asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal mines in this country in which ponies and other animals are employed, and the number of ponies and other animals that are so employed?

:At 31st December, 1928, there were 1,292 mines under the Coal Mines Acts in which ponies or other animals were employed, and the total number of animals so employed was 50,405.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of prosecutions instituted during the two years ended 31st May, 1929, against colliery managers and persons having the care and custody of animals in mines for offences involving cruelty to such animals and the number of convictions obtained?

:During the two years ended 31st May, 1929, prosecutions were instituted at the instance of my Department in respect of contraventions, at six collieries, of the regulations dealing with the care and treatment of animals in mines. 474 information in all were laid against 47 persons, who comprised owners, agents, managers, under-managers and horsekeepers. Of these, all except five were convicted.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many inspectors appointed under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, for ensuring the welfare of horses and other animals used in mines are now employed by his Department?

:There are eight inspectors of horses specially appointed under Section 109 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, for the purpose of examining into the care and treatment of horses used in mines; but it is the duty of all inspectors of mines to look out for and report any apparent contraventions of the Act in regard to animals employed underground. When it is considered necessary, the services of a consulting veterinary surgeon are secured.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, the quantity of foreign cement imported into this country during the year ended 31st May, 1929?

:During the year ended 31st May, 1929, the total imports of calcareous cement, for building and engineering purposes, consigned from foreign countries, amounted to 269,945 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has been come to by his Department with respect to talking films being classified in a manner which will bring them under the conditions set out in the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927?

:I am advised that a film which, if silent, would be a film to which the Cinematograph Films Act applies, is equally covered by the Act if accompanied by dialogue or other sound effects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any complaints that renters and exhibitors are not complying with the provisions set out in Part I of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927; and what action has been taken by his Department?

:Yes, Sir. Prosecutions have been instituted in a number of cases in which the necessary evidence has been forthcoming.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many acres have been obtained in Carmarthenshire of the 55,000 acres recently acquired for forestry development in Wales, the position of this land, and the price paid per acre?

:The Forestry Commissioners have acquired 6,744 acres (4,885 plantable) in Carmarthenshire in two groups called Glangwili Forest and Pembrey Forest, the former in and about the head of the valley of the Afon Gwili, and the latter south-east of the lower Towy Estuary. The average price paid per acre, including buildings, etc., was £3 6s. 4d.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the average number of children per class for elementary schools in the county of Kent, present and estimated prospective, and the corresponding figures for England and Wales as a whole?

:The average number of children per class in Kent, on 31st March, 1928, was 37, the corresponding figure for England and Wales as a whole being also 37. No estimate of prospective figures can be given, but the measures which are being taken to eliminate large classes should reduce the present average.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any information as to when Halvergate School, Norfolk, will be rebuilt.

:Preliminary plans for a new school at Halvergate were approved by the Board on the 22nd of last month, and I have every reason to anticipate that the authority will proceed as rapidly as possible with the building.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a Report from Sir Samuel Wilson upon the inquiries he has made in the East African territories with reference to the suggestions contained in the Hilton Young Report; and can he give the House particulars?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 10th July to my right hon. and Gallant Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if any arrangements will be made which will allow Members of the House of Commons, so desiring, to inspect the aircraft taking part in and view the actual race for the Schneider Cup contest;

(2) whether he will consider arrangements being made which will permit organised parties of technical students to be shown the British team aircraft taking part in the Schneider Cup race before the holding of the race and when the machines are assembled at the Royal Air Force station, Calshot?

:I am afraid that the hon. and gallant Member's proposal as regards the inspection of aircraft is impracticable, since the presence of organised parties for this purpose before the race would entail a serious interruption of work at a time when all the activities of the British team should be concentrated on preparation for winning the contest. I regret that considerations of expense preclude any special arrangements for Members to view the race, which can, however, be seen without difficulty from numerous vantage points in the locality.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that tenant farmers are being deprived of the benefit of the remission of rates upon their farms inaugurated by His Majesty's late Government by reason of landowners terminating existing tenancies and increasing rentals; and whether, in the interests of agriculture generally, he will introduce a Bill at an early date to secure to the tenant farmers the benefit aforesaid?

:My Department is not in possession of any information which goes to show that in order to deprive tenants of the benefit of rate remission under the Local Government Act, 1929, landowners are terminating exist- ing tenancies and raising the rent of farms. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the amount of taxation in sterling, per head of the population, for food and drink in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada, for the years 1913 and 1914 and 1926 and 1927; and the total amount of taxation, per head of the population, for these countries during the same period?

:The information asked for is not available.