asked the Postmaster-General what sum it would actuarially be estimated to be necessary to charge for an unlimited number of telephone calls in a year to each subscriber in order to safeguard existing profits; how that compares with the charge last in use prior to abandonment; and for what reasons the profitable charge as at present estimated cannot optionally be made in lieu of charges per call?

A universal flat rate charge would necessarily be higher than the total sum at present paid by the bulk of subscribers and would consequently amount to a compulsory additional charge to them for service beyond their needs. An optional flat rate scale designed to safeguard existing profits would have to be fixed at a point, not far below the maximum potential user, for it must be assumed that only those subscribers would adopt it who would not lose financially by so doing. The calculation suggested would involve so many uncertain factors that the results would be too speculative to serve a useful purpose. It is hardly possible to reply to the last part of the question within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but my Noble Friend will find the matter fully discussed in Part IV of C.D. 1143 of 1921 (Memorandum on the new Telephone Rates), to which I would refer him. The conclusions reached therein still hold good.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to open further automatic telephone exchanges in the Metropolitan district; and which telephone exchange will be the next one to be converted to the automatic system?

Welbeck is the next automatic exchange to be opened; and it is hoped to open about 15 more before the end of 1929.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the number of extensions of service beyond the age of 60 which have been granted to Post Office officials in Northern Ireland; that the postmaster surveyor has had an extension of over two years and is still being retained; whether he will state the reason for this exceptional treatment; and whether, in the interests of the ser- vice and in order to afford a proper flow of promotion, he will cause a special inquiry to be conducted with a view to ascertaining the reason for the greater number of extensions in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the Kingdom?

I am aware of the facts mentioned in the question. The Postmaster-Surveyor of Belfast will retire in March next. The extensions of service granted to other officers in Northern Ireland were recently reviewed at headquarters; and it has been decided that two supervising officers at Belfast shall retire next month. I am satisfied that the extensions referred to were justified, having regard to the interests of the service, and were granted in strict accordance with the general policy adopted by the Department in this matter. The number of officers retained after 60 necessarily varies from time to time and from district to district, and I can find no reason for holding a special inquiry into the matter in Northern Ireland.

asked the Postmaster-General how many instances there have been within the last two years of Post Office telephone cables being damaged by stray currents from public traction undertakings; whether, as these breakdowns cause a great deal of inconvenience to the telephone subscribers and frequent loss of business, without compensation, either the Post Office or the tramways' advisers have any remedy; and what steps, if any, the Post Office propose to take to avoid these breakdowns in future?

About 300 such cases have occurred. The onus of preventing the leakage of injurious currents from their systems rests on the undertakers, but as far as possible attempts are made by the Post Office to limit the harmful effects of currents picked up by the cable sheaths by ensuring that they leave for earth by metallic conduction. Further, representations are made to tramway authorities in individual cases urging them to work their systems within the limits prescribed in the Ministry of Transport Regulations and to take such other remedial steps as may be necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that systematic overtime is being worked at the Holloway factory of the Post Office stores department; whether he will state the reason; and whether he will consider the advisability of reducing overtime to a minimum and so increase the number of persons employed?

It has been necessary to work overtime at this factory recently on account of increase of work, partly temporary, and vacancies among the staff. Steps are being taken in the direction indicated by the hon. Member, and I hope that it will soon be possible to discontinue regular overtime. The vacancies referred to relate to skilled craftsmen.

asked the Postmaster-General if it is proposed to institute a person-to-person telephone service between this country and places in Europe; and, if so, upon what date and between what cities in Great Britain and Europe?

