asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any legislation has yet been introduced in India for the purpose of encouraging the production and exhibition of British cinematograph films?

No, Sir. The whole question of the production and exhibition of cinematograph films in India is now under consideration by a Committee in India, appointed by the Governor-General in Council. No action will be taken until the recommendations of the Committee have been received and considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State has received a resolution from the Madras Royotwari Landholders' Association to appoint a committee of officials and non-officials to examine questions as to how provincial contributions should be utilised; and, if so, whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?

I have been unable to trace the receipt of any such resolution.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any instructions have been issued under Section 45 of the Government of India Act to local governments that no revenue tax, cess, or fees shall after 31st March, 1929, be levied or continued to be levied on land held in private ownership, except under and in accordance with laws duly enacted by local legislatures, and that the local governments take immediate steps to introduce Bills to this end in the local legislatures and ensure that legislation is complete in all its stages before the year 1929–30?

The answer is in the negative. A copy of recent questions and answers in the Indian Legislative Assembly regarding the action taken on the recommedations of the Joint Select Committee of 1919 relating to land revenue settlement and land assessments is being sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any vacancies exist at present in the Bengal Provincial Council; and, if so, whether any steps are being taken to fill such vacancies by election or otherwise?

I have no information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Committee appointed by the Government of India to investigate the financial position of the Delhi University and certain other relevant questions has yet reported to the Government; and, if so, whether he will give the terms of the Committee's recommendations and state what action the Government propose to take on these recommendations?

My Noble Friend has no information on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the published minutes of the sitting of the Permanent Mandates Commission on 20th June last, when the Marquis Theodoli, Chairman of the Commission, stated that certain petitions addressed by the inhabitants of mandated territories to the League of Nations were not being allowed to reach the Secretariat; and whether he can give an assurance that this allegation does not apply to British mandated territories?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. Since the statement in question was made one case has come to light where the authorities in a British mandated territory declined to forward a petition on the ground that the complaint of the petitioner was directed against a foreign Government in respect of matters arising before the issue of the Mandate, and did not arise out of the execution of the Mandate. On this coming to the notice of His Majesty's Government, the local Government were at once instructed to forward the petition, and it has since been transmitted to the League.

HENEAGE asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms under which Ocean Island is leased to the Nauru Phosphates Commission; and what return Great Britain receives for the lease?

A licence to occupy Ocean Island for the purpose of removing guano and other fertilising substances was originally granted to the Pacific Islands Company, Limited, and subsequently transferred to the Pacific Phosphate Company, Limited. In 1920 the rights of the Pacific Phosphate Company, Limited, were acquired by purchase by His Majesty's Governments in Great Britain, the Commonwealth of Australia, and new Zealand. Since that time the phosphate deposits at Ocean Island, as well as those at Nauru, have been worked and the output sold under the direction of a Board of Commissioners appointed by the three Governments in accordance with the Agreement scheduled to the Nauru Island Agreement Act, 1920. Royalties amounting to one shilling per ton on the phosphate shipped from Ocean Island are at present payable, and payments are also made for lands acquired for the undertaking. The royalties accrue partly to the revenue of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony and partly to a special fund for the benefit of the natives. The Colony also derives other revenue from the undertaking directly and in-

— 1920. 1925. Jan.—Sept.1927. Tons. Tons. Tons. Steel Forgings produced … … 294,800 236,900 246,500 Exports: Steel Forgings in the rough … … 1,048 982 353 Railway Wheels, Axles and Tyres … … 68,015 40,015 45,264 Net Imports: Steel Forgings in the rough … … 594 6,643 9,907* Railway Wheels, Axles and Tyres … … 770 4,519 4,014* *Gross Imports. Re-exports are not important.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the approximate percentages of the grants authorised by the Empire Marketing Board up to date for general research in the Empire, for research and publicity on behalf of the United Kingdom, for research and publicity on behalf of the

directly. His Majesty's Government in Great Britain are entitled to a 42 per cent. allotment of the phosphate produced each year from Ocean Island and Nauru.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the approximate supply of steel forgings in this country from home and foreign sources in percentages of the whole supply for 1920, 1925, and any known period of 1927?

