asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of the diseases from which men were invalided from the Navy during the years 1926 and 1927, respectively; the numbers invalided from the different diseases; and the number in each disease of cases in which the disability was decided to be attributable to service and for which a disability pension was given?

Particulars for the year 1927 are not yet available, but figures for 1926 have been compiled, and are as follow:

(1) Total Invalidings.
Disease or Injury.	Invalided.
Diseases caused by infection:
Diphtheria	1
Pneumococcal infection (lungs)	8
Pyogenic infection	1
Pyrexia of uncertain origin	1
Rheumatic fever	17
Tuberculosis (pulmonary)	176
Tuberculosis (non-pulmonary)	21
Syphilis, later record	15
Gonocoecal infection, sequelæ	32
Other diseases caused by infection	22
Nervous and mental diseases:
Diseases of spinal cord	10
Diseases of brain	6
Paralysis	2
Epilepsy	34
Neurasthenia	69
Other nervous diseases	45
Insanity	15
Diseases of the eye	386
Diseases of the ear	261
Diseases of the Nose	3
Diseases of circulatory system:
Diseases of the heart (organic)	86
Diseases of the heart (functional)	19
Diseases of the arteries	10
Diseases of the veins	7
Diseases of the blood and spleen	3
Diseases of Lymphatic system. Lymphadenitis	1
Diseases of glands of internal secretion	6
Diseases of the respiratory system:
Bronchitis	12
Asthma	7
Fibrosis of lung	30
Pleurisy	17
Other diseases	6
Diseases of teeth and gums	19

Disease or Injury.	Invalided.
Diseases of the digestive system:
Mouth, palate, fauces, pharynx	1
Tonsilitis	2
Diseases of the stomach	21
Diseases of the intestines	33
Hernia	20
Diseases of rectum and anus	1
Other diseases of digestive system	1
Diseases of nutrition or metabolism Diabetes	5
Diseases of generative system:
Variococele	2
Orchitis	1
Other diseases	1
Diseases of organs of locomotion:
Periosteum and bone	4
Cartilage and joints	16
Spine	1
Muscles, fasciæ tendons, bursæ	3
Deformities of limbs	92
Diseases of Areolar, tissue and skin:
Abscess	3
Eczema	4
Other diseases of skin	5
Diseases of urinary organs:
Kidneys	20
Ureter and bladder	2
Urinary disorders	42
New growths, malignant	2
New growths, non-malignant	2
Alcoholism	1
General injuries:
Multiple injuries	1
Multiple burns and scalds	1
Local injuries. Injuries and wounds	91
Totals	1,726

(2)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to inform the House of the terms of reference of the court-martial that is to be assembled at Gibraltar to inquire into certain matters arising out of incidents on board His Majesty's ship "Royal Oak"; and whether all the circumstances relevant to the suspension of three senior officers and to the hauling down of the rear-admiral's flag will be fully available to the public as a result of this court-martial?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the lion. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a chief engineer who reported that unsuitable apparatus had been supplied to the Ceylon railways has been retired and his office renamed on the pretext that it had been abolished; that the unsuitable apparatus was afterwards thrown on the scrap heap; that the assistant engineer, who had concealed material circumstances, was got rid of on the same pretext as the chief engineer; whether he is aware that the names of two officers, under 50 years of age, have been added to the Colonial Pensions list, while their places have been filled by new recruits who have had no previous experience of Eastern methods; and whether he will take steps to protect civil servants whose duty may require them to report similar irregularities in the future?

The ease to which the hon. Member is alluding is no doubt that of an officer of the Ceylon Telegraph Department, who was retired on pension in 1921 in the course of the reorganisation of the Department. This officer has repeatedly made charges of victimisation against the Ceylon Government, but successive Secretaries of State have found no justification for his allegations. I am aware of no ground for suggesting that civil servants whose duty requires them to report on the appparatus under their charge are in need of any protection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total cost incurred by this country in consequence of our civil and military commitments in Iraq?

