asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if lie has received any representations from traders in Scotland regarding the effect of the regulations prohibiting the use of preservatives in butter and cream; and whether, in view of the special difficulties in Scot- land involving serious loss to retail traders through the regulations, he will consider the desirability of modifying the restriction on the use of preservatives during the summer months?

I have received the representations referred to by the hon. Member. I have also received representations supporting the prohibition of boric acid in cream. As advised, I see no reason to modify the restriction on the use of preservative for these articles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the proposed closing of the pier at Croggan, Mull; and whether, as this pier is beneficial to the farmers at Lochbuie and Croggan and its shutting down will be adverse to their interests, he will take steps to secure that this pier is kept open for the use of traffic?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that the County Council of Argyll have been considering whether they could discontinue the maintenance of this pier in view of the fact that the cost of maintenance and repair exceeds the revenue derived from it, and that they have been informed by the Mull District Committee that the pier is of slight utility. The county council, in whom the pier is vested, will doubtless be prepared to consider any representations from users of the pier as to its utility. A discussion between representatives of the county council and of the local interests concerned might serve a useful purpose, especially if the latter were in a position to assist in meeting the financial difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the suggestion of Sir Herbert Ames, late financial director of the secretariat of the League of Nations, that a meeting of the Council of the League should be held at Ottawa, where the bilingual machinery provided for the Canadian Parliament would with little reinforcement be effective for such a meeting; and whether, in view especially of the affinity between Canada and the United States, His Majesty's Government would regard such a suggestion favourably?

My attention has not been drawn to the suggestion. I do not feel that I can usefully comment on a proposal of this kind, as any decision to hold a meeting of the Council of the League of Nations elsewhere than at Geneva must be taken by the Council itself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of land under

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the conditions governing the employment of certain clerks in the Employment Exchanges expire on 31st May; and whether the conditions of re-engagement will be entirely fixed by the respective local managers?

Certain alterations are being made in the terms of engagement of temporary clerks, and in some cases these take effect on 31st May. The new terms of engagement have been laid down by headquarters.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered at the various Exchanges in Glasgow for 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively?

I will have the figures sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

I regret that information as to the acreage of agricultural land comprised in the various size groups of holdings is not available in respect of the years 1926 and 1927. The following statement, however, shows the number of agricultural holdings in the various size groups between 1 and 50 acres as returned on 4th June in each of the years 1924, 1926 and 1927, together with the acreage of such holdings in 1924:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the desirability of arranging that all communications sent from his Department to unemployed persons shall be sent under cover instead, of by postcard?

I am having this matter examined.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the total number of unemployed persons in receipt of extended benefit on the last available day prior to 19th April, 1928?(2) the total number of unemployed persons in receipt of extended benefit on the last available day prior to 19th April at the Wednesbury, Tipton, and the Darlaston Employment Exchanges, respectively?

Statistics giving the number of persons in receipt of extended benefit are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for extended benefit recommended for disallowance in Great Britain at the 16th of April, 1928; and whether he has any statistics that will show the number of applications disallowed for standard benefit at the same date?

During the four weeks ended 9th April, 1928, out of 249,372 applications for extended benefit considered by Local Committees in Great Britain, 32,522 were recommended for disallowance. Corresponding statistics of the disallowance of claims for standard benefit are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many claims to unemployment benefit have been rejected at the Stepney Employment Exchange during the 12 months ending 30th March, 1928; and what were the reasons for such rejections?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of juveniles employed in the cotton industry, and the number of persons in the industry registered as unemployed?

At July, 1927, there were approximately 16,190 boys and 33,030 girls aged 16 and 17 insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in Great Britain classified as belonging to the cotton textile industry. Figures in respect of the children under 16 in the industry at the same date are not available. The following table gives for the cotton textile industry the number of insured persons recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 26th March, 1928:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, boys, women, and girls who have been found employment, either permanent or temporary, at the Walworth Road, Borough, Employment Exchange for the three months ended to the last convenient date?

The following table shows the number of vacancies filled by the Borough Employment Exchange during the three months ended 16th April, 1928:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as being unemployed at the Stepney Employment Exchange on 30th March, 1927, and 30th March, 1928?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the estimated site value of the land in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, at the last valuation?

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether arrangements can be made for the supply

The following table gives the information desired:to Members of a Report of the evidence being submitted to the Joint Committee on the Railway Companies (Road Transport) Bills?

The Railway Companies (Road Transport) Bills are private Bills, and responsibility for the publication of the evidence falls on the Parliamentary Agents, from whom copies can be purchased. I have, however, been able to arrange with Messrs. Sherwood, who are acting in these Bills, for six copies of the evidence to be placed in the Library at the disposal of Members for reference purposes.