asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give a return for 1928 of the percentage of each principal commodity imported into and exported from each port in the world in British bottoms, with the percentage in each case attaching to the different countries of origin and of destination?

Description.	1913.	1922.	1923.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.
	Thousand Gallons.
Crude Petroleum	—	—	302	*	1,842	—	—	—
Refined Petroleum:
Lump oil	9,835	6,976	6,556	10,222	15,796	37,495	37,618	59,859
Motor spirit	14,883	901	4,063	19,215	33,111	55,217	39,836	46,614
Spirit, other than Motor Spirit.	—	—	—	—	—	—	2,334	—
Lubricating oil	13,573	925	1,808	5,060	3,514	5,242	7,002	8,289
Gas oil	—	—	—.	*	1,717	7,227	5,955	4,231
Fuel oil	—	—	—	1,618	37,898	—	308	6,051
Other sorts	*	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Total refined	38,291	8,802	12,487	36,115	92,036	105,181	93,054	125,044
* Less than 500 gallons.

NOTES.—From 1st April 1923, the above figures exclude direct imports into the Irish Free State. 1922 on wards represent consignments from the U.S.S.R.The figures in respect of 1928 are provisional.

asked the Postmaster-General the terms under which the wireless news service is sent abroad from Rugby every day, and will he give the name of the organisation which possesses the contract for so doing?

Official news messages compiled by the Foreign Office are despatched three times a day from Rugby and may be received and pub-

I regret that the information necessary for the compilation of such a return is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities of petroleum, including lamp oil, motor spirit, spirit other than motor spirit, lubricating oil, fuel oil, and other sorts imported into this country from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics for the years 1913, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928 respectively?

The following table shows the quantities of the total imports of various descriptions of petroleum into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from Russia during each of the years 1913 and 1922 to 1928:lished by anyone free of charge. In addition, news messages compiled by the Wireless Press Limited, 139, Fleet Street, E.C.4, are despatched twice a day from Rugby for reception solely by ships whose owners subscribe to the company's service.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of claims for dis- ability pensions made subsequent to 31st August, 1928; whether any or all of these claims were considered; the number of pensions granted; and the number of cases in which the pension included allowances for wives and children?

The date referred to having been the latest day by which a statutory claim under Ministry Warrants could be made, affected a very small number of cases and the few, if any, represented subsequently which may have been found to merit special consideration would have been, and are being, dealt with under the arrangements for dealing with exceptional cases, referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member on a similar question on 12th June last. I have no separate record of the number of such cases for the period referred to, but I may say that during the past 12 months grants have been made under special sanction in about 100 cases.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total number of pensions, under the Dispensing Warrant of 1884, granted to officers and other ranks, respectively, suffering from disabilities due to service in the Great War; and whether ho will furnish a return showing particulars of all pensions granted under special sanction, i.e., the numbers in each category and the average assessment of the degree of disablement?

A return to Parliament is made annually of all grants made under the instrument referred to. It would, I fear, be impracticable, without very prolonged research, to analyse the material of these returns for the past 14 years in order to extract the information desired.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether there is any code of published instructions issued by the Government of Argentina to the staff of inspectors employed in the frigorificos of the Republic which slaughter meat for export; and, if so, if he will state the exact terms of the instructions as to the procedure in eases where they discover the animal to be affected with the disease of caseous lymphadenitis?

I have a translation of the Decree of 31st October, 1927, which aims at the prevention of the slaughter of infected animals. I also have a copy of the amendments made on 27th January, 1928. As these Decrees, however, do not contain the exact instructions issued to inspectors, I will endeavour to obtain the necessary information through His Majesty's Ambassador in Buenos Aires, and will communicate the result of my inquiries to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that during the last six months a certain number of sheep from Argentina have arrived in this country with the glands of the legs and shoulders carefully trimmed out and dressed in such a manner that meat inspectors in Great Britain have great difficulty in deciding whether the carcases are affected or not with caseous lymphadenitis;and whether he will instruct all inspecting authorities that where they find the vital points for inspection have been removed in this manner they should condemn the whole carcase as unfit for human consumption?