With regard to the expenditure in respect of Iraq prior to the year 1926–1927, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Short) on the 25th February, 1926. The figures of expenditure for the years 1926–1927 and 1927–1928 are as follow:

		£
1926–1927	…	3,448,929
1927–1928 (estimate)	…	2,759,000

Apart from the British share of the cost of the High Commission, the civil expenditure now borne by His Majesty's Government in Iraq is nil. The remainder of the expenditure is mainly in respect of the maintenance of the Royal Air Force in Iraq. For the year 1927 the estimate of the total cost of the Royal Air Force was £1,975,000. Of this sum, £300,000 represents the estimated excess cost of stationing this force in Iraq as compared with Great Britain. As a setoff against the total expenditure, receipts amounting in all to £698,802 have been brought to account.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the action of the Newcastle licensing authorities in the matter of the discontinuance of the cmnibus service between Blaydon, Hexham and Halt-whistle; and if he will get this service restored before the summer season?

I regret that the information contained in my hon. and gallant Friend's question is not sufficient to enable me to identify the particular case in which he is interested, but if he will give me further details I shall be glad to supply him with any information in my possession.

asked the Minister of Health what is the quantity of oatmeal per gallon of water the regulation diet prescribes for the porridge or skilly supplied to casuals and the quantity supplied for breakfast and supper, together with the weight of bread supplied; whether tea, coffee, cocoa, butter, mar- garine, or meat of any kind forms part of such dietary; and, if so, the quantities allowed each person?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Regulations governing these matters.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) if he is aware that the White Paper now issued from his Department shows several of the small mining districts in one group, and that it is impossible now to find what is the cost of production, other than wages, for the separate districts; and can be see his way clear to revert to the practice that was in operation prior to May, 1926:(2) if he can give the information as to the cost of production, selling prices, and wages per man-shift worked, itemised, for the quarter ending 31st December, 1927, for the following mining districts: Cumberland, Bristol, Somerset, and Forest of Dean?

Persons Killed and Injured at Mines under the Coal Mines Act.
		Number of Persons Killed.			Number of Persons Injured.*
Year.		Below ground.	Above ground.	Total.	Below ground.	Above ground.	Total.
1925	…	1,028	108	1,136	163,350	14,710	178,060
1927	…	1,030	96	1,126	Not yet available.
*Disabled for more than 3 days. These figures include cases of injury of a serious kind which are reported at the time of their occurrence. Particulars of such accidents are as follows:

				1925.	1927.
Below ground	…	…	…	3,843	4,211
Above ground	…	…	…	493	453

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will, for the convenience of the public, take steps to introduce a greater degree of uniformity than at present exists among the various London museums and galleries, in regard to hours of opening, prices of admission, and free days?

This question is within the scope of the Royal Commission which is now sitting on museums and galleries.

No form of statistics suitable for publication can be devised which meets exactly all the purposes for which statistics relating to the coal industry are used. As recently as February, 1927, the Advisory Committee for the Coal Industry, on which both owners and miners are represented, reconsidered this question and decided that the present classification is the most suitable when all considerations are taken into account. I do not propose, therefore, to alter the present classification, but I will send the information to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents that occurred in the coal mines of the country for the years 1925 and 1927, respectively; and how many of the injuries were received by persons employed above and below ground, respectively?

The following are the figures:Pending the Commission's Report, it is unlikely that any important change will be made. I am sure the Commission will be glad to consider any suggestions that the hon. Member may wish to make to it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will propose to the responsible keepers that the drawings of the Turner Bequest should be transferred to the department of prints and drawings at the British Museum, where it would be assured that the collection would be safely housed, accessible to students and the public, and accessible in its entirety?

The Royal Commission on Museums and Art Galleries is considering, inter alia, the re-allocation of works of art between the different institutions concerned. Pending the Report of the Commission it is proposed to make no changes. Meanwhile the Turner Collection is safely housed, and will be made accessible to students as soon as it has been reorganised and checked.

