asked the Minister of Transport if he can give any estimate of the amount of the grant which would go to the Lindsey County Council under the new scheme in respect of roads?

Under the provisions of the Local Government Bill, the only grants from the Road Fund that will be discontinued in the area of administrative counties will be those which have been made during the past few years at the rate of 25 per cent. towards the cost of maintenance of unclassified roads. A sum equivalent to the loss of grants in this respect will be included in the general Exchequer contribution for distribution among local authorities. No portion of the share of each local authority in the general Exchequer contribution can be regarded as being specifically assigned to any particular service. County councils will continue to receive direct grants from the Road Fund in respect of works of all kinds on the Class I and Class II roads in their areas and in respect of works of improvement on unclassified roads.

asked the Minister of Transport whether coal used in coke ovens for making coke and by-products will be designated productive coal; and whether a reduction in railway rates for freightage will cover this class of coal?

The railway freight rebates upon coal traffic are being concentrated upon coal, coke and patent fuel exported or shipped as foreign bunkers or as bunkers for fishing vessels, or delivered to iron or steel works. It follows that coal delivered to a coke oven is not subject to the rebate unless the coke oven forms part of an iron or steel works as defined in the scheme.

asked the Minister of Health how many and what proportions of parishes have councils and levy rates?

The number of rural parishes in England and Wales is about 12,800. Rather more than half of them have parish councils, and in a recent year some 60 per cent. of these councils raised rates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the event of the Local Government Bill becoming law, it is proposed to reduce the present contributions made to the rates by Government establishments; and, if so, upon what basis?

Where Government property is analogous in character to that which is being granted rate relief under the Local Government Bill, the contributions in lieu of rates thereon will as from 1st October, 1929, be similarly reduced. Clause 88 of the Bill provides for any loss of revenue to local authorities arising in this way being taken into account for the purposes of the new Exchequer grant in the same manner as loss of rates in respect of private establishments.

asked the Secretary for Mines the estimated amount of money per year which coalowners will be relieved of paying in each mining district through the derating of collieries?

On the basis of the six months ended September, 1928, the estimated amount of money per year which coalowners will be relieved of paying in each mining district through the derating of collieries is as follows:—

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has now received any information from the Coventry local authority with regard to applications for cinema sites on the new Radford housing estate at Coventry?

My right hon. Friend understands that a plot of land on the estate in question was sold by the town council for the erection of a cinematograph theatre at a price which was endorsed by the Inland Revenue Valuation Department. An allegation has been made that the land was entered on in an irregular manner, and this is at present the subject of investigations by the town council. My right hon. Freind has no doubt that the result of these inquiries will be made known in due course.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the damage done by recent gales in the Ebbw Vale district and that 400 people have been rendered homeless as a result, and will he take some steps to alleviate the suffering and discomfort of those affected; whether any application has been received by his Department from the Ebbw Vale Urban District Council to erect houses in the area: and will he give any such application his sympathetic consideration?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the Ebbw Vale Urban District Council that 75 families have been rendered homeless as the result of 60 huts being demolished by recent gales, and he has made arrangements for a deputation, representing the council, to be received to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Health the number of qualified medical men and women engaged in practice in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, for the years 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, and the last available figure, showing in percentages the proportion to the total population in each case?

I will make inquiry, and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate amounts of Customs revenue received in 1927–28 at the full rates and the preferential rates, respectively?

The approximate amounts of Customs revenue received in the year ended 31st March, 1928, at the full and preferential rates, respectively, were:

asked the Minister of Health the total number of males and females over the ages of 60, 65 and 70, respectively, as disclosed in each Census Return from 1871 onwards, and approximate figures for 1927, stating, if possible, the number employed for wages in each group?

The following table gives the information asked for, so far as it is available. The further particulars asked for in the last part of the question are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the desirability of making dog licences renewable in summer instead of in winter, so that unnecessary suffering through inclement weather to unlicensed and homeless dogs may be avoided?

The dog licence duty is not an Imperial, but a local taxation duty. I doubt whether my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal would be practicable, but in any case I could not consider the initiation of legislation to give effect to it unless it were supported by the various local authorities concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of convictions recorded in prosecutions instituted by the Customs and Excise Department for the evasion of the duty on bets or failure to take out a bookmaker's certificate for the year ended 31st October, 1928?