The following statement shows the quantities ( a ) of steel forgings produced in the United Kingdom, as set out in statistics published by the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers, and ( b ) the exports and net imports of certain classes of forgings, in each of the periods specified. It is, in the nature of the case, impossible to compile a statement which could be regarded as approximately exhaustive, covering exports and imports of steel forgings forming parts of ships, vehicles and machinery; and the particulars shown cover the greater part of the cases distinguished in the Trade Returns, in which such parts are exported or imported separately from the structures for which they are intended.

Dominions, and for research and publicity on behalf of the Crown Colonies?

It is not the policy of the Empire Marketing Board to apportion its expenditure between different parts of the Empire in the manner suggested in the question of my hon. Friend. In making grants for scientific research the Board aims at supporting schemes which promise to benefit either the Empire as a whole, or at any rate more than one part of it. In publicity its policy is to create a general background against which the claims of particular Empire products can be thrown into relief by individual Governments or organisations. Any apportionment of expenditure on a territorial basis is therefore impossible in regard to publicity. It must also be to a large extent arbitrary in the field of scientific research and economic

EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD. List of the Principal Grants Approved for Scientific Research and Economic Investigation, 1st June, 1926—30th November, 1927. NOTE.—The sums shown below include besides capital expenditure, the total of annual grants spread over periods not exceeding 5 years. Object of Grant. Department or body to whom grant made. Grant. Tropical and Sub-Tropical Research, £ Development of training centre for the study of tropical agricultural problems. Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad. 29,000 Contribution towards cost of maintenance of the Amani Institute. Amani Institute, Tanganyika Territory. 18,000 Establishment in Northern Australia of a tropical research station. Government of Commonwealth of Australia. 50,000 Contribution towards Colonial Agricultural Research Service. Colonial Office 110,000 Research in Metazoan Immunity Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. 9,000 Low Temperature Research. Development of the work of the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 75,000 Preservation and transport of fish Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 1,500 Transport of Irish Free State butter Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 1,000 Horticultural Research. Research into production of a variety of banana immune to Panama disease and investigation into transport of bananas under cold storage conditions. Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 12,350 Extension of the work of the East Mailing Horticultural Research Station with special reference to the standardisation of horticultural material. East Malling Horticultural Research Station. 35,600 Investigations into the keeping quality of fruit and its relation to the nutrition of the tree and soil conditions. Long Ashton Horticultural Research Station, Bristol. 20,000 Investigations into the control of certain pests and diseases of particular interest to horticulturists. Cheshunt Experimental and Research Station. 9,900 Entomology. Establishment of a laboratory for breeding beneficial parasites. Imperial Bureau of Entomology. 40,000 Research into the entomological control of noxious weeds Cawthron Institute, New Zealand. 11,333 Establishment of an Institute of Entomology at the University of Cambridge. University of Cambridge 20,000 Research into infestation by insects of stored products. Imperial College of Science 1,500

investigation, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the principal grants already made or approved for these purposes during the first 18 months of the Board's operation. For my own part, I would estimate very roughly that 40 per cent. of the grants are for the common benefit of the Empire at home and overseas, that some 35 per cent. concerns chiefly oversea Empire countries, and that fully 25 per cent. is specially devoted to the needs of home agriculture.

Following is the list:

Object of Grant. Department or body to whom grant made. Grant. Mycology. Improvement of accommodation for the Imperial Bureau Imperial Bureau of Mycology 8,000 Economic Botany. Visits of economic botanists to Dominions and Colonies and employment of botanical collectors for work overseas. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 10,457 Animal Breeding. Grants in aid of research at Cambridge University on the physiology and growth of farm animals, etc. University of Cambridge 7,500 Establishment of a Chair of Genetics a the University of Edinburgh. University of Edinburgh 10,000 Animal Husbandry. (1)Pasture Investigation: Research on the mineral content of natural pastures, with special reference to certain deficiencies in the soil and their effect on the growth and strength of livestock. ( a ) Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen. 10,000 ( b ) Commonwealth Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. 12,375 ( c ) New Zealand Research Council. 4,000 (2) Stock-rearing problems, Palestine Ad hoc Committee 1,500 Dietetics. Research work at the Lister Institute on the vitamin content of fruit, vegetables and dairy produce. Medical Research Council 20,000 Research into the physiological and pathological conditions associated with certain rationed and specialised diets, with special reference to Kenya native tribes. Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen. 6,000 Poultry Research. Scheme of research on nutrition, marketing, etc. Hillsborough Experimental Station, Northern Ireland, and Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen. 19,500 Research into effect of dietary factors on the quality of eggs. Department of Agriculture, Ontario, Canada. 3,700 Dairy Research. Investigations into the problems of "red spot" in cheese and "fishiness" in dairy products. National Institute for Research in Dairying, Reading. 3,200 Utilisation and marketing of milk and milk residues including feeding of milk to school children in Scotland. Board of Agriculture for Scotland; Scottish Board of Health; and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Northern Ireland, 4,510 Marketing. Marketing of agricultural produce in England and Wales Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. 200,000 Fostering co-operative organisation of producers in the Empire. Horace Plunkett Foundation 7,500 Organisation of a Producers' Association for the Marketing of bananas. Jamaica Producers' Association. 2,400 Establishment of a quarantine station to assist the export of pedigree live stock to the oversea parts of the Empire. Royal Agricultural Society and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. 24,000 Production and marketing of flax seed Department of Agriculture, Canada. 2,000 Egg marketing in Scotland Board of Agriculture for Scotland. 5,000 Geophysical Surveying. Trials of methods of geophysical surveying Commonwealth Government 16,000 Total £ 821,825