TABLE showing the VALUES of the undermentioned ARTICLES imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, consigned from Canada, in each of the years 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927.
Articles.			1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.
			£	£	£	£
Watches, and parts thereof	…	…	4,368	5,311	12,738	9,247
Clocks, and parts thereof	…	…	183	3,711	10,020	9,721

The only in formation available as to the amount of duty collected on these goods is in respect of those articles imported from Canada and delivered for home use at the Preferential rate of duty. The informarion is as follows:—
	1924.*		1925.*		1926.		1927.
—	Value on which duty was Paid.	Amount of duty.	Value on which duty was paid.	Amount of duty.	Value on which duty was paid.	Amount of duty.	Value on which duty was paid.	Amount of duty
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Watches, and parts thereof.	1,386	308	2,860	635	13,013†	2,893	8,046	1,787
Clocks, and parts thereof.	—	—	696	155	10,6301†	2,362	9,339	2,075
*Duty lapsed 2nd August, 1924; reimposed 1st July, 1925.
†daggre; It will be noticed that the value of the goods delivered for home use in 1926 is slightly in excess of the value of the imports for that year as shown in the first table. This is due to deliveries ex bonded warehouses for home use of goods imported previously to 1926.

No information is available as to the proportion of British materials used in the imports in question, but a condition of the admission of such manufactured articles to Preference is that at least 25 per cent. of the value of the articles must be attributable to labour within the British Empire.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether,

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the value of watches and clocks imported from Canada during the years 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927; the amount of duty collected on each class of goods; and the proportion of British material in such imports?

The particulars requested by the hon. Member, so far as they are available, are as follow:having regard to the fact that beauty spots and places of holiday resort which are in private ownership are from time to time offered for open sale, and their purchase for industrial enterprises is only prevented by public subscriptions hurriedly raised, he will set up a committee to consider this problem and advise?

Various private bodies, as the hon. Member is aware, have done valuable work in the past by collecting private subscriptions for the purchase of beauty spots. It would be unfortunate if their successful efforts were in any way discouraged. So far as official action is concerned, the question, as one affecting property in most parts of the country, appears primarily to be one for local authorities to consider. It would not be for the Treasury to appoint a Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if any proceedings have been taken against any person for carrying on business as a moneylender without having a proper moneylender's excise licence under The Moneylenders Act, 1927?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of officials of the same status (and above) as Mr. Arnold, who were passed over on his appointment to the post of controller at Acton; and similar particulars respecting Mr. Tate, appointed an assistant secretary?

I am not clear precisely what the hon. Member means by status; I assume that he refers to Civil Service grading. No other member of the grade of principal clerk held by the first-mentioned officer had been selected to act as principal private secretary, and his emoluments prior to his appointment as Controller of the Pensions Issue Office were superior to those of all other members of the grade. There are eight officers in the grade of senior principal clerk. There were three officers senior to the second-mentioned officer in the grade held by him before his appointment as assistant secretary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the distress and inconvenience now being caused in the agricultural industry by the fact that no further loans are being made to farmers under the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923; and whether, in order to meet the present emergency, he will arrange with the Treasury that such loans be resumed until the passing into law of the promised new Agricultural Credits Act?

The operation of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, was confined to a limited class of farmers who have had a period of four years in which to take advantage of its provisions. A very substantial measure of assistance has been given by the State under the Act and, in view of the present heavy demands upon the Local Loans Fund, I regret that I cannot undertake to resume the grant of loans.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what amount of money has been spent by his Department in 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively, on research into the spawning and the habits of mackerel?(2) whether any Reports have been received during the last three years by the Ministry from researchers or local fishery committees on the movement and habits of mackerel in the English Channel or the Bristol Channel; and, if so, in what publication they have been made available for the use and guidance of fishermen?

No expenditure has been incurred by the Ministry in the years referred to specifically for the purpose of investigations of the spawning and the habits of mackerel. The only scientific reports or papers published on the subject of this fish in the past three years of which I am aware are a report published by the Danish Fisheries Commission dealing with the relation between hydrographical conditions in the Cattegat and Skagerak and the catch of mackerel in those waters and an article of a general character published in February, 1927, by a French naturalist, M. Jean Le Gall, in a weekly paper devoted to the fishing industry, called "La Peche Maritime." The life history of the mackerel is still in many respects obscure, but a good deal of information about it is available, particularly in reports published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association ciation of the United Kingdom and in the reports of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, with both of which bodies the Ministry works in intimate collaboration. If the hon. Member will indicate to me any particular points upon which she desires enlightenment, I shall be happy to give her the best information I can procure. I am considering the possibility of publishing a leaflet setting forth briefly and in simple form, for the information of fishermen, so much of the available knowledge of the life history of the mackerel as may be expected to be useful to them in their pursuit of this fish.