The Postmaster-General has proposed the admission of personal calls as soon as possible in all the Anglo-Continental telephone services without limitation to particular towns either in this country or abroad. Negotiations are proceeding with the Continental administrations, and accordingly I am not in a position yet to name a date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Committee appointed by the British Science Guild to consider the reform of the British patent system, wherein it is stated that each year the Treasury takes a large annual surplus from patentees ranging from £63,592 in 1870 to £112,939 in 1927; and whether, seeing that this taxation of inventions is contrary to the purpose of the patent system and against the interests of British science and trade, he will consider some alteration of the present system?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Committee appointed by the British Science Guild to consider the reform of the British patent system; and whether he proposes to take any action on the recommendations of the Committee?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley on Tuesday, a copy of which I am sending them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received a resolution, passed at a meeting of Scottish fishermen at Yarmouth, to the effect that no improvement in the fishing industry can be secured except by the reopening of the Russian market, and that the British Government should take steps to facilitate trading relationship with Russia; whether he has considered if; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have not received the resolution referred to, but I have seen references to it in the Press. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade to a question by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on the subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amounts of customs and excise revenue received by the Treasury from silk and artificial silk for April, May and June, 1928, and as many later months as possible, under the various headings of this tax, including the amount of drawbacks refunded in the same months?

The information required is given in the following table.

asked the President of of the Board of Trade the number of applications for safeguarding received up to the latest available date; the number referred to a Committee of inquiry; the number granted; and the number still under consideration?

Excluding three cases dealt with in connection with McKenna duties, and one case dealt with under the Key Industry section of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, there have been 45 applications of which two are in abeyance and one is under consideration. 20 applications have been referred to Committees, and Safeguarding duties have been imposed in nine cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any application under the Safeguarding of Industries Act has been received by him from the roadstone industry in this country?

I am afraid I must adhere to the established practice, which has frequently been referred to in the House, of not stating whether a particular industry has or has not made an application under the Safeguarding procedure, except on the appointment of a Committee of inquiry.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of revenue received by the Treasury from import duties on imported goods covered by the provisions of the Safeguarding of Industries Act in each half-year during the last six years, and the dates within this period on which new manufactures were brought under the provisions of that Act?

I am having the required particulars compiled, and will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the case of certain optical instruments the component parts are not dutiable and can evade duty by being assembled in this country; and will lie look into this matter?

I am not aware of the particular instruments to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers; but I would remind him that Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1926, expressly made liable to duty component parts of such optical instruments as are chargeable with duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider an alteration in the form of the public accounts as at present presented to an income and expenditure basis so as to reveal more closely the real state of the rational finances?

No, Sir. All practical considerations are in favour of the present system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give, for the year ended 31st March, 1928, the number of proof gallons of British spirits exported; the number of standard barrels of beer exported and imported, respectively; and the number of proof gallons of rum, brandy, and geneva, respectively, retained for home consumption?

The figures asked for are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum received as Entertainments Duty at meetings under the Jockey Club and National Hunt rules in the 12 months immediately follow- ing the imposition of the Betting Duty; and the sums received from the same duty in each of the three periods of 12 months previous to the Betting Duty?

I regret that it is not possible to give the total receipts of Entertainments Duty paid in respect of a particular kind of entertainment over a specified period.

asked the Chanoellor of the Exchequer the number of people who were drawing benefit at the latest available date under each of the following Acts: National Insurance (Health) Act; Widows', Orphans and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; Unemployment Insurance Acts; War Pensions Act and the Ministry of Pensions Act; Old Age Pensions Acts; Education Acts; Acts relating to reformatory and industrial schools; Inebriates Act; Public Health Acts so far as they relate to hospitals and treatment of disease, maternity, and child welfare works; Housing of the Working Classes Act; Acts relating to the relief of the poor; Unemployed Workmen Act; Lunacy Acts; and Mental Deficiency Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to the annual Returns relating to Public Social Services, the last of which was published as Parliamentary Paper No. 108 of Session 1927, in which he will find such information as is available on the subject. A further Return in this series will shortly be issued.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the subsidy given for the erection of houses was given free of Income Tax towards lessening the cost of houses and the reduction of rent for working-class houses; and, if so, whether he will explain why a demand for Income Tax has recently been made in various parts of the country?

The subsidies given by local authorities in respect of the erection of houses would not normally be chargeable with Income Tax except in so far as they fall to be taken into ac- count in ascertaining the profits of builders. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any case in which it is considered that tax has been improperly charged, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons receiving the old age pension under the Acts of 1908 to 1924 to whom the means restriction applies, and the value of such payments, in the last weeks of September?

