asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that the Indian Legislative Assembly, at Delhi, on Monday the 13th instant, rejected, by 66 to 59 votes, the vote for £20,000 for the expenses of the Simon Commission on the grounds that the Royal Commission is comprised solely of Members of the British Parliament, the expenses of the Commission will therefore be defrayed out of funds voted by this House?

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government do not intend to contribute more than the £20,000 originally announced. The balance will be defrayed from Indian revenues by the exercise of the special powers vested in the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what sum

Expenditure on Education in India in 1925–26.
—		Rs.	Sterling equivalent at 1s. 6d. to the Rupee.	Percentage of total expenditure
			£
Total Expenditure	…	22,77,92,000	17,084,400	—
Expenditure from Central Government Funds	…	30,43,000	228,200	1·3
Expenditure from Provincial Government Funds	…	10,58,15,000	7,936,100	46·5
Expenditure from Board Funds	…	1,99,00,000	1,492,500	8·7
Expenditure from Municipal Funds	…	1,27,38,000	955,400	5·6
Expenditure from Fees and Other Sources	…	8,62,96,000	6,472,200	37·9

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Indian Legislative Assembly, at its sitting on 13th March, carried a vote of censure, by 71 votes to 59, against the Government of India for the non-appointment of an Indian as leader of the Indian delegation to the League of Nations; and will he take steps to carry out the wishes of the Indian Legislative Assembly in this respect?

I have seen reports to this effect. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State is in consultation with the Viceroy regarding the composition of the Indian delegation to this year's Assembly of the League, and the decision will be announced in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, with reference to the proposal to establish a lighthouse at Ras-al-Hadd, Arabia, on what date he brought this question to the notice of the Government of India; and whether any reply has been received by him from the Government of India?

The latest inquiry on this subject received from the Im-

The latest year for which details are available is 1925–26. The figures for that year are as follow:perial Merchant Service Guild through the Board of Trade was forwarded to the Government of India at the beginning of February. The reply has not yet been received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can now give fuller information regarding the assault by a prison warder on an Indian prisoner detained in Benares Central Prison which resulted in the death of the prisoner assaulted; and what action he intends to take in this matter?

The facts of this case are that an attack was made on the head jailor in the Benares Central Prison by a prisoner who was undergoing a sentence of rigorous imprisonment. The jailor fell down, and was about to be again attacked by his assailant when a convict warder intervened in his defence and struck the prisoner a blow on the head with his baton. The same day the prisoner died. The magisterial inquiry and the post-mortem examination which were immediately held established the fact both that the blow would not in ordinary circumstances have been expected to cause death and that the warder acted in the jailor's defence. The local Government found that no action was required, and my Noble Friend accepts that date their decision.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the estimated cost of the Committee recently appointed to inquire into matters concerning the relationship between the Indian States and the paramount Power and related questions; and, in view of the fact that the whole cost of this inquiry is to fall on Indian revenues, if a vote in respect of the total expense to be incurred has yet been introduced in the Indian Legislative Assembly?

I am not yet in a position to state the estimated cost, and I am unable to say, having regard to the terms of Section 67A of the Government of India Act, whether the expenditure will be submitted to the vote of the Legislative Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of police officers in the Scottish police who died while serving, after having completed the necessary service to qualify for pension, during the years 1908 and 1918, inclusive?

I am not in possession of the information desired by the hon. Member. The number could only be ascertained by inquiry involving considerable time and expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of police officers still alive who were pensioned, with and without medical certificates, respectively, from the Scottish police prior to the 1st September, 1918, their ages, and whether married, single, or widowers; and the number of widows of the same class of pensioners and their ages?

Four hundred and sixty-nine members of police forces in Scotland who retired on pension prior to the 1st September, 1918, were alive on 15th May, 1927, the latest date for which I have particulars. As at that date their ages were approximately as follow:

60 years or under	…	…	40
61–70 years	…	…	152
71–80 years	…	…	236
81–88 years	…	…	41

Information as to the numbers who retired with and without medical certificates could only be ascertained by expending considerable time and labour. There is no record, so far as I am aware, of the other particulars referred to in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the practice obtaining in the payment of police pensions in Scotland so that in a leap year the pensioner shall not lose one day's pension; whether he has made any rule or regulation or issued a Scottish Office circular covering this point; and, if not, whether he will consider advising a uniform practice of payment of either an extra day's pension once every four years or 365¼ days' pension each year?

As regards the first part of the question, I have no information as to the practice obtaining in the payment of pensions under the Police (Scotland) Act, 1890. Scottish police officers serving on the 1st July, 1919, come normally under the Police Pensions Act, 1921, and under that Act there is no power to increase pensions in respect of leap years. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As regards the third part, I see no remain for action on my part in present circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of toy pistols and revolvers imported into this country during the past 12 months for which figures are available and the countries of origin, and similar information in respect of the lethal weapons?