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate tonnage and total value of iron and steel imported into this country during the year ended 10th September, 1927?

Statistics of imports of iron and steel are not available for periods other than calendar months. The total imports of iron and steel and manufactures thereof into the United Kingdom registered during the 12 months ended 31st August, 1927, amounted to 4,977,000 tons, valued at £38,010,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government have come to any decision with regard to a subsidy for sugar refiners; and, if so, the amount and how it will he paid?

I can add nothing at present to the answer I gave on this subject on the 21st November to the hon. Member for the Gorbals Division of Glasgow (Mr. Buchanan).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that over 100 of the representations received by the Central Electricity Board in respect of the South-East England electricity scheme contain requests for an inquiry into the provisions of the scheme; and whether he will recommend such an inquiry?

I can only refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Abbey Division of Westminster (Mr. O. Nicholson) on the 5th December, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received any protests against the price of 5½d. plus 30 per cent. per unit for electric light current charged by the County of London Electric Supply Company, Limited, in the borough of Wandsworth; and, if so, what action he has taken, or proposes to take, with a view to securing a reduction in price to a more reasonable level?

I have recently received certain representations and am in communication with the Electricity Commissioners in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bankruptcies amongst farmers for the 10 years ending 30th November, 1917 to 1927, respectively?

The numbers of Receiving Orders made against farmers in England and Wales in the periods of 12 months ending 30th November, 1918 to 1927, inclusive, were—25, 21, 31, 187, 225, 338, 231, 234, 234 and 283.

asked the Minister of Agriculture Which associations and firms represented at the recent inquiry on the marking of eggs as opposing the application to have eggs marked?

The following is a list of the associations and firms separately represented at the recent Egg Inquiry other than those who gave evidence on behalf of the applicants: The Scottish Egg Trade Association. The Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Congress. The London Egg Exchange, Limited. The Retail Fruiterers' and Florists' Association, Limited. The Federation of Grocers' Associations. The London and Suburban Traders' Federation. The National Federation of Retail Fruiterers, Florists and Fishmongers, Limited. The London Central Markets Association. The London Wholesale Poultry and Game Salesmen's Association. The National Federation of Produce Merchants, Limited. Messrs. Wilkinsons, Limited, Wilton Place, S.W. Mr. Stephen, of Messrs. Schenkers, Limited, forwarding agents (at the request of the Standing Committee).

I may point out that one of these associations sent two witnesses, one of whom spoke generally against marking, and the other in favour of it. A good deal of the evidence also may be regarded as of an informative character rather than as definitely supporting or opposing the application. It must not, therefore, be assumed that the evidence given by the above associations and firms was directed solely against the application for the marking of imported eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any estimate of the proportion of the cost of production of wheat, potatoes and sugar-beet directly attributable to wages, rent and rates, respectively, on an average for this country?

I regret that this information is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any figures showing the number of farmers in East Anglia, who have given notice to terminate their tenancies?

I regret that this information is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the œcological investigations on shore algæ by Dr. M. Knight, Liverpool University, have yet been resumed, and the investigations upon the contribution of algae spores to the total particulate organic matter content of in-shore and pool waters; and when it is expected that papers on these subjects will be issued?