The number of persons receiving the old age pension under the Acts of 1908 to 1924, to whom the means restriction applies, on the last Friday in September was 989,538. The approximate annual value of these pensions was £25,438,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that an old age pensioner who has been an inmate of a Poor Law institution for medical or surgical treatment for a period exceeding three months must on his discharge make a fresh application for pension; and whether he will consider in such cases the advisability of issuing by the pensions officer to the master of the institution an emergency form, such form to be handed to the pensioner on his release and be available for one week's payment, the pensions issue office to immediately forward a new book to the pensioner?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I may point out, however, that such pensioners may put in applications for new pensions while they are still inmates, so that a book of pension orders may be handed to them at the time when they are discharged. There does not appear to be any reason, therefore, why the present system should cause any hardship. I can hold out no hope of the Government introducing legislation to effect the change suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to abolish the means limit under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, or, alternatively, will he take steps to alter the method of calculating the yearly value of property as set forth in paragraph (a) of Section 4 (1) of the Old Age Pension Act, 1919, which creates much dissatisfaction?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the terms of the reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Deritend (Mr. Smedley Crooke) on 1st December last, and as regards the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Exeter (Sir R. Newman) on 15th December last. I am sending copies of these replies to the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Development Commissioners respecting the restriction of free distribution of technical publications by the agricultural departments, the research institutes, the advisory centres, and the colleges aided by Government grants; and whether, in view of the importance of securing co-ordination and contact between scientific workers, he will consider the desirability of permitting a more extensive free distribution?

My attention has been drawn to the recommendation in question. I understand that the matter is being considered by the responsible Departments, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of revenue derived as a result of the charge of one penny for admission to Kew Gardens?

I have been asked to reply. The revenue derived from the charge of one penny for admission to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, amounts on the average to about £4,350 per annum.

asked the Minister of Health if he will include in the Bill for the reform of local government facilities to enable local authorities to take action under various Acts of Parliament without incurring the expenses attached to Private Bill legislation?

This matter would not be within the scope of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to circulate a table showing the details of the estimated weighted populations for the Scottish burghs and counties?

The figures determining weighted population (calculated on the actual population at the date of the Census of 1921) in the case of the large burghs are given in Columns 4, 5 and 6 of the table on pages 20 and 21 of the White Paper (Cmd. 3135). I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by circulating similar details for the Counties. When the particulars for the standard year are available I shall consider whether it would be useful to circulate a revised table based on the estimated population of that year.

asked the Minister of Health the amounts of rates per head of the population collected by all local authorities in England and Wales in the financial years ended 31st March, 1914, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927?

The average amount of local rates per head of estimated population collected by all local authorities in England and Wales in the years mentioned was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the rates per head paid in the years ending 31st March, 1914, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927 were for the relief of the poor, and purposes

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue an order to boards of guardians so that, in granting outdoor relief to a person entitled to receive benefit under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, they shall not take into consideration any such benefit except so far as the benefit exceeds 7s. 6d. a week?

I have no authority to issue any such order.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the lack of accommodation in the casual ward of the Lexden and Winstree union, where, although there is sleeping room for 10 only, as many as 57 have had to be admitted on one night; and whether he will inquire into the conditions at this institution?

Yes, Sir. I am in correspondence with the guardians and the Essex Vagrancy Committee on the subject of better provision for casuals in this area.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the sentences of 21 days and one month hard labour, respectively, passed upon two casuals admitted to the Boston

The following statement gives the desired information.(Lincs.) casual ward for refusing to perform their allotted task because the food supplied to them was uneatable; and whether he will make inquiries into the quality of the dietary at this institution?

I have received a newspaper report of this case. I understand that the guardians' medical officer certified that the food of which complaint was made was perfectly wholesome, and that 32 other casuals performed the allotted task which has been refused by these men. I do not think the case calls for any special action on my part.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the prosecution in the Kingston Police Court on 3rd October last of George Miller, aged 61, for breaking two panes of glass in the Kingston central relief institution, where he had been admitted as a casual, as a protest against having had taken from him his last penny; and, if so, whether such action is in accordance with the regulations of his Department?

The reply to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The regulations in this matter merely reproduce the statutory provision contained in Section 72 of the Poor Law Act, 1927.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of casuals relieved in England and Wales in 1914, and in each of the last 10 years?