1,663 convictions were recorded in the prosecutions instituted by the Customs and Excise Department in the year ended 31st October, 1928, for evasion of the duty on bets or failure to take out a bookmaker's certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the expenditures of the German and British Armies, respectively, on guns, munitions, equipment, and on field training in the last financial year?

As regards the British Army, the estimated expenditure on warlike stores for the current financial year is £2,011,000 and on field training £138,000, as will be seen on reference to Vote 9c on page 154 and Vote 11c on page 210 of Army Estimates, 1928. I am not in a position to give any comparable figures for the German army, as the methods of compiling the British and German Estimates are so widely different.

asked (1) the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the annual meat supply to His Majesty's Army is represented by meat of British origin;(2) the Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the annual meat supply to His Majesty's Air Force is represented by meat of British origin?

Over 96 per cent. of the meat bought in this country by the War Department is of Empire origin. This includes the requirements of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean and also of the Royal Air Force. Foreign purchases are almost entirely of preserved meat.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the constitution of the crew of the s.s. "Eltham," which was wrecked on the Cornish coast on 17th November, namely, how many certificated officers she carried, how many able seamen, how many engineers, and how many firemen?

The s.s. "Eltham" had a crew of 11 officers and men, consisting of a master, mate, five able seamen, two engineers and two firemen. The master was certificated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that at the signing off of the s.s. "Diplomat" at Liverpool, on the 20th November, the deputy-superintendent of the Board of Trade had with him no Forms "M," and that therefore the seamen who desired to exercise a right under the Merchant Shipping Act were thereby deprived of this right; and will be give instructions to Board of Trade officials that such form must always be available to seamen when signing off?

I understand that the deputy-superintendent who went on board the s.s. "Diplomat" to witness the discharge of the crew on 20th November omitted, owing to an oversight, to take any Forms "M" with him. Three members of the crew desired to reserve claims when signing the release, but they were not deprived of this right: they went to the Mercantile Marine Office and were paid their balances of wages and signed release on Form "M" within half-an-hour of expressing their intention. Board of Trade superintendents have standing instructions that seamen who wish to reserve a claim against the owner or master of a ship at the time of discharge are to be given facilities for signing for release on Form "M," and no further instructions on this subject are necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that at the signing off of the steamship "Archimedes" at Liverpool on 1st November and of the steamship "Demosthenes" on 22nd November, the crews had considerable difficulty in establishing their right to a discharge on Form M; that, owing to the difficulty, many of the crews had to sign off without exercising this right; that the crews were told in the Board of Trade offices that if they did not sign a clear discharge they would forfeit their jobs; and will he inquire into the matter?

I am informed that when the crew of the steamship "Archimedes" were discharged at Liverpool on 1st November, several members of the crew expressed a wish to reserve claims against the owners. The owners' representative asked to be allowed to defer payment of wages in these cases until the next day, pending consultation with his principals. This was done, and on the next day the men were paid their balances of wages and reserved their claims, signing the release on Form "M." The transaction was completed within 48 hours of the ship's arrival. I am also informed that when the crew of the steamship "Demosthenes" were discharged on 22nd November no member of the crew expressed the wish to sign release on Form "M." The local officers of the Board of Trade report that nothing is known of any threat that if the crews of these vessels did not sign a clear discharge they would forfeit their jobs.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that cloth of non-British origin and of poor quality, but bearing on the selvedge English wording such as supercloth is being offered for sale in Mexico; and whether, as many British cloth manufacturers weave in the selvedge their own name as a guarantee of the good quality of the product, there are any steps he can take in the matter?

I am not aware of the facts mentioned in the question, but if the hon. Member will send me full particulars of the case to which he refers, I will have it looked into.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the number of motor cars and their value exported to South Africa and Australia during each of the last six months, and the corresponding figures for the previous year?Table showing the NUMBER and DECLARED VALUES of MOTOR CARS (Touring, Commercial Vehicles and complete Chassis therefor) of United Kingdom manufacture exported from the United Kingdom and registered as consigned to British South Africa and Australia, respectively, during each of the months May to October, 1927 and 1028.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of trade done between this country and Russia for each of the years 1924–27, inclusive?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the aggregate amount of the produce and manufactures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported therefrom and consigned to the following Dominions and countries and the amount per head of their respective

The following table of figures gives the information which my hon. and gallant. Friend desires.

