asked the Secretary of State for Air the percentage of officers in each rank who hold short-service commissions?

Following is the answer:—

• Pilot Officer—74 per cent. of all officers of that rank in General Duties Branch. Flying Officer—49 per cent. of all officers of that rank in General Duties Branch.
• Flight Lieutenant—6 per cent. of all officers of that rank in General Duties Branch.
• Above Flight Lieutenant—Nil.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the estimated cost of training short-service commissioned officers, including pay, allowances and maintenance charges, prior to their posting to service squadrons, and the period of such training?

The answer is, approximately, £3,250 and one year, including leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the percentage of discharged short-service officers who, within six months of discharge, obtain employment in the aircraft industries, obtain other employment, and fail to obtain employment respectively?

The information for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the maximum period of service abroad for short-service officers; and for what minimum period prior to discharge these officers are posted to units at Home with a view to giving them opportunity for seeking other employment?

The maximum period of service abroad for short service commission officers is 5 years. Short service commission officers serving abroad are not normally posted to Home units prior to transfer to the reserve. They are, however, brought home in sufficient time to take any leave they have earned before transfer. Leave may be accumulated at the rate of 61 days for each completed year served overseas up to a maximum of six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the numbers of short service flying officers, respectively, in training units at Home, training units abroad, service units at Home, and service units abroad?

The following are the particulars asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend:—

		Home.	Overseas.
Training units	…	124	29
Service units	…	393	203

The above figures include 62 officers under flying training at Home and 22 officers under flying training overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of short service flying officers who, having completed their original term of engagement for service with the colours, have duly completed their service in the reserve; have been discharged without service in the reserve; have served in the reserve but have been discharged without completion of their reserve service; have received permanent commissions; are serving on extensions of their original engagement with the colours; are still serving in the reserve and fit for flying duties; and are still serving in the reserve but are unfit for flying duties?

The particulars asked for, as at the latest convenient date, are as follow:Number of short-service flying officers, General Duties Branch, who:

(1)	have completed their Reserve service	90
(2)	have been discharged without service in the Reserve	556
(3)	have been discharged while in Reserve, before completion of service	24
(4)	have received permanent commissions	320
(5)	are serving on extensions of their original agreements	85
(6)	are still serving in Reserve and are qualified as pilots	285
(7)	are still serving in Reserve, but are not qualified as pilots	126

The figure at (2) includes wastage from all causes over a period of 7¾ years.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of pilots qualified and fit for flying duties in sea-going aircraft, and the proportion of these who hold permanent Royal Air Force commissions, hold short-service commissions, and are attached or seconded officers of other services, respectively?

The number of officers at present employed as pilots in Fleet Air Arm flights is 115, of whom 25 hold permanent commissions, 12 short-service commissions, and 78 are attached to the Royal Air Force from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. It would not be in the public interest to give information regarding the total numbers of officers trained for particular employments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the numbers of officers qualified or fit to fly sea-going aircraft who are serving in the Royal Air Force Reserve, the Royal Air Force Special Reserve, and the Territorial Air Force, respectively?

It would not be in the public interest to state the numbers of the officers of these forces available for particular employments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any orders involving supply from foreign countries, other than orders for petrol, have been placed by the Air Ministry since January, 1926; and, if so, for what material, in what quantities, to what value and from what source of supply?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Ramsden) on the 1st June last, and in which it was shown that the proportion of the foreign purchases to the total orders given by the Air Ministry in 1926–27 was insignificant. To supply the additional particulars now asked for would involve a detailed examination of individual contracts, values and sources of supply which would not, I suggest, be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the numbers of pilots in

REGULAR PERSONNEL.
—						Officers.		Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Airmen.
						General Duties.	Others.
Special Reserve.
Establishment	…	…	…	…	…	24	4	208
Strength	…	…	…	…	…	23	4	198
Auxiliary Air Force.
Establishment	…	…	…	…	…	10	5	151
Strength	…	…	…	…	…	5	5	138
Headquarters, Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force.
Establishment	…	…	…	…	…	4	4	6
Strength	…	…	…	…	…	4	4	9

The number of qualified pilots in the subsidised flying clubs on 30th June was 143; information in regard to the exact number who have joined the Reserve or the Auxiliary Air Force cannot be given without a detailed examination of their names.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the numbers of pilots, qualified and fit for flying duties, in the Royal Air Force Reserve, the Royal Air Force Special Reserve, the Territorial Air Force and State-supported flying clubs, respectively.

