kind (excluding persons in receipt of medical relief only and casuals) during each of the first six months of 1924 is stated in the following table, together with the total cost of that relief to the guardians of those unions.

Month of	Out-Relief in money and kind.
	Average number of persons in receipt of relief.	Total cost of relief.
1924.		pound;
January (4 weeks)	66,199	54,391
February (4 weeks)	64,111	52,960
March (5 weeks)	59,498	57,669
April (4 weeks)	56,123	44,962
May (5 weeks)	55,025	55,946
June (4 weeks)	53,741	43,395

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken or intends to take to prevent boards of guardians, who are responsible for the property of the inmates of public asylums, from adopting a practice, admitted by many unions, which consists in transferring to a pauper inmate on discharge, articles of clothing, etc., belonging to other inmates who have been detained in asylums for a period exceeding four years?

I am not aware of the existence of such a practice as is suggested, but I shall be glad to inquire into any particular case which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Cobb Committee recommended that Section 79 of the Lunacy Act should be posted up in the rooms where friends come to visit pauper patients; and will he say why this has not been done, so that friends, as well as relatives, may be made aware of the rights conferred on them by the Statute?

In the opinion of the Board of Control there are serious objections to a general requirement that this Section should be posted up in waiting rooms. The revised Rules of the Board of Control dated 7th January, 1925, provide that:

"The managers of every institution for lunatics shall, on the admission of every pauper lunatic to an institution for lunatics, send a notice to all persons, whose names appear as relatives or friends of the patients on the statement of particulars accompanying a reception order, as to the times and conditions of visitation; and in such notice shall be embodied the substance of Section 79 of the Lunacy Act, 1890."

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now had an opportunity of considering the Report of the coroner's inquest held on Elizabeth Fagent and Sarah Ann Edgerton, who died at the Guildford Infirmary; and whether he is taking any action in the matter?

I have asked for the depositions of the witnesses who appeared at the inquest in this case and for information as to the progress of the inquiry which the guardians have themselves instituted. Pending the receipt or these documents, I cannot determine what, if any, action I should take in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health the male and female population of England and Wales for 1913, 1919, and 1921 to 1927, respectively?

The following is the information asked for.

England and Wales.
		Population.
Year.		Males.	Females.
1913	…	17,687,000	18,887,000
1919	…	17,803,000	19,559,000
1921 (Census)	…	18,075,239	19,811,460
1922	…	18,225,000	19,933,000
1923	…	18,342,000	20,061,000
1924	…	18,545,000	20,201,000
1925	…	18,602,000	20,288,000
1926	…	18,698,000	20,369,000
1927	…	18,763,000	20,440,000

With the exception of those for the year 1921 which are Census figures, the above populations are mid-year estimates. Those given for 1927 should be regarded as provisional.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any reports as to the action taken by local authorities where the public health is endangered through the cutting off of the domestic water supply to premises in cases where the rate has not been paid?

I have not received any such reports.

asked the Minister of Health how many people suffering from diabetes have been cured by the treatment of insulin; and in how many cases such treatment has merely controlled the disease but not cured it?

Insulin is not a curative agent in the ordinary sense of that term, and it is administered with the object of neutralising for the time being the consequences of the disease, although in certain case its prolonged administration may be followed by a diminution in, or even the entire disappearance of, the active symptoms. No statistics are available as to the number of persons who have received this treatment nor is it possible to ascertain the number of cases in which the administration of insulin has contributed to the cure of this disease.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that certain inspectors of the Ministry of Health are prohibiting pickled herrings being sold in certain shops in the East End of London; and will he make inquiries into the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I am given to understand that the shops in question are milk shops, and the action referred to is apparently action taken under Section 2 of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922, by the responsible local authority. An appeal lies to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction.

asked the Minister of Health if he will provide a statement as to the incidence of rates in rural districts so as to provide a comparison between agricultural and other descriptions of land and property, demonstrating the incidence in the year 1896, at the present time, and, as far as possible, when the first re-assessment under the Rating and Valuation Act comes into force?