The investigations to which the hon. Member refers are not aided out of State funds, and do not therefore come within the official purview of the Ministry. I have, however, ascertained from the authorities of the University of Liverpool, under whose aegis the research is being conducted, that Dr. M. Knight has recently resumed her work on Marine Algae which was interrupted by her serious illness. The results so far obtained are recorded in two extensive reports which are accessible at the University of Liverpool; they are also being incorporated in several memoirs which will shortly be published.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory accommodation at the Withington post office; and when it is intended to provide a new office suitable for the requirements of the district?

I will have inquiry made, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General when his Departmental Economy Committee is likely to report; and whether the Report will be published?

There are a number of committees constantly engaged upon various aspects of economy in the Post Office, and I am not sure to which my Noble Friend refers. If he will particularise more closely the committee which he has in mind, I will endeavour to give him an answer.

asked the Attorney-General the number of divorce petitions filed at the High Court of Justice in the present year, and the number of divorce petitions filed at the Assize Courts throughout the country in the same period; and how do these numbers compare with the number of petitions filed in 1926?

The number of divorce petitions filed in the High Court in the present year up to 27th November is 3,818. Of these, 3,080 were filed in the Principal Registry and 738 in the District Registries. In 1926 the number of divorce petitions filed was 3,548, of which 3,297 were filed in the Principal Registry and 251 in the District Registries. None were filed in the District Registries before the 6th April, 1926. No divorce petitions are filed at the Assize Courts. Of the divorce petitions proceeding in the District Registries, all those which were set down in those Registries for trial in the present year or 1926, were for trial at Assizes. Of the divorce petitions proceeding in the Principal Registry and set down there for trial in the present year, 972 were for trial at Assizes. The corresponding figure for 1926 was 1,082.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries, if any, besides the United Kingdom, have abolished compulsory military service since the Armistice?

The only countries, besides Great Britain, which have abolished compulsory military service since the Armistice are: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and United States of America

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any further steps are being taken to suppress the Bias Bay pirates?

I cannot make any definite statement at present except that the whole question is now being considered by a committee of the Diplomatic Body in Peking consisting of the British, French, Italian, Japanese and United States Ministers.

asked the Minister of Health whether the services of the district valuer are at the disposal of local authorities in fixing the value and negotiating the price paid to owners for land required for water and sewage pipes?

The advice of the Valuation Department as to the value of land is available only when State moneys are involved or where sanction by a Government Department is required. Assistance in negotiating the price is available only when State moneys are involved.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the great deficiency in the number of beds in the voluntary hospitals of Great Britain; that this deficiency is largely due to lack of funds; and will he consider the advisability of making grants towards capital expenditure in approved cases on the lines indicated in the Onslow Report?

My right hon. Friend is glad to say that the deficiency in beds reported by the Voluntary Hospitals Commission has been materially reduced since their survey in 1924. In view of the financial position of the country, my right hon. Friend did not at that time feel justified in recommending a grant from public funds in aid of capital expenditure, and the progress made from purely voluntary sources since that date has been so encouraging that he sees no ground for considering the question again.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is able to say how many voters will be added to the Parliamentary lists when women of 21 years of age and upwards are included on the same basis as men voters; and if he can state the additional cost to the taxpayer, if any, by the proposed increase in the registers?

The estimated number is about 5,250,000. On this basis the additional charge upon the Exchequer in respect of the register is not expected to exceed £35,000 in a normal year.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, since the Report of the Southborough Committee on the disinterested management of public-houses was issued, a number of witnesses before the Committee have published their evidence; whether the recent publication by one of these witnesses of his cross-examination had his consent; and, having regard to this partial publication and" to the fact that the evidence so published conflicts with the conclusions of the Committee, whether he will now reconsider his decision announced in this House on the 26th May last not to publish any of the evidence given before the Committee?

I have had my attention drawn to a recent publication, and can only say that no consent has been given by me in this connection, or to the publication of any evidence or cross-examination before the Committee. I am still of the opinion expressed in my answer of 26th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Cumberland North (Mr. F. Graham).

asked the Home Secretary the number of London licensed taxicab drivers who have been summoned for offences arising from their employment during the period from 1st January, 1927, to 1st December, 1927; and how many London licensed omnibus drivers have been summoned and convicted for offences arising from their employment during the same period?