The following are the numbers:Royal Air Force Reserve, 744 qualified pilots; Royal Air Force Special Reserve, none as yet (nine under instruction); Auxiliary Air Force, 43; subsidised flying clubs, 143.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the establishments and strengths, including administrative staff, of the Royal Air Force Special Reserve and the Territorial Air Force in regular flying officers, regular officers other than flying officers, and regular non-commissioned officers and airmen?

The following table gives the information requested by my hon. and gallant Friend:

asked the Secretary of State for Air the establishments and strengths of the Royal Air Force Special Reserve and the Territorial Air Force, respectively, in non-regular flying officers,

NON-REGULAR PERSONNEL.
—						Officers.		Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Airmen.
						General Duties.	Others.
Special Reserve
Establishment	…	…	…	…	…	28	—	210
Strength	…	…	…	…	…	9	—	122
Auxiliary Air Force.
Establishment	…	…	…	…	…	110	10	788
Strength	…	…	…	…	…	44	6	334

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many ex-service temporary assistant civil engineers have been promoted to higher grades since they were refused establishment in the lower grades; and, if these men have been considered fit to carry out the duties of civil engineers, why they were not established under paragraph 45 of the third Lytton Report?

The answer to the first part of the question is none, and in these circumstances the second part has not arisen. I should, however, explain that the aggregate establishment of the Works and Buildings Directorate comprises established and unestablished posts; officers who were found at the limited competition, already held, to be unsuitable for establishment are not excluded on that account from consideration for promotion in an unestablished capacity to posts for which their qualifications may render them suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the various acts of gallant conduct by soldiers serving with the non-regular officers other than flying officers, and non-regular non-commissioned officers and airmen?

The following table gives the information requested by my hon. and gallant Friend:Shanghai Defence Force which have been noticed by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in his general orders, notably the rescue, single-handed, by a private soldier of a foreman coolie employed by the Army who was being murdered by a mob of Chinese; and whether he can take steps that such conduct will not pass unnoticed in this country and suitable recognition of these acts be awarded?

Any recommendations for recognition of individual acts of gallantry which the General Officer Commanding may make will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many brigades of Territorial artillery have been mechanised or partially mechanised for this year's annual training, specifying the number of brigades which will be practising with live shell?

It is left to the discretion of the General Officer Commanding, in consultation with the Territorial Association, to decide for which Territorial Army brigades mechanical transport shall be hired at training. I shall have the information obtained during the training season and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any contracts for razors or razor blades have been placed by the War Office since October, 1926, and, if so, for what quantities; and with what firms such contracts have been placed?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the estimated damage done to agricultural produce annually by rats; and how far have the measures taken by his Ministry been effective?

I am unable to give any authoritative estimate of the damage done annually by rats to agricultural produce in this country. In reply to the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, I must explain that the extent of the measures being taken by the Ministry for the repression of rats is, for reasons of economy, very restricted. They are limited to efforts to educate public opinion as to the importance of rat control and to the provision of assistance and advice to the local authorities responsible for administering the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. So far as I am aware, the measures taken are proving of distinct value.

—	Area.	Remarks.
	Acres.
Commissioners of Crown Lands	108,000	In addition, the Commissioners own 81,800 acres of unenclosed land subject to Common Rights, the greater part of which is used for grazing.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.	9,008	Acquired under the Small Holdings Colonies Acts.
Board of Agriculture for Scotland	359,400	—
War Office	137,000	Mostly grazing land; the greater part of the grazing is let subject to military use.
Air Ministry	16,000
Admiralty	7,450	Including uncultivated land used for grazing.
Duchy of Cornwall	126,056	Including uncultivated land used for grazing.
Duchy of Lancaster	18,000	Including uncultivated land used for grazing.
Ecclesiastical Commissioners	239,000	Including uncultivated land used for grazing.
Forestry Commission	155,000	Mountain and heath land used for rough grazings.
Oxford University	175,856	—
Cambridge University	115,528	—

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will State the reductions which are in progress in the expenditure of the departments of agricultural education and agricultural research?

