asked the Minister of Health whether he has recently received any representations from his Milk Advisory Committee in regard to the Public Health (Preservatives, Etc., in Food) Regulations so far as they relate to cream; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of these representations and the action he proposes to take upon them?

I have from time to time received copies of various resolutions relating to milk and cream, passed by the Milk Advisory Committee, but I have always objected to making statements about the nature of these resolutions, since I do not consider that such action would be conducive to the proper performance of the duties for which the Committee were appointed, namely, advising Ministers.

asked the Minister of Health in connection with the Government lymph factory at Hendon, if, when a calf has been used for the recovery of pus, it is used again after it has recovered from the first operation; if not, what is done with the calf; and, if it is killed, what is done with the meat?

After the production of the lymph, the calf is not used again but is slaughtered, and the carcase is at the disposal of the contractors who supplied it, and is sold for food.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to take any and, if so, what action with regard to the resolutions received from boards of guardians or other local authorities calling for the abolition of Section 1 of the Vaccination Act, 1907, the effect of which would be to make vaccination compulsory; and will he say how many resolutions he has received?

This question will be considered in connection with the report of the Committee on Vaccination presided over by Sir Humphry Rolleston. During the past five years, I have received resolutions on this subject from 514 boards of guardians and other local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of condensed skimmed milk coming into this country for each of the last 12 months; and whether his departmental advisers are satisfied that the warnings issued to the public on the low food quality of this product are sufficiently understood by purchasers?

I understand that the amounts of condensed machine skimmed milk imported into this country during each of the last 12 months were as follow:—

asked the Minister of Health whether he will withhold his sanction from the proposal to erect a large block of flats, 97½ feet high, on the Foundling Hospital estate, in view of the importance of this open space, until the Report of the Royal Commission upon Open Spaces has been published?

The site of the Foundling Hospital, which is understood to be the site of the proposed flats, is not considered to come within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on London squares. The London County Council under the Town Planning Act have power to permit the erection of the flats referred to, and if they decide to give the permission, I have no authority to interfere.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what firms in this country are manufacturing all-metal aeroplanes; if his attention has been called to the intention to use Junker three-engined all-metal monoplanes on the Cape Town-Johannesburg route on the grounds that no suitable British machine is available at the same price; and what information he has on this subject?

As regards the first part of the question, most of the British aircraft manufacturers have made experimental aircraft of all-metal structure during the past few years, six have brought such aircraft to the production stage, and two have constructed aeroplanes planes of which the covering as well as the structure was of metal. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I understand that there is at present no British commercial machine in existence or under design which is strictly comparable to the Junker in so far as the latter machine is of all-metal construction and entirely covered in metal, but that the price is no cheaper than that of British-built aeroplanes which will carry the same load. The service in question is not, of course, to be subsidised from the Exchequer, and it is entirely for the South African authorities to decide the type and origin of the aircraft to be employed upon it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any resolution has been passed by the Indian Chamber of Princes regarding the Indian States Inquiry; and, if so, whether he will give the terms of the resolution?

I have not up to the present received information of any such resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what steps he has taken with a view to securing compensation for certain British ex-officers who were induced, by the misrepresentations of a former official representative in this country of the Government of Prince Edward Island, to pay sums of money for investment in silver-fox farms in Prince Edward Island; and whether he can hold out any hope of persuading the Prince Edward Island or Canadian authorities to compensate these officers for the losses which they have sustained?

This matter has been brought to the notice both of the Dominion Government of Canada and also of the Government of Prince Edward Island by correspondence and in personal discussion as occasion offered. The suggestion has been put forward that the Government of Prince Edward Island might grant a compassionate allowance to the victims of the misrepre- sentations, and that the Dominion Government should join in making a grant of an equal amount. But, so far as I am aware, no decision has yet been reached by the Provincial Government in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of Trade Boards in active operation; and the number of inspectors engaged for Trade Boards work?

There are 44 Trade Boards in 39 trades affected by the Trade Boards Acts. Of these five are Scottish boards. The number of inspectors appointed under the Trade Boards Acts is 61.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the representations he has received as to the action of some local authorities in purchasing, for use in schools, material and equipment which are not of British origin and manufacture, he will bring the matter to the notice of all education authorities?

I have received representations in this sense from the National Union of Manufacturers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has already circulated all local authorities, on more than one occasion, urging the use of British goods and materials wherever it is reasonably practicable to do so. I have no reason to think that local education authorities generally have not kept in mind the suggestions made in these Circulars; but I shall be happy to send to them copies of my hon. Friend's question and of my reply, together with a reference to the latest Circular from the Ministry of Health on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of affording the Director-General of the Territorial Army a seat on the Army Council?

I am afraid that I cannot accept the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend. I am satisfied that the interests of the Territorial Army are very well represented on the Army Council by the Under-Secretary of State, who is the member of Council responsible for the work of the Territorial Army directorate in the War Office.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the £183,000 estimated to be expended in the current financial year on hemp, canvas, textile fabrics, &c., how much is being made in the Government yards and how much is being purchased from private yards?

The whole of the £183,000 included in the Estimates is for the purchase of materials from the trade, but a large proportion is for use in dockyard manufacturing processes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of the prizes to be awarded annually to the naval observer for the best essay on some specified subject dealing with the work and development of the Fleet air arm, and to the officer who passes the best final examinations in the qualifying course for the best officers?

The prize for naval observers will consist of a silver medal, together with a sum of money (depending upon the balance of income available) for the purchase of books and instruments. The prize for signal specialists will consist of a sum of money (the income available) for the purchase of books and instruments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that a man with over 18 years' service in the Army is allowed to leave with a modified pension, but in the Navy, if he leaves at his own request, he forfeits his pension, he will consider the possibility of allowing the same privileges to naval ratings having pensionable service as are afforded to men with pensionable Army service?

The question has been considered, and I am unable to recommend the adoption of similar privileges for the Navy.