asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of British-grown wheat and British-bred and slaughtered meat is supplied to the troops, and whether he will consider making an Order for the use of British flour and meat for the troops during the six months from October to March?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers to home pro- duce. As to wheat, I would refer him to the reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Gainsborough (Captain Crookshank) on 12th November, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards meat, practically all the meat issued to the troops in this country is frozen meat of Dominion origin. As regards the latter part of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer given on 4th November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to the hon. Member for Horncastle (Mr. Haslam), of which I am sending him a copy. This answer covers the Air Ministry, whose requirements in these respects are provided by the War Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that the Army (Annual) Bill will be introduced under a changed title and preamble, and in such a form as will enable the House to make it cover the life time of a Parliament?

I see no reason for asking Parliament to depart from the long-established constitutional usage under which the operation of the Army Annual Act is limited to 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many discharges have taken place from Woolwich Arsenal since 31st May?

The number of discharges, apart from resignations, for all causes over the period in question is 181. This figure includes 62 discharges on account of age, and 24 on medical grounds.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet reached a decision concerning the application for an increase in wages for workmen employed in the naval ordnance inspection department of the Royal Arsenal?

I hope that a decision will be given shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Consuls, Vice-Consuls and commercial attaches in the Consular service hold similar posts under foreign governments?

No salaried officer of the categories mentioned holds a similar position under a foreign government, though salaried officers are occasionally entrusted with foreign interests temporarily at the request of the government concerned. A certain number of unsalaried Consular officers are also Consular representatives of another country but in no case would His Majesty's Government either appoint as their Consular representative anyone who was already Consular representative for another country or allow their Consular representative to accept a similar post under a foreign government, if there were any risk of his duties as British Consular representative conflicting with those as Consular representative of the other nation.

asked the Minister of Health the number of claims for sickness, disablement and maternity benefits from approved societies for the year 1928; and how these figures compare with 1927?

Particulars are not available of the number of claims for benefit, as no occasion has arisen for requiring approved societies to keep such statistics. The approximate expenditure by approved societies in England and Wales on the benefits specified in the question for 1927 and 1928 respectively was as follows:

As sickness and disablement benefits ceased from 2nd January, 1928, for insured persons aged 65 and upwards, exact comparison between the figures for the two years is impossible, but as a rough generalisation it may be taken that while the sickness benefit experience showed some improvement the disablement benefit experience was worse in 1928 than in 1927.

asked the Minister of Health the actual or estimated amount of the total Government grants received by local authorities in England and Wales in the years 1927–28 and 1928–29?

The total amount of Government grants received by local authorities in England and Wales was £86,960,000 in 1926–27 and £90,133,000 in 1927–28. These are the latest years for which complete particulars are at present available. The amounts given above include, in addition to voted moneys, sums paid out of the local taxation account and out of the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Health what are the estimated annual amounts by which occupiers of agricultural land and buildings in each of the following counties will benefit through the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929: Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Cumberland and Westmorland, Devonshire, Durham, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdon and Bedfordshire, Lancashire, Leicester and Rutland, Middlesex, Monmouthshire, Northants, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Staffordshire, Sussex, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, East, West and North Ridings, Carmarthenshire, Carnarvon and Anglesea, Denbigh and Flint, Glamorgan, Merioneth and Montgomery, Pembroke, Cardigan, Radnor, Brecon, Gloucestershire, Lindsey and Kesteven, Lines, Holland, Dorset and Northumberland?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th November, 1929; col. 1645, Vol. 232], supplied the following statement:

The Local Government Act, 1929, exempts the occupiers of agricultural Land and agricultural buildings from rates in respect of those hereditaments. It is estimated, on the basis of the provisional claims received for the first half of the current financial year for grants under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1929, that the annual amount of rates which would, but for the above-mentioned exemption, have been payable by occupiers in respect of agricultural land and agricultural buildings situate in any administrative county mentioned in column 1 of the following table is approximately the amount set opposite the name of that county in column 2 the table.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to make a statement on the Government's agricultural policy before the Christmas Recess?

I can add nothing to-the Prime Minister's statement on this subject on 7th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture for what special purposes the proposed capital grant of £250,000 to the Development Fund for the advancement of agriculture will be hypothecated?

The proposed grant to the Development Fund amounting to £500,000 will be available for schemes in Great Britain involving additional expenditure on agricultural education and research, rural industries, fishery research and fishery harbours, as may be recommended by the Development Commissioners and sanctioned by the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he proposes to lower the age of entry into agricultural colleges to 15, so that boys may go direct from school to college?

The age at which students are admitted into the various agricultural college3 of this country is a matter within the discretion of the respective governing bodies, and I have no statutory power to interfere.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he proposes to appoint women inspectors of agricultural education; and, in that case, what exactly their duties will be?