Upwards of 99 per cent, of the total amount of rates collected in rural districts for public local purposes has in recent years been collected in respect of two rates, namely, the poor rate (now the "general" rate) and the special expenses rate (now the "special" rate). The following table sets out the incidence of these two rates at the several periods mentioned in the question.The percentage of the above-mentioned total amount which was collected by means of poor rates was nearly 95 in the year 1896 and nearly 93 in the year 1927. The corresponding percentages in the case of the special expenses rate were nearly five in 1896 and nearly seven in 1927.The small balance of the rates in rural districts (less than 1 per cent. of the total) was raised by means of library rates and lighting rates. These rates have been abolished by the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925. The expenses formerly chargeable upon them (slightly modified in incidence) have been made

Classes.	In 1896.	In 1927.	After the coming into force in a Rural District of the first new Valuation List under the Rating and Valuation Act. 1925 (i.e., in April,1928, or April,1929).
Incidence of Poor Rate (now General Rate).
Occupiers of—
(i) Agricultural land	Paid in proportion to net annual value.	Pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.
(ii) Agricultural buildings other than dwelling-houses.	Paid in proportion to net annual value.	Pay in proportion to net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.
(iii) Dwelling-houses, shops, factories, mines, quarries, railways, canals, waterworks, and other hereditaments not specified above; and owners of tithes or tithe commutation rent charges.	Paid in proportion to net annual value.	Pay in proportion to net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to net annual value.
incidence of Separate Rate for Special Expenses.
(iv) Agricultural land	Paid in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.	Pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.
(v) Agricultural buildings other than dwelling-houses.	Paid in proportion to net annual value.	Pay in proportion to net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.
(vi) Woodlands, land covered with water or used as a canal or as a towing path for a canal or as a railway constructed under the powers of any Act of Parliament for public conveyance; and owners of tithes or tithe commutation rent charges.	Paid in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.	Pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to one-quarter of net annual value.
(vii) Dwelling-houses, shops, factories, mines, quarries and other hereditaments not specified in (iv), (v) or (vi) above.	Paid in proportion to net annual value.	Pay in proportion to net annual value.	Will pay in proportion to net annual value.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, on the 20th July, 1927, a regional medical officer of the north-eastern division certified an insured man, Mr. John Wilson, of 6, Thomas Street, Sunderland, as having had a right-sided hemiplegia about six months ago, and that he was fit for some form of light work, at any rate that applicable to a one-armed man, and in his opinion was not on that date incapable of work; and whether, having regard to the fact that Wilson is 54 years of age, has been continuously insured since 1912, and has not made a previous claim for sickness or disablement benefit, and in view of paragraphs (b) and (c) of Sub-section (1) of Section 10 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, he will inquire into this case?

I will look into the case referred to by the hon. Member, and will communicate with him about it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that when a, member of the National Health Insurance submits an estimate for dental treatment which includes the administration of a general anæsthetic, the National Amalgamated Approved Society questions the dentist upon this treatment and demands to be advised why the extraction cannot be made under a local anæsthetic; and whether, in the interests of the patients, he will recommend to approved societies the desirability of discontinuing the practice of questioning professional treatment?

I am not aware of the practice of the particular society referred to in the first part of the question, but I understand that the Dental Benefit Joint Committee, by whom the scale of fees and conditions of service were negotiated, have at present under consideration the question of the right of a patient to choose the anæsthetic to be used in his case. Pending the Committee's decision, I do not propose to take any steps in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the rations of the Army comprise both foreign, Dominion, and English meat, and bread made from foreign flour; if that is the case, what are the proportions used of each; and whether he will consider the propriety, in the interests of English agriculture, of providing that for at least three days in every week all rations supplied to the troops shall be of purely English origin?

Practically all ration meat is frozen and of Dominion origin. Headquarter contracts for flour contain the stipulation that the flour shall be home-milled. From information obtained from the millers, it is clear that a proportion of English wheat is used in its manufacture; the specification lays down no limit to the proportion which may be used, so long as the flour meets War Department requirements, but the quantity which can be used in producing satisfactory flour must necessarily vary according to the time of the year and the quality of the wheat. In the case of bread, the Department purchases to a general trade standard, and it is not considered practicable to make any stipulation as regards milling. As regards the last part of the question, the cost of supplying English meat on three days a week would be prohibitive; while in the case of flour and bread it is impracticable to stipulate for supplies of purely English origin.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that until three years ago the Irish units of the Church Lads Brigade received a grant of 4s. per head for each efficient cadet in Ireland, and were treated in all respects in the same way as similar units in England; that the grant was then withdrawn; and that last year it was restored, but in the Regulations renewing it Northern Ireland was excluded; whether, in view of the fact that the taxes from which the grant is made are collected from Northern Ireland as well as from England, Scotland, and Wales, he will state the reason for withholding the grant from Northern Irish units while paying it to the English, Scotch and Welsh branches; and whether he will arrange that the grant to Northern Irish units shall be renewed and the arrears paid to the Northern Irish units of the brigade?