Broadly speaking, no reductions are being made in the ordinary annual grants for the maintenance of agricultural education and research; on the contrary, it is expected that there will be some increase in maintenance expenditure during the next few years, apart from any developments financed by grants from the Empire Marketing Board. But a reduction in the Ministry's total expenditure on education and research is expected, owing to the diminution of lump sum grants for capital expenditure on land, buildings and equipment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the acreage of land in Great Britain farmed in all branches of agriculture; and how much of such acreage is owned by the Crown and other public authorities, national and local?

(pursuant to the reply of Major ELLIOT [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st July, 1927; col. 568, Vol. 209] supplies the following statement containing such information as is available with respect to the area of Agricultural Land owned by the Crown and Public Authorities, National and Local, in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of men working in and about the coal mines at the end of March, 1927?

The number of wage-earners at the end of March was 1,026,200. This figure includes a small number who are employed at coal mines in raising or handling minerals other than coal.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is able to inform the House whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation embodying the findings of the Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence during the present Parliamentary Session?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade on the 20th July to the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Mr. W. M. Watson), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received complaints that the Commissioners of the West Ham Board of Guardians have discontinued the annual day's outing of the patients at the Sick Home, Forest Lane; and if he will take any action in the matter?

No such complaint has reached me.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of diphtheria in Dagenham during the last 12 months, and the number of fatal cases; whether this disease is prevalent throughout Essex; and whether any, and, if so, what special steps are being taken to combat it?

The numbers of cases of, and deaths from, diphtheria in the Urban District of Dagenham have been as follow:

	Cases.	Deaths.
In the 12 months ended 2nd July, 1927	80	9
In the 3 weeks ended 23rd July, 1927	23	4

I am advised that there is no exceptional prevalence of the disease throughout Essex, although a small outbreak recently occurred in Dagenham. I am informed that the usual precautions were taken, including the removal of all the cases to hospital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship caused to the inhabitants of Atwick, on the Yorkshire coast, by an order from his department forbidding them to cart away shingle from the shore; and whether he will give the reason why this facility has been taken from them?

Removal of materials at Atwick was stopped as the result of a public local inquiry by the Board of Trade held no the 7th January, 1925, at which all bodies and persons interested were invited to express their views. The reason for the stoppage of removals was that the Board of Trade were advised that they would be likely to lead to serious erosion of the coast in the vicinity, and, in fact, the inquiry was held as the result of complaints which were received that the removal was causing erosion. It was realised that the stoppage might cause hardship to those who derived their main source of livelihood from removing materials, and in order to give these men a chance of finding other employment, the Board of Trade agreed to allow a limited quantity of material to be removed from below high water mark at Atwick up to the 31st December, 1925. Subsequently, the Board made a further concession in that they agreed to the removal of a limited quantity of material from the foreshore between the southern boundary of the Borough of Bridlington and the Barmston Main Drain, these removals being regulated by the Bridlington Rural District Council under the terms of a lease granted to them by the Board of Trade. No removals, the Board are advised, should be permitted south of the Barmston Main Drain.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the estimated population of England, Scotland, and Wales, and the approximate total consumption of bread, milk, meat, and coal for the period January to December, 1926?

The population of Great Britain in the middle of 1926 is estimated by the Registrars-General as 43,970,000. The quantity of milk consumed in liquid form is estimated at 850,000,000 gallons in round figures, and the quantity of meat, home produced and imported, at approximately 2,500,000 tons. In regard to bread, I am able to give only a very round estimated, as the proportion of the flour used that is made into bread is not known with any precision. The total is probably about 3,400,000 tons (1,900 millions of quartern loaves). The weight of coal consumed in the year may be estimated at about 130,000,000 tons, the precise figure being dependent on the unknown amount of coal obtained during the stoppage from outcrops, and not reported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the increase in the imports of iron and steel in the six months ended 31st March and the amount of unemployment in the coal-mining industry, he will consider the application of the Safeguarding of industries Act to the iron and steel trades?

I am unable to add anything to the statements made in this House as to the policy of the Government in this particular matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the exemption orders applied for last year under Section 10 (5) of The Finance Act, 1926, in respect of cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride, being products liable to duty under Part I. of The Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, have not yet been issued; that his department are refusing to issue these exemption orders although the products in question are still not made in His Majesty's Dominions; and that, in consequence, hospitals and the general medical service, who are the chief consumers of these products, which have to be imported, are compelled to pay considerably more than would otherwise be the case; will he take steps to issue the exemption orders in question forthwith; and, if not, what further period of time does he propose to allow in respect of the products in question?