The education inspectorate of the Ministry already includes three women. Two of these are assistant inspectors specially for horticulture, and their duties are the same as those of men assistant inspectors. The third, who holds the rank of general inspector, devotes herself mainly to that side of agricultural education which is of special interest to women, including training at certain institutions and courses of instruction intended primarily for women and girls. Further appointments of women to the inspectorate will be made if and when found necessary by increase of work, and justified by the qualifications of candidates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of young farmers' clubs now effectively in existence in this country; their rate of increase since March, 1928; and the approximate total number of the membership in such clubs now in existence?

The number of active young farmers' clubs affiliated to the National Association of Young Farmers' Clubs as at the end of last month was 82, with a total effective membership of 1,050. I have no information as to the exact position of the movement as at March, 1928, but the number of Clubs has not altered materially since that date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the serious epidemic of swine fever in the neighbourhood of Stowmarket, Suffolk, he will consider placing the two large markets in that town under extensive veterinary supervision?

The question of the veterinary supervision of markets of pigs in the county of Suffolk is one for the decision of the local authority of that county, and I understand that it is at present receiving their consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the growing practice to sell attenuated product of skimmed milk called half-meat cheese as cheese; if he is aware that the powers of local authorities to take action in this matter are only applicable if this half-meat cheese is sold as Cheshire cheese; and if he will take steps to provide local authorities with additional powers in order to enable them to take action when half-meat cheese is sold as cheese?

I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9th July; to that given to the hon. Member for Chester (Sir C. Cayzer) on 14th November; and to that given to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. E. Russell) on 18th ultimo.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the policy of the Government in regard to the protection of the agricul- tural worker by the effective enforcement of an adequate minimum wage and of reasonable hours of labour?

The Government has strengthened the administration of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, by increasing the number of wages inspectors from 15 to 21. It will spare no effort to secure that every agricultural worker obtains the full wage to which he is entitled by law.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the recent delay in the collection of sugar-beet crops in Mid-Suffolk district and the consequent deterioration of such crops, and that the reason given is lack of storage space at the factories; and is he therefore inquiring into the advisability of a greater proportion of the State assistance which goes to this industry finding its way to the grower in the form of a higher price for his crop?

Under agreement between all parties concerned, sugar-beet traffic is controlled by a permit system designed to secure delivery in accordance with contract conditions. Owing to good autumn weather, growers were allowed to consign beets more freely than was provided by their contracts with the result that, in some cases, factory flumes, although adequate for normal needs, were temporarily overloaded. To remedy the position, the permit system was reverted to. This, no doubt, explains the delay in collection referred to by the hon. Member but I am advised that the delay in the area concerned was only very slight and I have no evidence that it led to deterioration of the crop. The price received by growers under their contracts is settled by negotiation between the National Farmers' Union and the Beet Sugar Factories Committee and there is no necessity for me to intervene.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much revenue is derived annually, taking a five years' average, from Death Duties levied on agricultural land and buildings; and how much revenue is derived annually from agricultural stock in the hands of occupying owners and in the hands of tenant farmers, respectively?

Agricultural land is not accounted for separately from other land in the Death Duties statistics, but it is estimated that the Estate Duty paid thereon is in the neighbourhood of £3,000,000 per annum, and that the Succession Duty is about £250,000 per annum. The amount of capital classified in the Estate Duty statistics as farming stock has averaged about £3,250,000 annually over the last five years. The annual yield of Death Duties thereon would be in the neighbourhood of £300,000; but I am unable to apportion this figure between owners and tenant farmers respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the average number of deaths per annum during the last five years of occupying owners of agricultural land; and what is the average number of deaths per annum during the same period of tenant farmers of agricultural land?

It is regretted that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether there are any public elementary schools in England in which no religious instruction is given;

(2) how many local education authorities have appointed a joint committee for supervising religious education, and which are they?

The Board do not inspect religious instruction, and my right hon. Friend has no official information as to what extent it is provided or what authorities have appointed joint committees or its supervision. But my right hon. Friend's impression is that religious instruction is, in fact, being given in nearly every school, often in accordance with an agreed syllabus.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the inspectorate of the Board has undergone reorganisation during the previous two years; whether any reductions have been made in it; whether any vacancies have been caused by such reorganisation; and if it is intended to fill them?

A reorganisation of the inspectorate was undertaken in 1926 in accordance with the principles indicated in Circular 1382, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member. At that date the number of inspectors actually employed was 320. The Board's present establishment provides for 310. Eight posts are at present vacant, but steps have been taken to fill one of these, and the remaining vacancies will be filled as and when occasion requires.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many unmarried teachers, certificated and uncertificated, are unemployed?