My right hon. Friend understands that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question. The view adopted by my Department and by local authorities generally is that the removal of the lymphatic glands, which are likely to be affected with caseous lymphadenitis, constitutes sufficient evidence to justify the seizure and condemnation of the carcase on account of that disease. My right hon. Friend does not think that it is necessary to issue special instructions to local authorities on this point.

asked the. Under-Secretary of State for India the number of cases, during the previous 12 months, in which the Government of India have had to bring to the notice of the rulers of the Indian States the provisions of the convention, signed at Geneva, to prevent forced labour from developing into conditions akin to slavery; and can he give particulars?

As has been indicated in previous answers to questions, the procedure adopted was to bring the provisions of the convention to the notice of all the rulers of Indian States. This was done in August, 1927.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to the bombing of Indian troops by Royal Air Force machines in mistake for bombing targets; and, if so, whether he intends to hold an inquiry into the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury).

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the administrative delay in bringing claims for unemployment benefits before the courts of referees and the Umpire, and in giving effect to their decisions; and what steps does he, propose to take to expedite the despatch of such claims?

No, Sir; I am not aware that there is generally delay in bringing claims before the courts of referees or in making payment where benefit has been allowed, though, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the pressure of work on the courts under the Act of 1927 has been very heavy. If the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind, I should be glad to have details.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has prepared an estimate of the number of men who may be transferred from South Wales in the next six months; and whether he has any prospect of reducing the number of unemployed persons in that area by any measures now adopted by his Department?

The progress of transfer must necessarily be affected by the state of trade and other circumstances, and I am not prepared to make any forecast of the number of persons likely to be transferred from any particular area.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons have been transferred to Plymouth under the transference scheme; and how many of these persons have found employment in Plymouth?

The number of persons transferred to employment in the Plymouth area from the depressed mining areas through the employment Exchanges since 5th October, is 57.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of person? who have obtained short periods of work on schemes promoted by municipal, county and district authorities in South Wales during the last 12 months; and whether he has found local authorities anxious to co-operate with the employment exchanges in sharing the opportunities of employment for the largest possible number of men displaced from industry?

I regret that no statistics giving the information required by the hon. Member are available. The initiative in making arrangements for spreading the opportunities of employment on relief works among the largest possible number of men rests with the local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Education what active steps he is taking to assure himself that the children in the distressed areas have warm clothes and watertight boots?

One of the objects of the Lord Mayor's Fund is to provide suitable clothing and boots for children in the distressed mining areas, and I am satisfied that those responsible for the organisation of the fund, with whom I am in close touch, are doing their best, through the agency of the local education authorities and otherwise, to ensure the necessary provision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount received by the Treasury in Death Duties on timber cut and sold on estates in England and Wales and Scotland in each of the years ended 31st March, 1925, 1926 and 1927?

The only information available is the capital value of timber coming under charge to Estate Duty, particulars of which are given in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. My hon. and gallant Friend will find the figures for the three years in question in Table 15 of the 68th Report, Table 16 of the 69th Report and Table 17 of the 70th Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated amount of dutiable bets made in 1928, and the amount upon which the tax was collected in the same year?

I have been asked to reply. The approximate amount of the yield of the duty on bets during the year ended 31st December, 1928, was £2,151,200. The corresponding net turnover was approximately £89,000,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the profits of the British Broadcasting Corporation out of their newspaper and publishing business are assessed for payment of Income Tax in respect of this profit?

I have been asked to reply. Assessments to Income Tax have been made on the British Broadcasting Corporation in respect of its profits, including any profits derived from publishing newspapers, etc., but the Corporation disputes liability, and the matter is at present under discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received protests being made by the regular coasting companies of the United Kingdom as to their exclusion from preferential treatment extended to the railway companies under the Local Government Bill as from 1st December, 1928, whereby an allowance of 10 per cent. is made to shippers; and, if so, will he agree to reconsider the appeal of the Chamber of Shipping?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction prevails in coasting shipping circles regarding the arrangement whereby the benefits of de-rating are being anticipated in respect of railways and not in respect to coastal shipping; and can he see his way to give the same benefit to coastal shipping as he has given to railways?