The answer to the first part of the question is 1,124 and to the second 783. Both figures are for the period 1st January to 6th December, 1927.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any expenditure from public funds has been incurred in the production of films made for public exhibition which have depicted His Majesty's ships and vessels, naval establishments, or personnel; and whether this amount has been refunded to the Admiralty?

Any extra expenditure which may be thrown upon public funds is a first charge upon the proceeds of the exhibition of the films and is duly recovered by the Admiralty.

asked the Prime Minister the approximate number of farms that may be available in Canada in 1928 under the 3,000 farm scheme; and whether it is proposed to arrange for the testing and training of families in this country before they proceed overseas?

It is understood that approximately 500 farms will be available in Canada next year to complete the 3,000 families scheme. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister if he can give information as to any group settlement schemes in operation within the Commonwealth of Australia; if he can indicate any other Government schemes in operation within the Dominions for assisting married men with families and without capital to settle on the land; and whether any scheme is available in England for training and testing the vocation of such families before they proceed overseas, in view of the success of families trained under the Catterick scheme as compared with those families not training in England?

The Western Australian Group Settlement Scheme is the only scheme of this description in operation in Australia. Some 1,600 British families have been settled under this scheme, which has been closed to further recruiting for some time. The 3,000 Families Scheme in Canada is designed for families without capital, as are also new land settlement schemes which have been arranged with the Dominion Government in conjunction with the provincial Governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The only facilities for training and testing families at present available in this country are those provided under the War Office scheme of vocational training for serving soldiers.

asked the Prime Minister if he can give information as to the percentage of emigrants admitted to the Commonwealth of Australia for each year since 1922 from Great Britain?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the percentage of immigrants into Australia and not to the percentage of emigrants from Great Britain who go to Australia. The information which he requires can, I think, best be shown by figures giving the percentage of the net increase of the population of Australia due to immigration, which resulted from immigration from Great Britain. This percentage was as follows: 1922 81 1923 84 1924 70 1925 73 1926 87

asked the Minister of Labour why there are different rates of pay and incremental advance for temporary reimbursed clerks employed at branch offices of the Ministry of Labour from those of temporary clerks employed at the regular Exchanges, and why sick and annual leave privileges are accorded to temporary clerks in Employment Exchanges and not to those in branch offices; why temporary clerks of three or more years' service employed at branch offices are in a worse position financially and in every other condition of service than the temporary clerks of one year's service in the regular Exchanges; and whether clerks in both offices sign a departmental pay sheet and departmental attendance register?

Managers of branch employment offices are appointed on a part-time basis and are responsible for the engagement of such clerical assistance as they require. Where the work at a branch office requires the full-time services of a clerk the branch manager may make an arrangement whereby the Ministry advances to him the money required to pay the clerk's wages, but in such a case, as in all other cases of clerks employed by branch managers, the clerk remains in all respects the private employé of the branch manager. The rates of pay and the leave and other privileges attaching to temporary clerical appointments in the Ministry are therefore not applicable to these reimbursed clerks. All stationery and forms required at the branch office are supplied by the Ministry, and these include certain forms for recording attendance of and payments to clerks. The supply is made in the interests of uniformity and accounting procedure and does not affect the conditions of employment of the clerk.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of War Loan bonds, with interest coupons or other national security, that he has received as gifts to the State for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The figures for the 12 months ended 7th December, 1927, are as follow: £ s. d. 5 per cent. War Stock, 1929–47 32,287 10 1 4 per cent. War Stock, 1929–42 5,000 0 0 5 per cent. National War Bonds, 1927 15 0 0 4 per cent. Victory Bonds 1,005 0 0 Saving Certificates (cash value) 561 5 0 £38,868 15 1

In addition, there was received a gift of Kroner 20,000 Norwegian 6 per cent. Bonds, equivalent to £1,111 2s. 2d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that many Income Tax assessments are being sent out on which no allowances or abatements are made, despite the fact that the assessors are aware that the persons assessed are entitled to such allowances; and if he will take steps to prevent a repetition of this practice?

The law requires that a taxpayer must make a return of total income in order to be entitled to the statutory allowances. There are every year numbers of cases of belated claims for such allowances, which necessarily involve adjustment of charges already made and notified by the various bodies of Income Tax Commissioners. If my hon. Friend has in mind any cases in which such allowances, claimed at the proper time, have not been duly granted I shall be pleased to make inquiry if he will let me have the necessary particulars.