Before I can make any recommendation to the Treasury under Section 10 (5) of The Finance Act, 1926, to exempt any article from duty, I must be satisfied that there is no reasonable probability that the article will be made in His Majesty's Dominions in substantial quantities within a reasonable period. Preparations for the manufacture of these materials in this country are well advanced, and I do not propose to make any recommendations to the Treasury on the subject at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he has any information as to the production of potato flour in Great Britain as compared with the imports from Holland, and as to the extent to which glucose, dextrine, and potato syrup as by-products of potato flour are imported into this Country?(2) Whether there has been any investigation into the relative production of potato flour in this Country and in Holland and the extent to which the cooperative system has benefited Holland since 1898 in potato flour production?

The quantity of potato flour produced in the United Kingdom cannot be stated separately from that of dextrine produced. For these two commodities the output in Great Britain for sale amounted in 1924 to 39,000 cwt. In that year the imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Netherlands of these two products amounted together to 493,000 cwt. The imports of the other products of the potato, specified in the question, are not separately distinguished in the Accounts of the Trade of the United Kingdom.According to an official report published by the Government of the Netherlands, the quantity of potato flour made in that country in the year 1922–3 was about 3,000,000 cwt., the output being exceptionally high owing to an abundant crop of potatoes in 1922. Figures for later years are not available. I am not in a position to determine the relative importance of the different influences affecting the Dutch industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that extended benefit has been refused to Miss Hilda Brookfield, 16, Longfield Street, New Springs, Wigan, 22 years of age, without parents, with an unmarried brother and sister working short time and another sister totally blind, in spite of the recommendation of the local rota committee that such benefit should be paid; and whether he will take steps to amend Memorandum L.E.C. 82/17, paragraphs 4, 5 and 6, so that payment of extended benefit may be made in cases of this kind?

This case was brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend by the hon. Member a short time ago and fully investigated. Having regard to the income of the household my right hon. Friend felt bound to maintain the disallowance of extended benefit and the hon. Member was so informed on 5th July.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the position of colliery examiners and deputies with regard to unemployment insurance; and, if so, whether he proposes to deal with their case in the forthcoming Bill?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the disallowance of claims to unemployment benefit made by colliery examiners and deputies during last year's coal dispute. The Report of Lord Blanesburgh's Committee makes certain recommendations for the amendment of the law in this connection and the recommendations are receiving careful consideration. I am unable, however, to anticipate the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will inquire into the circumstances in which W. J. Banner, aged 18½; years, of 90, Guinness's Buildings, Brandon Street, Walworth, S.E., an employée at Daly's Theatre for 2½; years during which period full contributions were paid, was refused standard benefit by the committee of the Borough Employment Exchange on the ground that the committee considered that he had failed to prove that he was making every reasonable effort to obtain employment suited to his capacities, notwithstanding the fact that he had been out of work only a few days when his application was considered by the committee?

There was some difficulty in ascertaining whether standard benefit was available owing to the unemployment book, which had recently been exchanged, being missing, and in order to avoid hardship, the local em ployment committee were asked, while inquiries were proceeding, to consider whether extended benefit should be paid. The evidence before the Committee was, that between 9th and 19th July, 1927, the applicant had not made any calls in search of employment and they considered that the statutory condition for extended benefit requiring the applicant to prove that he was making every reasonable effort to obtain employment was not fulfilled, and were unable to recommend that such benefit should be granted; I can see no ground for differing from the conclusion which the committee reached. The standard benefit position has since been cleared up and payment has been made of the arrears of standard benefit which were due.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figures of the total number of unemployed men and women in Great Britain; and the total number of miners registered as unemployed?

At the 18th July, 1927, there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain 840,409 men, 152,304 women, and 55,243 juveniles. The latest available figures respecting the coal mining industry relate to 20th June, 1927, when 233,291 persons in Great Britain, classified as belonging to that industry, were recorded as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the schemes of work, and the approximate cost of such schemes, approved by the Government to assist unemployment during the coming winter?

Schemes of work for the relief of unemployment are initiated by local authorities and it is not possible to state in advance what amount of work is likely to be put in hand during the coming winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of statutory tenants and small holders respectively on the 1st June, 1914, 1919, 1924, 1926 and 1927 respectively?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the numbers of births and deaths in Scotland in 1925 and 1926?