The following statement shows the number of casuals in receipt of Poor Law relief in England and Wales or or about 1st January in the years 1911 and 1019 to 1928:

asked the Minister of Health the proportion of the estimated population in receipt of Poor Law relief on 1st January, 1914, and in each of the last 10 years?

The proportion per 10,000 of the estimated population of all persons in receipt of Poor Law relief on or about 1st January in the years 1914, and 1918 to 1928 was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now completed his arrangements with the railway companies for the freight relief to be given in respect of export coal under the Government's rating proposals; and the estimated freight reduction per ton?

I have been asked to reply to this question, which I assume to relate to the special arrangement for anticipating freight relief as from 1st December next. A scheme has been prepared in consultation with the principal railway companies and will be available in the Vote Office to-morrow. I should prefer not to anticipate the details of the scheme, or any explanation which I may have to give when the necessary estimate is presented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advantage, if any, will be obtained by colliery companies under the Rating and Valuation Apportionment Act, i.e., reduction in freightage proposals, where only house coal and gas coal are produced for internal use?

I have been asked to reply. Under the proposed scheme of railway freight rebates the freight relief will not extend to house or gas coal consumed in this country, but, in accordance with the request and advice of the mining industry, will be concentrated upon coal for export and foreign bunkers and for iron and steel works. Collieries producing exclusively house and gas coal for internal consumption will, like other collieries, obtain the advantage of the general de-rating proposals embodied in the Local Government Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated percentage reduction in the cost of production of coal produced in Scotland, each county stated separately, due to the de-rating proposals?

I have been asked to reply. On the basis of the last quarter for which information is available, the estimated reduction in the cost of production of coal commercially disposable in Scotland due to the de-rating of the collieries themselves would be just under 1½d. a ton or about 1 per cent. It is not possible to give figures for each of the mining counties separately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the figures furnished by the River Wear Commissioners showing that in the 10 months ending 31st October last 2,700,000 tons of coal exported from the Wear were con- veyed over private mineral railways, whilst 1,845,000 tons were conveyed over public railways; and whether, in the circumstances, he will reconsider the decision to exclude the private mineral railways from freight transport relief?

I heard the figures mentioned in the question quoted by the hon. Member for Sunderland (Sir W. Raine) a few days ago, and while I am not able to check them, I have no reason to think they are incorrect. If, however, the hon. Member will take figures for the whole of the North-East Coast and confine his calculations to the coal selected to receive railway freight relief only, he will find the proportions quite different. In reply to the last part of the question, I cannot add anything to the reply which was given by my right hon. Friend on 8th November to the hon. Member for Spennymoor Division (Mr. Batey)

asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated percentage reduction in the costs of production in the manufacture of pig-iron due to the de-rating proposals?

It is estimated that the local rate relief on coal, ore and limestone mines and blast furnaces will be equivalent to about 2¼ per cent. of the cost of the production of pig-iron, and that the railway freight reductions on the materials for making pig-iron will be equivalent to a further 2 per cent. of the cost of production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what information he has given to agriculturists regarding the proposed freight relief on the carriage of carrots in bulk for cattle feeding and the carriage of washed carrots for human consumption; whether it is proposed to exempt washed carrots from relief and, if so, for what reason; whether potatoes are to get the proposed relief in freights; and what principle will guide the application of such relief?

Details of the agricultural traffics selected to benefit by the reduction of railway freight charges were announced at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture on 18th October. The list was distributed at the meeting and has received considerable notice in the Press. I am circulating a copy in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The list includes "carrots, mangel wurzel or turnips in bulk for feeding livestock" but does not include carrots for human consumption. All potatoes, except new potatoes, are also included in the list. The principles which guided the Ministry in selecting the list were that the traffics should be confined to as few essential commodities as possible so as to produce reductions sufficiently large to afford substantial assistance and that the relief should, as far as possible, be confined to commodities in which the greatest number of farmers are interested.

asked the Minister of Health the terms of the recent circular to local authorities intimating a maximum expenditure which would be recognised for grant-in-aid of the supply of milk for expectant and nursing mothers and children; to which authorities the circular was sent; and the estimated saving to the Treasury?