Separate particulars as to the number of toy pistols and revolvers imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland are not available. The number of revolvers and pistols registered as imported during the year 1927 amounted to 4,916, of which 2,348 were consigned from Germany, 2,273 from Belgium and 285 from the United States of America. It is understood that the great bulk of the imports from Germany are not lethal firearms.

asked the Home Secretary the number of applications made within the Metropolitan police district during the year 1927 for certificates under the Firearms Act, 1920, in respect of the possession of a firearm; the number granted; the number of certificates revoked during the year; the number of applications made for the renewal of certificates granted three years previously; and the number in which renewal was granted?

In the Metropolitan police district in 1927 there were 1,714 grants of firearm certificates, 1,387 renewals of certificates granted three years earlier, and 722 issues of certificates in renewal of previous certificates granted outside the district. There were 46 refusals and eight revocations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of the imports into Iraq from this country and of exports to this country from Iraq since 1919?

The following statement shows the trade in merchandise between Iraq and the United Kingdom, as recorded in the Iraq Trade Returns, in the years shown. Corresponding figures for 1919 are not available.

Year		Imports into Iraq.	Exports from Iraq.
		£1,000.	£1,000.
1920	…	9,200	1,200
1921	…	4,500	600
1922	…	4,020	880
Year ended—
13st March, 1924	…	4,400	1,700
31st March, 1925	…	4,600	1,300
31st March, 1926	…	4,100	1,100
31st March, 1927	…	3,273	1,007

The above figures include the transit trade through Iraq. The imports from the United Kingdom of goods in transit were valued at £2,000,000 in 1925–26, and £1,200,000 in 1926–27. The exports to the United Kingdom of goods in transit were valued at £200,000 in 1925–26, and £182,000 in 1926–27. Particulars of goods in transit in earlier years are not available. The figures are exclusive of Government stores, and have been converted from rupees into sterling at the average ratio of exchange on London in Calcutta.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the rapid exhaustion of the world's supplies of raw materials for paper-making, he will invite the Dominions to co-operate in a systematic inquiry into the position of this industry with a view to developing the Empire's latent resources in this respect?

The ground of such an inquiry as the hon. Member has in mind is to a large extent covered by the inquiry at present being conducted by the Imperial Economic Committee into the marketing of timber in this country; and the position as regards timber supplies within the Empire will be further examined at the forthcoming Empire Forestry Conference to be held in Australia and New Zealand in September next.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to complaints of the methods adopted in dealing with certain soldier-settlers at Laikipia, East Africa; and whether he will have inquiries made into the circumstances under which Major Tottenham and his wife were induced to part with their properties?

My attention has not previously been drawn to this matter, but I will ask the Governor of Kenya for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total number of families and individual emigrants who have been assisted to settle in the Colonies and British Dominions during 1927 and the total cost to the Exchequer?

The total number of families assisted under the Empire Settlement Act during the year ended 31st December, 1927, was 8,029, comprising 31,690 souls. The total number of individuals assisted was 63,027. The total expenditure upon oversee settlement during the year was £1,337,097 (of which £268,000 is recoverable). The cost of aftercare and settlement is spread over a period of years, and cannot be computed accurately in respect of the settlers who go out in any one year. In addition to the expenditure under the Empire Settlement Act, approximately £37,000 was expended by the Ministry of Labour on testing and training and on incidental expenses relating thereto, such as medical examinations and transportation charges.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the disabilities for which recruits to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were discharged within 12 months of their engagement during the years 1926 and 1927, respectively?

The disabilities for which recruits to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were discharged within 12 months of their engagement during the years 1926 and 1927 are shown in the following list:

Disease or Injury.	1926.	1927.
Diseases caused by infection:—
Pneumococcal infection (lungs)	4	1
Rheumatic fever	6	8
Tuberculosis (pulmonary)	11	7
Tuberculosis (non-pulmonary)	3	5
Other diseases caused by infection	3	3
Nervous and mental diseases:—
Diseases of spinal cord	1	1
Paralysis	—	1
Epilepsy	9	5
Neurasthenia	3	4
Other nervous diseases	11	15
Insanity	2	4
Diseases of the eye	34	24
Diseases of the ear	66	66
Diseases of the nose	—	2