In 1925 births registered in Scotland numbered 104,137 and deaths 65,507. In 1926 registered births numbered 102,449 and registered deaths 63,780.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the male and female population of Scotland for 1913, 1919 and 1921 to 1927?

By the Census of Scotland taken in 1921 the male population was found to amount to 2,347,642 and the female population to 2,534,855. Estimates by the Registrar-General for Scotland of the male and female populations in the other years referred to in the question are shown in the following table:

			Male.	Female.
1913	…	…	2,296,370	2,431,762
1919	…	…	2,313,600	2,506,477
1922	…	…	2,358,201	2,546,255
1923	…	…	2,356,587	2,544,513
1924	…	…	2,347,228	2,534,409
1925	…	…	2,352,708	2,540,324
1926	…	…	2,354,441	2,542,197
1927	…	…	2,353,500	2,541,200

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average amount per pound of the assessable values of the counties of Scotland expended on the maintenance of roads in the county areas of Scotland during the year 1926–27; which county in Scotland incurred the highest expenditure for road maintenance; and what that expenditure was equivalent to in rates?

The figures for 1926–27 are not available. Taking the latest year for which information is available, namely, 1925–6, the average amount per £ of the assessable values of the counties of Scotland expended on the maintenance of roads in the county areas of Scotland was 5s. 11.76d. The County of Lanark incurred the highest expenditure on road maintenance, namely, £423,874, which is equivalent to 3s. 9.21d. per £ of the assessable value of the county.

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?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to an identical question which he put on the 25th July.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of P personnel in the various Government Departments, showing the total number employed in the various Ministries; and how far it may be regarded that their work is stabilised?

The total number of ex-service men who have been granted permanent non-pensionable status and are now employed in the various Departments is 10,562. With regard to the latter part of the question I would remind the hon. Member that it is one of the conditions of employment of permanent non-pensionable officers that they are liable to transfer to other Departments as the exigencies of the service may demand.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what decision has been reached in regard to adopting the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into Government Printing Establishments set up in 1923?

I am not yet able to add anything of value to my reply to my hon. Friend of the 16th May last.

asked the Home Secretary whether all the commissions rogatoires forwarded to this country by the juge d'instruction who is investigating the murder of Nurse May Daniels at Boulogne have been returned; and whether he has received any requests for further information?

All commissions rogatoires which have been received have been returned, and no subsequent request for information has been received by me. As pointed out in my reply on the 21st instant the commissions rogatoires are received from the French Government and not from a juge d'instruction direct.

asked the Home Secretary the number of accidents, fatal and otherwise, that have taken place in the streets of the Metropolitan police district for the month of June, 1927?

The number of accidents known to the police during the month of June, 1927, is as follows:—

Fatal accidents	92
Non-fatal accidents involving personal injury	4,500
Accidents involving damage to property only	5,699
Total number of accidents known to the police	10,291

As a result of these accidents, the total number of persons killed was 92, and injured 4,863.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give figures for the last five years relating to to total production of salt in India under Government agency; what proportion this bears to the total production of salt in British India; what was the whole

Year			Manufactured by Government.	Total production in British India.	Total receipts from sales of Government salt.
			Maunds.*	Maunds.*	Rupees.
1922–23	…	…	19,089,677	39,972,698	47,85,649
1923–24	…	…	20,349,338	42,124,412	68,92,249
1924–25	…	…	17,097,505	38,141,715	40,56,358
*822/7 lbs.
The figures of salt revenue charges available do not show separately the whole cost of production of Government salt.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the statement by the Accountant-General, Central Revenues, in his annual Report for the year 1925–26, that there is an urgent need for the amendment of the Sea Customs Act in conformity with present requirements, and to regularise the various extra-legal processes which the Government have considered it necessary to introduce; whether the Government have given consideration to the question of amending the above Act; and, in the light of the statement in the Accountant-General's Report, what steps the Government propose to take in the matter?

The particular report referred to has not been received. Proposals for revision of the Sea Customs Act are under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in the recent riots at Lahore the Sikhs used long swords against the Mohammedans, who are not allowed to wear arms; and whether the Government propose taking any action in the matter?

The official telegraphic reports of these riots contained cost involved each year in the production of salt under Government agency during the above period; and what were the total receipts from sales?