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I have received representations from the Chamber of Shipping and other bodies in which the fear has been expressed that the anticipation of railway freight relief approved by the House in November last may result in the diversion of traffic from sea routes to the railways. On the evidence placed before us we do not consider that the apprehensions of substantial or permanent diversion of traffic are well founded. I would remind the hon. Member that the measure of relief from the burden of railway charges, which has been anticipated at the urgent request of the depressed industries, is concentrated upon a relatively narrow range of traffics, the bulk of which does not affect coastwise shipping. In the circumstances the Government do not see their way to subsidise the carriage of goods coastwise, or to anticipate during the few months which will elapse before the operation of the permanent scheme of de-rating the relief from local rates of the Dock and Harbour Authorities, a course which in view of the large number and diversity of the undertakings concerned would present serious practical difficulties.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has under consideration any proposals for increased transport facilities on reasonable terms for tenants of the London County Council at Becontree whose work requires them to travel to London; and whether he has recently been approached by the London County Council on this matter?

Comparatively recently the train service has been, to some extent, augmented and some additional omnibus facilities have been provided to the Becontree Estate. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company have deposited a Bill in this Session of Parliament which, I understand, if passed, will authorise them to carry out works which will enable them to provide additional services to and from Fenchurch Street and Broad Street Stations. I was approached by the London County Council on this subject last autumn and communicated with the railway company who, I understand, have since been in direct communication with the Council.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of houses to be demolished in connection with the proposed making of the Victoria Dock arterial road and the number of families concerned; and what action will be taken with regard to the Rent and Mortgage Increase (Restrictions) Act?

The present estimate of the number of houses to be demolished in connection with the construction of the proposed Victoria Dock Road is 414, and the number of persons to be dispossesed is just under 5,000. Such re-housing accommodation as is required will be provided under a scheme to be approved by the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present cost per unit of electricity for light and power, respectively, in each of the London boroughs and the City of London; and when it is expected that uniformity of price will be secured?

As regards the first part of this question, the particulars desired are summarised in a statement of about 25 pages published by the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority, and I would refer my hon. Friend to this statement. As regards the second part, I do not think that there is at present any prospect of the introduction of complete uniformity in the charges for electricity in London, but the Joint Electricity Authority are reviewing the existing tariffs, and propose to consider how far a greater uniformity in the methods of charge could be recommended.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses exported during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; has he any information that will show the number that were intended for immediate slaughter; and will he state the destination of these horses?

The number of horses exported to Europe during the year 192S was 10,528. of these, 2,412 went to Belgium, 4,990 to Holland, 2,637 to France and 489 to other countries. From inquiries made by the Ministry's port inspectors it is understood that 2,245 horses were shipped for immediate slaughter on arrival. Of this number, 2,153 were shipped to Holland and 92 to France.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of agricultural holdings above one acre and not exceeding 50 acres recorded in the Agricultural returns at the latest date; and the number of holdings occupied by ex-service men and the approximate number of applicants on the various waiting lists?

The number of separate holdings returned in England and Wales as exceeding one acre and not exceeding 50 acres in extent on 4th June, 1928, was 260,125. Returns furnished by councils of counties and county boroughs in England and Wales indicated that, at 31st March, 1926, 16,334 ex-service men settled since the War were occupying small holdings provided by those councils under the Small Holdings Acts, 1908–1919. The number of applicants on the councils' waiting lists on 31st December, 1927, was 5,821, of whom 2,522 had been approved, while the remaining 3,299 were waiting fuller inquiry into their qualifications. It is not known how many ex-service men are settled on the land apart from those occupying statutory small holdings.