Disease or Injury.	1926.	1927.
Diseases of circulatory system:—
Diseases of the Heart(organic)	29	32
Diseases of the Heart (functional)	2	6
Diseases of the arties	1	1
Diseases of the blood and spleen	1	—
Diseases of the lymphatic system:—
Other diseases	—	1
Diseases of glands and internal secretion	4	2
Diseases of the respiratory system:—
Bronchitis	—	2
Asthma	2	2
Fibrosis of lung	3	4
Pleurisy	3	2
Other diseases	1	—
Diseases of the digestive system:—
Diseases of teeth and gums	2	3
Mouth, palate, fauces, pharynx	1	—
Tonsilitis	2	—
Diseases of the stomach	—	1
Diseases of the intestines	1	—
Hernia	3	1
Diseases of rectum and anus	—	1
Diseases of generative system:—
Varicocele	—	3
Diseases of organs of locomotion:—
Periosteum and bone	1	—
Cartilage and joints	2	1
Spine	1	—
Muscles, fasciae, tendons, bursae	—	1
Deformities of limbs	11	14
Diseases of aerolar tissue and skin:—
Eczema	1	1
Other diseases of skin	—	2
Diseases of urinary organs:—
Kidneys	5	5
Ureter and bladder	—	2
Urinary disorders	22	12
New growths, non-malignant	1	—
Local injuries, injuries and wounds	9	5
Totals	261	250

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the managing director of the Commonwealth Trust that he had informed the Secretary of State for the Colonies of a total contribution to Christian missions in India of £30,000; and whether this sum represents profits made by the Commonwealth Trust or was taken from the capital assets of the Basle Trading Company, sequestrated by the Indian Government?

Yes, Sir. I regret that I overlooked the fact in my answer to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) last Monday. The Commonwealth Trust reported in 1923 that sums amounting to 399,458 rupees had been contributed to the support of missions in India, and, on inquiry at a conference with the directors, the managing director explained that the greater part of this sum, approximately 350,000 rupees, consisted of profits earned at a time when the Commonwealth Trust was managing the Indian business on behalf of the Indian Mission Trust, but before the properties had been formally transferred to it. The provisions of the Commonwealth Trust's memorandum of association did not, therefore, apply to these payments. The remainder of the contribution consisted of a payment of 50,000 rupees provided for in the deed of transfer to the Commonwealth Trust, dated 20th August, 1920.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to recent cases of civil servants being sued in the Courts by moneylenders; whether any consideration is being given to the reason for these civil servants having to be sued for the return of money lent; and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?

My attention has been drawn to one or two recent cases in which civil servants have been sued in the Courts by moneylenders for repayment of loans. The inquiries which I have made do not support the suggestion that these cases were in any way attributable to the methods by which salaries are paid.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of vacancies for sub postmasters at scale payment sub-post offices during the years 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively, through death, resignation, and dismissal, respectively?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not readily available and could not be obtained without considerable trouble and expense.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that during the month of January the imports of foreign broken road-stone into this country amounted to 16,097 tons, and that during the past four years nearly 1,000,000 tons of road-stone and 650,000 tons of setts and kerbing have been imported into this country at a cost of £2,750,000; whether he is aware that there are 2,000 men in the road-stone industry at present unemployed, and that British quarries are capable of supplying all the material required for the roads of the country; and if he will consider making it a condition of any grant from the Road Fund for the maintenance and repair of district as well as main roads that only British material should be used on them?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to-day to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the organisation in this city, described as the Labour League of Ex-service Men, which wears a uniform practically identical with that of a British soldier; and whether he will take steps to render the wearing of the King's uniform by unauthorised persons illegal?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dulwich.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of subsidy granted to the sugar-beet industry during 1927 as compared with 1926?

The amount of subsidy paid to the best sugar factories in Great Britain in the year ended 31st December, 1927, was £4,263,009, and in the year ended 31st December, 1926, £2,542,842.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of acres of land under beet cultivation during 1927 as compared with 1926?

The total acreage returned by occupiers of agricultural holdings as being under sugar beet in England and Wales in 1927 was £222,566 acres, compared with £125,814 acres in 1926.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that liver fluke, among sheep has been very prevalent in Wales during the present winter; and, seeing that it is agreed that the cure consists of dosage by carbon tetrachloride and land dressing with copper sulphate, whether these substances are obtainable by farmers from his Department at a subsidised price?

I am aware that liver fluke among sheep has been prevalent in Wales this winter. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative. I am advised that carbon tetrachloride and copper sulphate are readily obtainable through the usual trade channels at reasonable prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number and cost of the staff employed under the directions of his Department who were utilised in connection with foot-and-mouth disease during the months of December, 1927, and January and February, 1928, and the cost of the same?

The number of the veterinary inspectorate staff employed in field operations varied in each month, but was equivalent to the whole time of 72 officers for the three months. The total approximate cost was £10,250 for salaries and £12,500 for travelling and subsistence expenses.