This question is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has been reached by the Contracts Department of the Ministry with regard to the applications submitted by a number of film companies with a view to the production of an Air Force film?

Yes, Sir; a decision has been reached, and negotiations are now in progress with the firm to whom it is proposed to entrust the production of the film.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on Friday last a baker's shop and cottage in the village of Kennford, near Exeter, was destroyed by fire caused by sparks flying from a road locomotive; whether he is aware that during 1926 two other cottages in the same village were damaged through the same cause; and whether he will take steps to prevent the transit of locomotives unless provided with chimney screens for the prevention of such occurrences in future?

Accidents caused by motor vehicles are not systematically reported to me, but I am, of course, aware that sparks emitted from road locomotives in some cases constitute a danger to property adjoining the roads. As regards the last part of the question, I have no powers at present to make Regulations prescribing the use of spark arresters or other similar contrivances in road locomotives, but if the hon. Member will refer to Clause 23 of the draft Road Traffic Bill he will see that such powers are included.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware that the strawberry disease is still very prevalent in Scotland; and will he state what progress has been made by the Scottish Board of Agriculture in the investigations as to its cause and as to its eradication;(2) if he is aware that during the last few days 40 tons of strawberries from Holland were landed at the port of Leith; and will he state if the Scottish Board of Agriculture have any evidence indicating a connection between the strawberry disease which is sweeping over the strawberry fields of Scotland and the importation of foreign strawberries and foreign strawberry plants;(3) if the investigations of the Scottish Board of Agriculture regarding the strawberry disease are sufficiently far advanced for him to consider the advisability of enforcing restrictions with a view to eradicating the disease?

I am aware that strawberry diseases are still prevalent in Scotland. The diseases are the subject of investigation both in Scotland and in England, and in particular research is proceeding at the West of Scotland Agricultural College. That investigation is being conducted by Mr. D. G. O'Brien, Advisory Officer in Plant Pathology, and Mr. D. V. Howells, Senior Lecturer in Horticulture, under the general supervision of Professor Montagu Drummond, Professor of Botany in Glasgow University. The investigators are in touch with similar work being carried on in England. So far no definite cause of the diseases has been established, and in the circumstances it would he premature to consider the question of imposing any measure of control. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland have no evidence indicating any connection between the importation of foreign strawberries and strawberry plants and the occurrence of strawberry diseases in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state when the Reports on the agricultural surveys, recently carried out in Scotland, will be made available to the public?

I understand that the Reports which are being prepared on the surveys carried out in the present year will shortly be completed. As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 21st June last on the subject, the advisability of publishing a statement of the results of these surveys will be considered when the Reports are received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount spent for the land settlement purposes of the Small Landholders Act, Small Holdings Colonies Acts, and the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, in each year since the War, and the estimated, expenditure during the current year?

The amounts spent for the land settlement purposes of the Acts referred to from 1919–20 to 1926–27 were as follow:

				£
1919–20	…	…	…	179,028
1920–21	…	…	…	615,924
1921–22	…	…	…	434,308
1922–23	…	…	…	247,560
1923–24	…	…	…	650,187
1924–25	…	…	…	287,049
1925–26	…	…	…	150,039
1926–27	…	…	…	141,611

As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on the 9th May last to a question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for Perth (Mr. Skelton).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons who were removed from prisons to outside hospitals in order that operations might be performed during the year 1926; and the number of cases of childbirth, if any, that took place inside prisons during the year 1926?

31 prisoners were removed from Scottish prisons to outside hospitals during the year 1926 for the purpose of undergoing operations. No births took place in Scottish prisons in 1926.

asked the secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Empire Marketing Board has decided to make a grant of £40,000 a year for five years to the Ministry of Agriculture in order to promote the advertisement and sale of home-grown produce to England and Wales, and seeing that the responsibilities of that Ministry are limited, a corresponding grant will be made to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in order to promote the advertisement and sale of Scottish home-grown produce?

