asked the President of the Board of Education how many ex-elementary school pupils were in attendance at British universities during 1928; and how many such pupils were holders of scholarships, maintenance grants, or bursaries provided by the State and by private benefactors?

I have no reliable figures to show the number of ex-elementary school pupils in attendance at the universities; nor have I complete information about private benefactions. It may, however, interest my hon. Friend to know that in 1927–28, 447 out of 629 holders of State scholarships were ex-ele- mentary school pupils, and that during the years 1924–28, out of an average annual number of 3,434 pupils proceeding direct from grant-earning secondary schools to the universities, 2,150 were ex-elementary school pupils. The number of university students holding scholarships or receiving aid in other forms from local authorities and the Board during the academic year 1927–28 was, approximately, 9,500.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will grant a Return of the 235 secondary schools not provided by local education authorities which continue to receive direct grant from the Board of Education, together with a percentage of free-place admissions required under Article 15 in each of them?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the concession granted in the Budget to holders of a Justices' certificate to sell half-bottles of spirits extends also to holders of Excise licences?

An excise licence is necessary in every case for the sale of spirits by retail for consumption off the premises. But I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the limited class of persons who can obtain the Excise retail spirit off-licence without a Justices' licence. These constitute an exception to the general rule that all sales of intoxicating liquor by retail must be subject to a Justices' licence, and the Government are not prepared to enlarge their privilege by extending to them the half-bottle concession. In view of a certain amount of misunderstanding which appears to have arisen, I take this opportunity of explaining that the half-bottle concession cannot come into force until the necessary legislation, which it is proposed to include in the second Finance Bill, has been passed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of revenue derived from the taxation of silk and artificial silk for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The latest figures available are those given in the Budget White Paper ("Financial Statement (1929–30)", No. 84), Table XII, namely, approximately £6,048,000 for the financial year 1928–29.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amounts that were charged to the British Government for rent and compensation for disturbance for trenches used by the British troops serving in France; and how much has been paid, respectively, in those classifications?

No payments were made for the occupation of, or disturbance to, land in the battle area, whether for trenches or otherwise. Outside the battle area, payments were made of about £8,000,000 for billeting, rent, occupation of land, compensation for damage and so forth. Details of payments under separate headings are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amounts that were charged to the British Government for rent, compensation for disturbance, and purchase for land used in Great Britain by British troops during the late War; and the amounts that have been paid, respectively, in those classifications?

I am informed that the information asked for is not readily available, and could not be obtained without considerable labour.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reasons of the Customs Department for refusing to allow the West Riding Automobile Company, Limited, to establish a bonding of petrol store at Wakefield; and whether, in the special circumstances disclosed in relation to local navigation, he can see his way not to insist on the rule confining these bonding stores to a capacity of 200,000 gallons being rigidly enforced?

The reason is that the premises in question are far below the minimum size, which, in the interests of administrative economy, is required as a condition of bonding. The circumstances in regard to local navigation do not bear upon the matter, and it would be unfair to make an exception from the rule in favour of a particular firm.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information as to whether third-class sleeper railway coaches have been a success; and whether extension of these services may be expected soon?

I understand that the railway companies are satisfied with the use made by the public of third class sleepers and are proceeding to build more coaches of this type.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the overcrowding of carriages on the District Railway trains, and that third-class passengers are compelled to stand in first-class compartments and pay excess fare when challenged by inspectors of the railway company; and, if so, whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

I am aware that some crowding occurs on the District Railway at certain periods of the day. With regard to the latter part of the question, if the hon. Member will send me further particulars of the practice of which he complains, I will consider whether there is any action which I could usefully take in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines what amalgamations of collieries have taken place since the enactment of the Mining Industry Act, 1926, under the Act and without recourse to the Act, respectively?

Nineteen separate amalgamation schemes, subsequently reduced to 16 by further amalgamation, have been effected since the passing of the Act. Five of these, involving 63 pits normally employing about 51,440 workpeople, have been confirmed by the Railway and Canal Commission; the remainder, covering 143 pits and about 102,930 workpeople, were effected without recourse to the Act. Others are now under negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of money paid by the Abyssinian Government to the Kenya Government, for the years 1927 and 1928, as compensation for damage and thefts of stock by lawless tribes?

As stated in the White Paper (Cmd. 3217) issued last year, the Abyssinian Government in March, 1928, agreed to pay the Government of Kenya 215,784 Maria Theresa dollars (approximately £21,578) as compensation for raids by Abyssinian subjects into Kenya territory. A first instalment of 150,000 dollars was paid in March, 1928, and a further instalment of 30,000 dollars in October, 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the mui-tsai system has now been abolished in Hong Kong?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to questions on this subject a week ago, in which it was made clear that the Hong Kong Ordinance of 1923 prohibited the employment of any fresh mui-tsai. The Ordinance also contained a declaration correcting the erroneous view that the payment of money for a child under the Chinese custom of mui-tsai conveyed to the employer any proprietary right as against the child herself or against her parent or guardian.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the statement that many thousands of impoverish Ceylonese are persuaded to lend, and in some cases to sell, young sons and daughters to foreigners for heavy domestic work usually performed by adult household servants or farm hands; that boys and girls are forced to work from dawn until dark, with no intervals for food and under other conditions of cruelty and neglect, and in some cases there has been whipping for trivial disobedience ending fatally; and if at present there is any system for registration of children employed on estates or any official body to supervise their welfare or prevent abuses?

My attention has been drawn to an article in a Ceylon newspaper containing allegations of ill-treatment of children employed under local custom in domestic service. The article clearly refers to service in Ceylonese households and not to service with Europeas residents. The law of Ceylon includes Ordinances relating to the registration of domestic servants, and to the employment of women, young persons and children, and there is full control and supervision of the employment of children on estates on which Indian immigrant labour is engaged. I can only assume that, if instances of cruelty have occurred, they have been isolated cases, the remedy for which is the creation of a stronger public opinion through the ageny of unofficial societies such as exist in this country, as was indeed suggested by the writer of the article.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the final Report of the Joint Fisheries-Transport Committee on tar pollution can be published?

The draft Report will be submitted to the Committee very shortly for approval with a view to early publication.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that imported rose trees are chiefly bought by inexperienced growers who do not know that the wire attachment at the collars of the trees unless removed before planting may ultimately damage the trees; and will he give further consideration to this matter before bringing the Marking Order into operation?

I cannot believe that purchasers of these imported rose trees would not normally remove the wire attachment; but in any case the publicity which has been given to this matter should afford sufficient guidance to inexperienced growers on the subject. I cannot therefore see my way to reconsider the matter before the Marking Order comes into operation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what financial help has been given to the harbour authorities of Brixham by the Government during the years 1919 to 1929?

The financial assistance afforded to the Brixham Harbour undertaking during the past 10 years is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of horse carcases exported from Great Britain in 1928?

Information on this subject, which has to be obtained from the Governments of importing countries, is not yet available, but I am making inquiries and I will communicate the results to the hon. Member.