I am afraid that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he proposes to make any alteration in the statutory conditions affecting the granting of pensions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham (Lieut.-Colonel Clifton Brown) on 26th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-service men suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis who are certified as unfit for work but are receiving neither institutional treatment nor treatment allowances?

I have no information as to the number of cases who are in the condition referred to.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will inquire into the case of Mrs. Elizabeth Quayle, aged about 65 years, the widow of an ex-service man who died in November, 1927, while in receipt of a pension calculated on 100 per cent. disability, with a view to seeing whether the circumstances are such as to justify the grant of a war pension to Mrs. Quayle?

I am advised that the disabilities for which Mr. Quayle was pensioned were not caused by war service, but were accepted as having been aggravated thereby. It cannot, however, be certified that the aggravation either caused or materially hastened death, which did not take place until the pensioner was 68 years of age. The widow is not, therefore, entitled to pension.

asked the Secretary of State for India why the pensions applied to officers of the India unattached list in 1920 were limited to only the equivalent, on an average, of the corresponding British Army pensions, thus contravening the standing policy that has been followed in military administration in India, that Indian pensions shall be higher than those of the corresponding' classes of the British Army; and whether he will now give effect to that policy in respect of the pensions of the officers concerned, seeing that the few officers affected by the 1920 scheme are men who, by their services during the Great War, have every reason to expect considerate treatment?

As I have explained to the hon. and gallant Member, the effect of the 1920 scheme of pensions was to give Departmental officers the equivalent on an average of the corresponding British Army pensions, having regard to the difference in conditions of service. These differences are of considerable importance. Departmental officers usually attain commissioned rank at a later age than quartermasters of the British Service; but under the special rules applicable to them they were enabled to obtain pensions corresponding on an average to those admissible to British Service quartermasters of the same total length of service, although the proportion of commissioned to rank service was smaller in the case of Departmental officers. It was held that the 1920 pension rates, as governed by the Indian rules, not only represented a sufficient increase over the pre-existing rates but took due account of the fact that the service of these officers was rendered in India, and afforded them a measure of advantage in that respect. The policy to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was thus observed in constructing the pension scheme of 1920.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps are actually being taken by the Government to negotiate with Germany direct or through the League of Nations for the curtailment of the importation into Scotland of bounty-fed oats from Germany; and whether, if this is not so, he will consider the desirability of taking such action in order to give Scottish

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to publish a Return showing the debts due to the Exchequer of each fishery harbour in Scotland and the amount which the Government propose to remit?

farmers the necessary assurance in connection with their arrangements for the next year's harvest?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on the 4th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many small holdings in Scotland have been resumed by the landlord under the provisions of Section 19 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911; how many in each year; and how many under each of the three purposes specified in the said Section?

The number of applications in which resumption was granted by the Land Court under the provisions of the Section referred to during the period 1st April, 1912, to 31st October, 1929, was as follows:

The Return will be issued as a White Paper to-morrow.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his Department has in contemplation the erection of a concert hall or winter garden in Hyde Park; and whether the House of Commons will be given an opportunity of discussing the matter before any building of this kind is commenced?

There is no proposal before the Department for the erection of such a building; the second part of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Mr. P. R. J. Seaton was committed to Brixton Gaol, sine die, on 14th May last for contempt of court, and that Mr. Seaton has no private funds which can be used for the purpose of retaining legal advice for the making of an application for release; whether the official solicitor is considering the making of an application on behalf of this prisoner; and whether any restrictions have been placed on the liberty of the prisoner as regards writing to Members of Parliament or others whom he thinks might be of assistance to him in his case?

Yes, Sir, and I understand that an application by the official solicitor on Mr. Seaton's behalf will be heard by the Court on Wednesday next. Mr. Seaton has had exceptional latitude in the matter of correspondence, as the hon. and gallant Member will be able to judge for himself, for I am sending him, at Mr. Seaton's request, copies which he was allowed to make of the letters written by him in prison.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the importation of canaries into this country in small cages measuring five inches by four inches, thus causing considerable cruelty; and will he take steps to prohibit such importations in future?

My attention has not been called to this matter, but as my hon. Friend may be aware, the Protection of Birds Act, 1925, which contains certain provisions as to the keeping of birds in cages, expressly exempts birds whilst being conveyed by land or water, and I have no power to modify that exemption. The exemption ceases, of course, to apply on the arrival of the birds at their destination, and cases of failure to comply with the Act after arrival can fee dealt with under the Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to bring into force the Act which stabilised the date of Easter?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 25th November to the hon. and gallant Member for the Waterloo Division of Lancashire (Captain Bullock).

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to cases of prisoners being remanded in custody from week to week without further evidence being given; and whether he will issue a circular to magistrates with regard to this practice?