I have been asked, as Acting-Chairman of the Empire Marketing Board, to take this question:The grant of £40,000 referred to in the question was not for advertisement but for the encouragement of marketing, research and demonstration in accordance with an application from the Ministry of Agriculture. Similarly grants are already being made for Scotland in accordance with applications submitted by the Board of Agriculture for scotland. I would refer my hon. Friend particularly to the substantial grant for investigation and demonstration of uses of milk, to the joint scheme of investigation of the hill pasture problems and the joint scheme on poultry, all now being actively prosecuted in Scotland under grants from the Empire Marketing Board. Other schemes concerning proposed Scottish investigations are being frequently submitted to the Board, which is always prepared to consider on their merits applications from Scotland or any other part of the Empire, more especially when the work proposed to be undertaken promises to be of benefit to more than one Empire country.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the discontent in certain rural districts of Northern Ireland occasioned by the delivery and collection of letters on alternate days only; and when he proposes to restore the normal daily service in existence prior to the creation of the Northern Government?

It is not always possible, consistently with reasonable economy, to afford a daily delivery in rural areas; but if the hon. Member will let me know of any places he has in mind, I will have inquiry made and write to him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters posted in St. Andrews after 3 p.m. on Friday are not delivered in parts of the Largoward district until noon on Monday, replies being collected at noon on Tuesday; and, in view of the fact that Largoward is only seven miles from St. Andrews, will he endeavour to provide an improved postal service?

I am afraid there must be some misunderstanding. Letters posted up to 7 p.m. in St. Andrews are delivered by the first post the following day in all parts of Largoward, and replies can be posted at Largoward Post Office up to 3.50 p.m. the same day to connect with the first delivery in St. Andrews the next day.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received complaints in regard to the insufficiency of the existing postal facilities at Port Dinorwic; and whether he will provide an additional office to meet the requirements of the upper area and the hamlet of Tanymaes?

My right hon. Friend has fully considered this question; but regrets that an additional office in the district is not at present warranted.

asked the Postmaster-General how many men applied to compete in each of the 1920 and 1921 examinations; how many were nominated; how many were qualified; and how many were finally appointed?

A number of competitions for appointments to various Post Office grades took place in 1920 and 1921. If my hon. Friend will let me know the grades for which the competitions in which he is interested were held, I will endeavour to supply the information he desires.

asked the Postmaster General whether paper keepers in the Post Office are in a grade below sorters, sorting clerks and telegraphists; and, if so, will he explain why paper keepers have been offered appointments to the clerical class, Post Office, without examinations?

The scale of pay of paper keepers is lower than that of the other grades in question. Certain paper keepers in the Secretary's office have been offered appointments to the clerical class, subject to a satisfactory trial, in order to provide their class with an outlet of promotion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in consequence of the reorganisation of staff in the various collections of the Department of His Majesty's Customs and Excise, there has recently been a number of vacancies in the Departmental higher clerical grade, which have been filled by promotion from the basic Departmental clerical class but from which the clerical officers serving in the Statistical Office have been debarred, with the result that a number of comparatively junior men on the lower ranges of the clerical class scale of pay have been promoted to higher grade posts, with a basic rate of £300 per annum, while senior men in the Statistical Office on the higher points of the clerical salary scale remain unpromoted; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter and consider the desirability of issuing a Memorandum upon the subject?

The junior clerical officers employed in the Statistical Office of the Customs and Excise Department, to whom my hon. Friend refers, are members of the general clerical class, whereas the vacancies of higher grade clerk have occurred in the Departmental clerical class establishment. There are substantial differences in the work on which the two classes are employed, and, in the interests of efficiency, I am advised that it is desirable that the avenues of promotion should remain distinct.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of inspectors employed by the Government in the various Departments, showing variations in numbers compared with the year 1914; and if he will consider how reductions in the number of inspectors can best be effected?

(pursuant to his reply[OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th July, 1927, Vol.