The following table shows the total declared values of the imports into, and the exports and re-exports from, Great Britain and Northern Ireland consigned from and to Russia during each of the years 1924 to 1927.population for the year ended 31st March, 1928; India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, France, Germany, United States of America, Italy, and Russia?

The following statement shows the declared value of the exports of produce and manufactures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consigned to the undermentioned countries, registered during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1928; and the approximate value per head of population of each importing country.

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

The total quantity of china clay produced in Cornwall during 1927 was 801,500 tons. In addition, 63,612 tons of china stone were produced. The total exports of British china clay (including Cornish china clay or stone) during 1927 were as follow:Consigned to—

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware of the sugar situation in the island of Jamaica; and will he use his best endeavour to obtain from the Exchequer some remission of the sugar duty to assist the island during the period of the next two or three years?

I have been asked to answer this question. Although the sugar industry in Jamaica is no doubt adversely affected by the prevailing low price, the island is enjoying a considerable measure of prosperity in other respects and I do not think that the circumstances call for ally special action in regard to that colony. My hon. and gallant Friend will, of course, realise that a further preferential remission of the sugar duty would affect the revenue of this country as well as help the sugar industry in the Empire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the great possibilities for Britain in the Southern Seas whaling industry; and whether he is considering the advisability of endeavouring to, stimulate this industry?

I am aware of the possibilities in the industry referred to. Various scientific problems connected with the whaling industry are now being investigated by the "Discovery" Committee, and until that investigation is more complete, I am not prepared to say whether any action of the nature contemplated by my Noble Friend is desirable or feasible.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if the £10,000,000 scheme for the settlement of British migrants to Canada within the next 10 years, formulated some weeks ago by Lord Lovat and submitted by him to the Canadian Minister of Immigration, has been accepted by the Canadian Government; and, if not, can he give any reason for the delay?

The answer to my hon. Friend's question is in the negative, but alternative suggestions are under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the estimated percentage of the 8,449 men who went to Canada for temporary work as harvesters who may be considered as having successfully fulfilled the intention of the Government scheme?

Without committing myself to a definite percentage, I can assure my hon. Friend that, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain and, I believe, also of His Majesty's Government in Canada, a substantial majority of the men who went to Canada last August for temporary work as harvesters may be considered to have successfully fulfilled the intention of the Government scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has made the necessary inquiries and can now state whether any decision has been arrived at with reference to the request made by the unofficial members of the Council in the Straits Settlements for the creation of a Court of Criminal Appeal on the same lines as that which exists between England and the Federated Malay States?

An inquiry has been addressed by mail to the Officer Administering the Government of the Straits Settlements. Some little time must elapse before a reply is received, but the hon. Member will be informed as soon as it is received.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any decision has been arrived at to raise the basic rate of wages of shipwrights at Gibraltar from the rate of 30s. per week as compared with 48s. in home yards?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) with reference to his statement in August last that, owing to a certain decision in the Courts, the Foreign Office were looking into the circumstances surrounding diplomatic immunity, he can now make any statement as to what has been done in this matter;(2) whether, as a result of his last communication with foreign representatives in this country with a view to the correction of the information contained in the diplomatic immunity list, any reduction has been made in the numbers on this list?

I will answer these questions together. The decision to which the hon. Member refers involves no new doctrine, but shows the necessity of a strict application in future of the principle that all persons entitled to diplomatic privilege must be employed directly by the head of the Mission and be under his orders in his diplomatic capacity. I do not propose to address any general communication to the foreign representatives in London on this subject. Representations will be made in any cases in which such action is considered necessary, with the view of giving due effect to the principle which I have mentioned. All names communicated by heads of Missions for inclusion in the Diplomatic List have been carefully scrutinised for some time past and this practice, which has already produced certain results in the desired direction, will be maintained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the fact that the majority of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occur on dairy and pig farms where the stock consumes cake and corn arriving in sacks from outside sources; and, as these sacks are normally returnable and a refund of money obtained for them, whether he is satisfied that in the case of an infected farm these sacks are all destroyed, so that there is no chance of the disease being spread?

All sacks found on premises on which an outbreak of foot- and-mouth disease has been confirmed and which may have been exposed to any risk of contamination are disinfected in a suitable manner under the supervision and to the satisfaction of an inspector of the Ministry. The removal of sacks off any such premises is prohibited until the Ministry is satisfied that restrictions may with safety be withdrawn.