No such circular has been issued, but in the letters which were sent to some local authorities last March informing them of the maximum expenditure for maternity and child welfare work during the current financial year which could be recognised for grant, certain suggestions as to procedure were made with a view to enabling the authorities to keep their expenditure on milk within the amounts approved for grant. This letter was sent only to the authorities whose estimated expenditure on milk exceeded £100, and, moreover, was not addressed to those whose districts are situated in distressed mining areas in Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and South Wales. The total estimated saving in grant is about £12,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the number of centres for which the National Institute for Medical Research publishes statistics of ultra-violet light; whether any other centres publish their figures; and whether, as an incentive to the purification of the atmosphere of industrial centres and as a means of making known the healthfulness of British watering places, he will recommend all local authorities to publish similar statistics?

I am informed by the Medical Research Council that daily records of this kind are published for Hampstead by the National Institute for Medical Research and at four other places; and that records, of which some are published, are kept at 11 other places. I shall be glad to consider the suggestion made by my right hon. Friend in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health if he will bring up to date the table of subsidy houses built, under construction, and authorised, each month, etc., since October, 1926, as given by him on 12ta July, 1928?

Yes, Sir, I will send the hon. Member a copy of it.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of money allocated from the Road Fund in respect of the making of new arterial roads and for the alteration of other roads for the year ending March, 1927?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Road Fund Report for the year 1926–27, and would draw his attention in particular to the table in paragraph 7 which shows the grants made to various purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport what course he proposes to take with regard to the representations he has received from cities and towns urging that the left-hand rule for pedestrians be made general throughout the country?

I regret that there is no generally recognised rule of the footpath for pedestrians, but the reception of previous attempts to influence the public in the direction of adopting the left-hard rule has not been such as to encourage a re-opening of the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the large number of cyclists who have failed to provide rear lights or reflectors as required by the 1927 Act; and whether he intends to take any steps to ensure a more rigorous observance of the law?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Dulwich Division of Camberwell (Sir F. Hall).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reintroduce the cross-swords badge for brigadiers, as in the War, in place of the three stars and crown, in view of the relative lack of distinctiveness of the latter?

No, Sir. Brigadier-generals wore cross-swords as being the badge appropriate to general officers. Brigadiers are not general officers, and it has been decided that they shall wear the badges of rank formerly worn by colonels commandant and colonels on the staff, whose places they have taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to publish the statistics of the small-pox cases and deaths recorded in the British Army in every part of the world during the years of the War?

The Official History of the War (Medical Services, Hygiene of the War, Volume 11) gives a good deal of general information as to small-pox. A statistical volume of the Medical History of the War is in course of preparation, but I am unable to say to what extent it will be possible to deal with the statistics of any particular disease.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether any and if so, what steps are being taken in the Far East to protect British ships, their passengers, and crews against the risk of piracy by means of armed guards; whether shipowners can rely upon armed guards being available as long as the risk of piracy continues; and whether any and, if so, what instructions have been given in the matter to the officers commanding His Majesty's military forces in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai?

As my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated yesterday, the General Officers Command- ing at Shanghai and Hong Kong and in Malaya have authority to provide armed guards at their discretion within certain limits. But it is only owing to the presence of so many additional troops in China that it has been possible to make these guards available, and I cannot give any undertaking that the arangement can be continued indefinitely.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of foot-and-mouth disease, if any, have been notified during the Recess, and in what parts of the country; and how many and what districts are at present scheduled as infected areas?

During the Parliamentary Recess, from 3rd August to 6th November, 19 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed in Great Britain. These were distributed amongst eight centres in the following counties in order of date: Lancashire (near Preston), Yorkshire (near Beverley), Gloucestershire (near Bristol), Kent (Swanley), Cheshire (Crewe), Devonshire (Plymouth) and Dorset (at Bridport and Blandford). There are at the present time five areas under restrictions, namely, in Kent, Cheshire, Devonshire and two in Dorset.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what, if any, progress has been made during the past year in scientific investigation into the causes and control of foot-arid-mouth disease?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Third Progress Report of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee which was published in June last. The work of the Committee is being continued in five different laboratories, and the Pirbright Experimental Station has recently been refitted to enable work to be carried out on a large scale on the larger animals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the figures showing the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which have occurred since 1st August; the number of animals slaughtered in connection therewith; and the amount of compensation paid?

