asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers and their families have been assisted to settle overseas, and in what parts of the Empire, respectively, during the last six years; and during the same period how many soldiers have undergone training at the Catterick, Aldershot and other training centres?

Vocational training for oversea settlement has been carried out by the military authorities only for the last four years, during which period 192 single men and 109 married men have proceeded direct from the training centre to the Dominions. Of this number, 203 went to Australia and 82 to Canada. In addition, approximately 50 men trained for oversea settlement were unable to proceed overseas immediately on completion of their training, but did so at a later date. The total number who have undergone training in all subjects at the Army Vocational Training Centres during the same period is approximately 5,350.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what was the nature of the migration and colonisation scheme of the Government of Western Australia which has been recently terminated; how many British families and individuals have been established in Western Australia under that scheme during the last six years; and at what cost?

The Western Australian Group Settlement Scheme is one for the settlement of families in groups on uncleared land suitable for dairying, in the South West of Western Australia. The settlement is carried on by co-operative effort on the part of the settlers, under expert supervision. The cost of the farms is repayable by the settlers over a period of 30 years. On 1st March, 1928, 1,842 group holdings were settled, the total population of the groups being 8,429. Included in this number were approximately 1,550 British families, comprising about 6,500 souls. The total cost of the group settlement scheme to the State of Western Australia, to 1st March, 1928, was £5,171,069. Approximately one-fifth of this cost will eventually fall upon His Majesty's 'Government in Great Britain. The scheme is still in operation, although no new settlers are being received, except for the purpose of filling vacancies on existing groups.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of improving the diet of casuals by the addition of an uncooked onion to the bread, margarine, cheese, and skilly which, from its lack of variety in essential food elements, is causing so much ill-health among casuals?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the regulations covering the dietary of casuals, which he will see is not quite so limited as is suggested in the question, and does contain provision for the supply of potatoes and other vegetables. I am advised that the prescribed dietary is sufficient for the maintenance of normal health and strength, and I am not aware of the existence among casuals of such il-health as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Health how many ex-service men employed in the Ministry of Health are under notice of dismissal; how many women temporarily employed in the Ministry of Health are being retained; how many hours of overtime have been worked in the Ministry of Health during the past three months; and how long such overtime is likely to continue being worked?

103 temporary ex-service clerks are under notice to terminate their services. 109 temporary women clerks are still employed on work specially appropriate to women. 13,900 hours of overtime have been worked during the last three months. While it will not be practicable to dispense with the necessity for a certain amount of overtime for special and urgent work, and in the provincial offices, the amount of overtime required is now and will be substantially less than the weekly average of the last three months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of private firms not trading as limited companies which failed or went into compulsory Liquidation for each of the last three years?

The number of failures under the Bankruptcy and Deeds of Arrangements Acts in the principal trades during 1924, 1925 and 1926 are given in Annex V to the 44th Annual Report on Bankruptcy issued last year. Corresponding figures for 1927 have not yet been published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, for each of the last three years, the number of private companies registered, the number of private companies which went into voluntary liquidation, and the number of private companies which went into compulsory liquidation?

As regards the first part of the question, the number of private companies registered in England and Scotland were 7,955 in the year 1925 and 7,742 in the year 1926. The figures for 1927 are not yet available. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I a n unable to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend, as the statistics regarding liquidations do not distinguish between public and private companies.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if he is in a position to say what are the intentions of the Government with respect to the new afforestation programme due to commence next April?

I have been asked to reply. The answer is in the negative.