The following table gives the information asked for in the first, second and last parts of the question for the three years ending 1924–25. The figures for the last two years are not yet available.reference to the use of

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the nature of the original Kenya Defence Bill and in what respects it differs from the Conscription Bill;(2) under what circumstances consent was given to conscript all males from 16 to 60 in Kenya; and why the first Bill, which was described by the Governor as quite unsuitable, was introduced?

As the two questions appear to relate to the same subject, it will be convenient to answer them together. I understand that "the original Kenya Defence Bill" and the "first Bill" relate to the Kenya Defence Force Bill as published locally on 20th November, 1926, and described by the Governor in a speech in the Legislative Council on the 17th of December as being "in some respects no longer suited to the circumstances of the Colony." I understand that by "the Conscription Bill" the hon. Member refers to the Kenya Defence Force Ordinance in the amended form in which it was passed by the Council. The Ordinance has been reserved for the signification of His Majesty's assent, and, as has already been stated in the House, authenticated copies of it have not yet been received.In the circumstances, exact comparison is impossible, but the two do not differ in essentials, as each provides for enrolment, voluntary or compulsory, for calling out the Defence Force in certain circumstances, and for a certain amount of training. The principal variations are (1) the omission of the oath of allegiance, on the representation of the Secretary of State's military advisers in this country that an oath had been regarded as inappropriate in many cases of compulsory services, for example, service under the National Service Acts at home, and (2) the division of members of the Defence Force into four classes, according to age, of which the youngest class only are liable for any material period of training, and the fourth class, of members over 50, is purely voluntary. This class was added on the recommendation of a Select Committee in the Colony, no doubt owing to the desire of persons over 50 to volunteer. Other alterations concerned merely the details of organisation. The Ordinance has no relation to persons under 18, and in mentioning the age of 16 the hon. Member has been misled by the printed petition against compulsory service. The organisers of the petition corrected this mistake as long ago as the 9th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in addition to certain northern provinces of Nigeria, there are other parts in the British Empire from which all Christian missions are excluded; and, if so, what those territories are?

The only other territory in the Colonial Empire, as far as I am aware, in which circumstances render similar provisions necessary is the Somaliland Protectorate.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will fix a date early in November for the further consideration of the Seditious and Blasphemous Teaching to Children Bill?

It would be premature to make any statement as to this and other Bills until the legislation necessary in the Autumn programme is reviewed as a whole.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of able-bodied hostility men on part-time employment in the Post Office; and whether, seeing that these men served during the great War, he will permit them to receive permanent positions as part of the 50 per cent. of the appointments reserved for ex-professional soldiers, sailors, and airmen, a number of whom are now being appointed who have only served on a peace footing in the forces?

The information asked for by the hon. Member in the first part of his question is not available and could only be obtained with considerable trouble. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 25th July to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Sir F. Nelson).

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the percentage of children leaving secondary schools who proceeded to the Universities?

In 1925–26, the latest year for which figures are available, the percentage was 4·8. In this connection, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 104 and 294 of the Board's Annual Report for 1925–26.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the distribution of elementary school non-certificated teachers as between rural and urban areas?

Figures for 1926–27 are not available. On the 31st March, 1926, the number of teachers, other than certificated teachers and practical instruction teachers, was 27,473 in urban schools, and 21,723 in rural schools. The former figure includes teachers in schools situated in boroughs and urban districts which are within the administrative areas of counties, but are not independent authorities for education.

asked the President of the Board of Education to what elementary schools Table E, on page 157 of the Board of Education Report for 1925–26, refers; and if he will give instructions that in future this and other statistical tables issued by his department shall be more fully described?

The table in question relates to public elementary schools maintained by local authorities and those aided directly by the Board under Section 25 of the Education Act, 1921. I will bear in mind the suggestion made in the second part of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) why the statistics of education for 1926 have not yet been issued; and when it is proposed to issue the volume; (2) Why the annual Report of his department has not yet been issued for 1926–27; and when it is proposed to issue it?