Twenty-five outbreaks have been confirmed since 1st August, involving the slaughter of 2,055 animals. The compensation amounts to £24,014.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the estimated amount payable by the Government in respect of the beet-sugar subsidy for the present season and for each season during the continuance of the subsidy?

The amount provided for beet-sugar subsidy payments during the present season is £4,250,000. It is not possible at this date to give reliable estimates of the probable subsidy payments in future years, as so many unknown factors influence the position, such as the acreage of beet, the yield per acre and the sugar content of the roots.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that 45 ponies were exported from Harwich without the label that should be affixed to all horses by the Government Inspector that they have been passed by him as fit for shipment; and whether port inspectors are permitted to authorise horses to be shipped without labels?

I am aware that 45 ponies were exported from Harwich on the 17th September last which were not labelled. Article 4 of the Exportation of Horses Order, of 1910, provides that a veterinary inspector may, for the purposes of identification, fix a label to an animal certified by him to be fit to travel, the object being to secure that only animals which are fit to travel shall be embarked. In this case the port veterinary inspector did not consider that labelling was necessary as the ponies were under his continuous supervision from the time he examined them until they were embarked, and he also travelled with the ponies to Antwerp. The port inspectors were, however, reminded that their instructions require that all animals passed by them should be labelled, and they were directed to adhere to these instructions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider issuing an Order to prohibit the shipment of wild ponies from Dartmoor and the New Forest, in view of their refusal to eat and drink when first in captivity?

No attempt has been made to ship to the Continent ponies which were in such a wild condition that they refused to take food and water Ponies which have been exported have fed well before shipment, during the voyage and at the port of landing, and no difficulty has been experienced in watering the animals. I see no reason for prohibiting their shipment.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action taken by certain registration officers in demanding that the forms now being sent out to householders under the Representation of the People Act, requiring information as to the residents in their houses from 1st September to 1st December, shall be returned within five days of their delivery, in spite of the impossibility of guaranteeing the accuracy of such returns at this early date; and whether, in the circumstances, he will instruct the officers concerned that the forms may be retained until 1st December, when they can be filled up in the light of knowledge?

I am aware that in many cases the forms have been supplied to householders with the view to the returns being made before 1st December. This has been done, I have no doubt, to avoid delay in the preparation of the register, and the matter is one which I must leave to the discretion of the registration officers, who have a very heavy task to overtake in a limited time.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that during the recent municipal elections at least one returning officer wrote to candidates forbidding them to enter any polling station except for the purpose of recording their own votes; and if he will consider the advisability of issuing a circular to returning officers advising them as to the rights of candidates in this connection?

I have no knowledge of the communications referred to, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with further particulars I will consider the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether a decision has now been arrived at as to the stone to be used in repairing the Houses of Parliament?

My Noble Friend the First Commissioner of Works has decided that the stone to be used in repairing the Houses of Parliament shall be drawn from Ketton and Clipsham Quarries. Selected Anston stone may also be used in certain positions for ashlar work. The proportion of stone which will be drawn from these quarries has not yet been settled, but a portion of the South front of the House of Lords is at present being repaired with Clips-ham stone.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can offer any explanation for the fact that the number of deaths through flying accidents in the Royal Air Force which have occurred this year up to the present date is considerably in excess of the number for the corresponding period last year?

The number of accidents and still more the number of deaths through flying accidents are bound to fluctuate from year to year. The figure for this year, while in excess of that for the corresponding period of 1927, is below that for the corresponding period of 1926. I may add that the size of the Force and consequently the amount of flying done are still increasing year by year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to increase the number of the auxiliary air squadrons of the Home Defence Group; and, if so, what will be the centres of the new squadrons?

The approved home defence programme provides for an increase in the present number of auxiliary Air Force squadrons, but I am not yet in a position to say when any additional units will be formed or what their stations will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it is proposed to establish an air service between this country and India?

As the House is aware, the agreement which is being made with Imperial Airways provides for the commencement of the England-India air service on 1st April next, and I have every hope that it will begin on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is intended to take part with any British exhibits in the forthcoming aviation exhibition at Chicago?