Department.	Numbers.		Remarks.
	1914.	1927.
Home Office	242	237
Prisons (England)	7	4
Education, Board of	386	359
Health Ministry	407	642	1914 figure represents Inspectorate of L.G.B. and N.H. Insurance Commission (Eng.)
Registrar-General	3	3
Nation Health Insurance Audit Department.	8	7
Labour Ministry	33	93	1914 figure includes Labour Exchange staff, at that time under the Board of Trade.
Trade, Board of	29	67	1927 figure includes Coastguard Inspectorate taken over from the Admiralty in 1923.
Mines Inspectorate	92	105	In 1914 the Mines Inspectorate was borne on Home Office Vote.
Agriculture and Fisheries	169	255
Transport Ministry	10	8	1914 figure represents Railway Inspectorate then under Board of Trade.
Works, Office of	4	4
Pensions Ministry	—	18
Scotland.
Scottish Office	4	1
Prisions	1	1
Education Department	71	62
Health Board	36	90	1914 figure represents Inspectorate of Scottish L.G.B. and N.H. Insurance Commission (Scotland).
Agriculture, Board of	6	11
Fishery Board	35	36
	1,543	2,003

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many contracts have already been entered into or concluded with timber merchants or others for the cutting or sale of oak or beech timber in the New Forest; and whether an assurance can be given that 215, Vol. 209]) supplies the following statement:Excluding the staffs of the Defence and Revenue Departments, the following table shows the number of inspectors for whom provision was made in the Estimates for 1914 and 1927. It should be added that certain of the staffs shown below are also occupied in supervising and controlling Government organisations, or upon duties of an executive character.no more contracts for the sale of hardwood timber will be entered into until an agreement has been come to with the advisory committee of the New Forest Association?

Since January, 1925, 56 contracts have been entered into or concluded for the cutting or sale of oak or beech timber in the New Forest. The Commissioners are unable to give an assurance such as that suggested, but they have received a preliminary report from the committee, and it is hoped that a satisfactory course of action can be worked out.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the hardwood timber cut in the New Forest since the 1st January, 1926, has been cut by contract with the contractor's men or by woodmen employed by the Commissioners; what is the number of contracts entered into since that date for the cutting of hardwood timber, and the number of cubic feet of oak and beech, respectively, which has been sold or contracted to be sold; whether any hardwood timber now lying on the ground is unsold; and, if so, whether it is to be put up for auction or sold by contract?

In the case of only one felling of hardwood since the 1st January, 1926, were the woodcutters contractor's men; in all the other cases the Commission's woodmen were employed. Thirty-five contracts have been entered into since that date for the cutting of hardwood timber, and some 285,000 cubic feet of oak and 10,000 of beech have been sold or contracted to be sold. There is unsold hardwood timber now lying on the ground, which will be sold by contract.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the refusal of operative treatment necessarily invalidates any claim to revision of pension in the event of deterioration due to war disability; and whether, seeing that in the case of Mr. E. M. Maton, of 9, Monkton Place, Ramsgate, the pension was reduced by 10 per cent. only seven months before the recommendation to operative treatment, he will cause Mr. Maton to be re-boarded and the whole case re-investigated?

I do not think I can add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on a similar question on the 16th June last, and which clearly set out the position. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Council of Ambassadors has now received the report of the military experts declaring the German fortresses to have been destroyed; whether this completes Germany's disarmament in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles; whether the control of German disarmament will now be transferred to the League of Nations; and whether this will accelerate the withdrawal of the armies of occupation from German soil?

I understand that the Ambassadors' Conference have approved the report of the military experts on the subject of the dismantlement of the fortifications on Germany's eastern frontier, which is of a completely satisfactory nature; but I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the agreement with the German Government which led to the withdrawal of the Allied Military Commission of Control on the 31st January covered not only the dismantlement of these fortifications but also certain other points in the disarmament of Germany in regard to which the requirements have not yet been fully satisfied. Until these requirements are met, it cannot be said that the disarmament contemplated by the Treaty is complete.As regards the functions of the League of Nations in this matter, the responsibility for supervising the continued observance of those disarmament Clauses of the Treaty of Versailles which had been fully executed passed to the Council of the League of Nations in virtue of its rights under Article 213 of the Treaty of Versailles, on the withdrawal of the Commission of Control on the 31st of January.With regard to the fourth part of the question, the occupation of the Rhineland is, under Article 428 of the Treaty of Versailles, a guarantee for the execution of that Treaty, and the evacuation of that area is, in virtue of Articles 429–431 of the Treaty, made conditional upon the fulfilment by Germany of her Treaty obligations in general and not merely those referring to disarmament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps can be taken by His Majesty's Government to bring about the abolition of the Czechoslovak visas at present required to be obtained by British subjects holding passports to visit Czechoslovakia from this country?

The matter will receive consideration.