ENGLAND AND WALKS.
Public Elementary Schools.				Secondary Schools on the Grant List.
Type of School.	No.	Average No. on Registers.	Average Attendance.	Type of School.	No.	No. of full-time pupils on 31.3.26.
Council Schools	9,101	3,638,183	3,204,137	Council Schools (Schools provided or maintained by Local Authorities).	656	187,320
Church of England Schools.	9,992	1,541,488	1,358,353	(schools provide or maintained by Local Authorities).
Wesleyan Schools	136	29,214	25,501
Roman Catholic Schools	1,141	362,413	315,166	Roman Catholic Schools.	73	18,827
Jewish Schools	12	6,054	5,372
Other Voluntary Schools	345	54,208	48,056	Foundation and other Schools.	471	131,184
				Welsh Intermediate Schools.	101	23,172
Total	20,727	5,631,560	4,956,585		1,301	360,503

The Board's Annual Reports have hitherto related to the School Year ending July. I propose, however, to make the Report relate in future to the period ended 31st December, and the next Report will, therefore, cover the period 1st August, 1926, to 31st December, 1927. It will be published as early as possible in 1928. The Volume of Statistics has hitherto been issued as soon after the year to which it related as the collection and compilation of the returns from Local Authorities rendered possible. The Volume for 1925–26 is expected to be ready for issue next October, but I hope that by the extended use of mechanical devices it will be possible to publish the Volume for 1926–27 in conjunction with the Annual Report for 1926–27 next year.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27, the numbers of various types of elementary and secondary schools;(2) if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the average number of pupils and attendances at the various types of elementary and secondary schools?

Figures for 1926–27 are not available. The following table gives figures for 1925–26:

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the numbers of various grades of teachers in elementary and secondary schools, distinguishing between men and women,

ENGLAND AND WALES.
Public Elementary Schools and Centres maintained by Local Education Authorities.
Number of full-time Teachers on 31st March, 1927.
—				Men.	Women.	Men and Women.
Certificated	…	…	…	38,116	81,743	119,859
Uncertiflcated	…	…	…	2,323	31,162	33,485
Supplementary	…	…	…	—	8,726	8,726
Special Subject	…	…	…	1,340	2,709	4,049
Total	…	…	…	41,779	124,340	166,119

Secondary Schools on the Grant List.
Full-time Teachers on 3tst March, 1926.
—	Men.			Women.			Men and Women.
	Heads.	Assts.	Total.	Heads,	Assts.	Total,	Heads.	Assts.	Total.
Graduates	816	6,995	7,811	412	5,795	6,207	1,228	12,790	14,018
Non-Graduates	37	1,872	1,909	83	3,630	3,713	120	5,502	5,622
Total	853	8,867	9,720	495	9,425	9,920	1,348	18,292	19,640

As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to List 44 for 1925–26 (the latest date for which complete returns are available), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the amount expended in maintenance allowances in elementary and secondary schools?

Particulars for 1926–7 are not yet available. The net expenditure of local authorities on maintenance allowances in 1925–26 was:

			£
Elementary Schools	…	…	31,557
Secondary Schools	…	…	504,029

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state,

According to the latest returns available for is as follows:for England and Wales for 1926–27, the percentage of children leaving elementary schools who proceeded to secondary schools?

Figures for 1926–27 are not yet available. As regards 1925–26, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on the 23rd February last to the hon. Member for Welling-borough (Mr. Cove), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the percentage of men, women, and all certificated teachers in elementary schools who are college trained; and the percentage of men, women, and all teachers in secondary schools who are university graduates?

Figures for 1926–27 are not available. The figures in the following table relate to the 31st March, 1926:

England and Wales.
—		Percentage of College-trained Certificated Teachers to total Certificated Teachers in Public Elementary Schools.	Percentage of Graduate Teachers in Secondary Schools on the Grant List.
Men	…	84·5	80·4
Women	…	73·3	62·6
Total	…	76·8	71·4

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state for England and Wales for 1926–27 the numbers of elementary school classes containing 40, 50, and 60 pupils and over, and the proportion of children taught in classes of 40 and over?

The latest complete returns relate to 1925–26, and are given in List 44, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will state the reply received by His Majesty's representative in Addis Ababa from the Abyssinian Government with regard to the claim put forward for compensation for the outrage committed by an unprovoked attack made in June last on a caravan taking supplies to the party of His Highness the Maharao of Kutoh, in which several British Somalis were killed by Abyssinian soldiery.

:His Majesty's representative at Addis Ababa and the Abyssinian Government are both pursuing their inquiries into the case. Meanwhile no specific claim for compensation has been made by His Majesty's representative, nor have the Abyssinian Government made any final reply to his preliminary representations.