So far as I am aware, there will be no British exhibit at this exhibition.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it is intended to inaugurate the aeroplane service between London and Prague; and whether it is to he a daily service each way?

As regards the first part of the question, I hope that this service will be inaugurated in the spring of next year, but the final details have not yet been settled. As regards the second part, it is proposed to operate a daily service (Sundays excepted) in each direction for about seven to eight months during each year.

asked the Minister of Pensions why William Harding, residing at 58, Red Hill Avenue, Kendray Hill, Barnsley, who enlisted on 2nd December, 1885, at Birmingham into the Royal Garrison Artillery, active service period 12 years, was discharged on completion of engagement for 12 years' period, re-enlisted 14th September, 1914, for Great War service upon the appeal of the Government, and was discharged on 14th December, 1918, making a total Army service period of 16 years and three months, is not in receipt of a service pension?

It has not been possible to trace this case from the particulars given. If the hon. Member can let me have any further details, I will have enquiry made and will communicate with him.

asked the Minister of Pensions what hours of attendance are specified in the case of investigating officers in the Ministry of Pensions; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the hours actually worked by these officers to ensure that they are not employed upon considerable and unpaid overtime?

I presume the hon. Member has in mind the inquiry officers attached to area offices. The hours of attendance of these officers are the normal hours for all officers of the grade on which they are borne. I have no reason for thinking that the actual hours worked exceed the normal hours except occasionally by some trifling amount.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware of the state of the tax districts office in North Audley Street; and can he see his way to have a thorough inspection and report made in order that action may be taken both for the health and comfort of the staff and the convenience of the public?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, steps have already been taken to relieve the congestion of the staff in these offices by acquiring new premises for one of the tax districts housed at present at North Audley Street. It is hoped that the removal of this district and the subsequent re-allocation of the accommodation at North Audley Street will be completed before the end of the year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the. Treasury how many temporary civil servants have been discharged since the Prime Minister's letter to employers in August last?

This information is not available, and could not be obtained without considerable labour. I may, however, add that between 1st July and 1st October, 1928, there was a reduction of 363 in the number of unestablished civil servants, but that this reduction was more than accounted for by transfers of unestablished staff to the permanent establishment in the same period.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether confidential reports are kept on civil servants employed in the various Government Departments; whether these reports are communicated to the individuals concerned; and whether the individual has any means of appealing against the terms of any such report?

Under procedure agreed by the Civil Service National Whitley Council, reports on civil servants are made annually on a standard form. These reports are confidential, and are not communicated to the individual concerned. But if an officer is marked below the average of his grade in any of the qualifications mentioned in the headings of the report or not considered fit for promotion at present for some cause other than inexperience or—exceptionally—ill-health, the civil servant must be given a written intimation that he has been so assessed with the reasons where stated. Every civil servant has the right of appeal to the head of his Department.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider the advisability of appointing approved inspectors of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to be additional inspectors under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, to examine into the care and treatment of ponies and other animals employed in coal mines?

No, Sir. The Royal Commission on Mines in their Third Report (Cmd. 5561, 1911) stated that they were not in favour of this proposal and gave their reasons. I see no reason to dissent from that view.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of tin mined in Cornwall in 1927; what was the amount of Cornish tin exported in 1927; and which are the chief countries to which these exports were made in the same period?

The total quantity of tin ore produced in Cornwall during 1927 from mines and other workings was 4,289 tons. The total export of British tin ore for 1927 was 1,742 tons to Germany and 58 tons to Belgium, practically the whole of which was Cornish ore.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the certificate granted by Mr. Robert T. Smallbones, consul at Munich, on 29th April, 1921, to one Leopold Benda, a British subject who had served in the British Army for many years, and on retiring had settled in Germany to engage in commerce, and on the outbreak of war was confronted by the German Government with the alternative of naturalisation or internment; whether he is aware that such certificate states that Mr. Benda cannot be deemed to have lost British nationality by purporting to assume German nationality during the War, and his naturalisation in Germany on 23rd March, 1915, is therefore deemed null and void in English law; that the assets of the said Leopold Benda in this country have nevertheless been attached by the administrator of ex-enemy German property; and if he will publish a copy of the correspondence that has passed between the Foreign Office and the British Consulate at Munich authorising the grant of such certificate and relative thereto?

It was decided in the High Court in July, 1921 (in re Chamberlain's settlement), that in a case of this kind the person concerned is a German national according to German municipal law and his property therefore comes within the operation of the Treaty of Peace and Treaty of Peace Order. In these circumstances Mr. Leopold Benda's property in this country was dealt with as subject to the charge imposed on German property pursuant to such Order. Mr. Benda applied to Lord Blanesburgh's Ex-enemy Property Committee for release of his property on compassionate grounds, and effect was given to the recommendation of the Committee that the available property should be released. A considerable part, however, of the property claimed by Mr. Benda was not available for release to him, as it consisted of unallocated securities held in this country for account of German banks, and in such cases the Administrator of German Property accounts for the securities to the bank concerned. It is understood that Mr. Benda has applied to and received compensation from the German Government as a German national. There is no case for publication of correspondence as suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the efforts of his Conciliation Department with the Celta Mills at Peterborough have resulted in bringing the parties to conference with a view to the settlement of the dispute in the artificial silk trade?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 8th November, I have been in communication with the firm, and the Department now propose to discuss the position with the union. In the circumstances, I do not think it is desirable that I should make any further statement on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for what purpose a questionnaire was recently issued to certain members of the Scottish constabulary respecting particulars of parentage, marriage, and other details of family history?

I am not aware of any questionnaire of the kind referred to but, if the hon. Member will give me more specific information, I shall consider if ally inquiry is necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the rules and principles governing the assessment of attributability in tuberculosis cases in the Royal Navy have been investigated; and, if so, what decision has been reached by the Board of Admiralty?

The Board of Admiralty have made the most careful and exhaustive inquiry into the incidence of tuberculosis in the Navy with particular reference to the question whether, in the matter of pension awards following invaliding for this disease, there is adequate recognition of causes peculiar to the conditions of naval service afloat to which tuberculosis might be regarded as attributable. As a result of this investigation they have come to the conclusion that, although the rules and principles governing the assessment of attributability in tuberculosis cases have in the past been correctly formulated, there are grounds justifying more generous treatment in many of these very distressing cases, and they have decided that in respect of invalidings as from 1st October last there should be such a modification of these rules and principles as will very considerably reduce the percentage of cases in which "non-attributable" awards only can be regarded as appropriate. These arrangements are, of course, without prejudice to the consideration of any recommendations which may be embodied in the Report on this question which is expected shortly from the Joint Medical Services Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the amount of the Budget of the League of Nations for the year 1928–29; and what is the sum to be contributed by Great Britain?

The Budget for 1929 amounts to 27,026,280 gold francs, and the sum which Great Britain is liable to contribute is 2,878,052.10 gold francs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the financial votes which the British delegates were instructed to oppose at Geneva, and what features of the League of Nations work will be postponed owing to opposition to votes opposed by the British delegation?

The information desired by the hon. Member is contained in the Report by the British delegates at the last Assembly, which will shortly be laid as a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as the Commonwealth Trust sub-let upon long leases many of the Basle Company's properties in the Gold Coast, whether, in the settlement, provision was made for the breaking of these leases; whether he can give any estimate of the compensation involved in breaking the leases; and whether liability for this compensation will devolve upon the people of the Gold Coast Colony, the Commonwealth Trust, or the British Government?

No, Sir. The rents in respect of the leased properties are being paid by the Trust to the Government of the Gold Coast, which will in turn transfer them to the Basle Trading Company. No question of breaking the leases or of compensation has yet arisen, and the longest lease of which I have any in- formation expires on 30th June, 1930, and the properties will of course revert to the Basle Trading Company as the leases fall in.

asked the Attorney-General whether an appointment has been made as chairman of the advisory committee for the appointment of magistrates for the county of Durham which was rendered vacant owing to the death of Lord Durham?

No special appointment is needed. In accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace, which reported in 1910, the Lord Lieutenant for the time being is a member of the advisory committee, and it has been the invariable practice that he should act as chairman. In accordance with that practice the Marquess of Londonderry has succeeded Lord Durham as the chairman of the Durham County Justices' Advisory Committee.