I have not observed anything in the practice of the Courts in this matter that requires alteration, and I see no occasion for a circular from me.

asked the Home Secretary the basic rate of pay of prison pharmacists and the bonuses?

Prison pharmacists are paid on a weekly scale of 48s. rising by annual increments of 2s. to 68s., then after five years to 70s., with Civil Service Bonus in addition. Expressed in terms of an annual salary this is equivalent to £125 4s. 7d. rising by annual increments of £5 4s. to £177 8s. 2d., then after five years to £182 12s. 6d. The bonus at present rates is, in annual terms, £74 10s. 2d. at the minimum and £93 9s. 9d. at the maximum, making the total pay and bonus £199 14s. 9d. at the minimum and £276 2s. 3d. at the maximum. A prison pharmacist is entitled in addition to uniform or an allowance in lieu which in annual terms is at present £7 16s. 6d., and quarters, or an allowance in lieu, which in London may be up to £52, in the provinces up to £42 per annum, according to the amount of rent actually paid.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has taken any steps to call the attention of the police to the fact that there are still a large number of cyclists who refrain from showing a reflector or rear lamp after dark; whether he has any records of any prosecutions that have taken place during the previous 12 months in the Metropolitan police area where cyclists have disregarded these lighting regulations; and can he give the House particulars?

Yes, Sir. Instructions as to the enforcement of these requirements have been issued more than once. Proceedings were taken in the Metropolitan Police District in 2,703 cases in the 12 months ended 16th November, and a number of other cases were dealt with without recourse to proceedings.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statistics in the recent Report of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee on Street Accidents to Children in Greater London, and especially to the increase in the number of children killed in street accidents in the outer districts of the Metropolitan area; and whether he will take steps to provide increased police protection in such districts in order to secure the safe passage of school children across main roads?

I am aware of and deplore this loss of life. The police do all in their power for the safety of children crossing the roads in the vicinity of schools: these arrangements already make very heavy demands on the existing man power, but the question of extending them in the outer districts will not be overlooked. The Commissioner is also considering the question of arranging a conference with representatives of the education authorities with a view to examining further the whole question from the police point of view.

asked the Home Secretary the numbers of police officers who have been injured on point duty whilst regulating traffic in the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the course of the 12 months ended 30th September last, one constable was killed and 2S5 injured while employed in connection with traffic control. These figures cover the whole of England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received any request from the Tynemouth Corporation for the appointment of an engineer to report upon cross-river communication between North and South Shields; and what action has been taken in this matter?

The whole problem of cross-river communication in the Tyneside area has recently been the subject of preliminary investigation by engineers of my Department. When I have had an opportunity of considering their report, I shall be able to reach a decision upon the request for the appointment of consulting engineers to examine the matter in greater detail.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department have made any inquiries as to the working of the recent traffic regulation in Paris which prohibit the sounding of motor horns in residential areas between midnight and 5 a.m.; and whether he will consider the desirability of making similar provision in residential districts in London?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. I have referred the matter to the London Traffic Advisory Committee for consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Central Electricity Board, for the sake of preserving rural amenities, will consider the laying of underground instead of overhead cables on any part of the work about to be undertaken in East Sussex under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1926, either along the main or subsidiary lines of supply?

I have no reason to doubt that the Central Electricity Board will consider all reasonable methods of erecting their lines so as to interfere with amenities as little as possible. I may remind the hon. Member that no electricity lines may be erected above ground without my permission, and that before giving my permission careful consideration will be given to the views of the local authorities interested.

asked the Minister of Transport the policy of the Government in regard to the establishment of efficient services of electrical power and transport in rural areas?

It is my desire that cheap and efficient services of electrical power and transport should be provided as far as possible in rural areas. The hon. Member may like to know that, according to my information, over 70 per cent. of the rural population is at present included within areas with an authorised supply of electricity, and that applications in respect of a considerable proportion of the remaining area are pending.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what area has been planted with trees in Glamorgan each year from 1925 to date and the number of men employed for the same period; what acreage has been secured for plantation and where situated; and whether he is negotiating for additional land for afforestation in Glamorgan county?

The particulars required are as follow:

The plantable land secured comprises 1,133 acres at Llntrisant, 1,524 acres at Margam and 2,275 acres at Rheola. Negotiations for an additional 4,200 acres are proceeding.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to the statement of the British trade commissioner in South Africa that Britain's share of the total imports in South Africa is declining; and whether he has any information showing to what the undercutting of prices by foreign competitors is attributable?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. But while it is true that Great Britain's proportion of the total imports fell from 49.9 per cent. in 1925 to 43.5 per cent. in 1928 it should be noted that the actual value of our trade has increased. As regards the second part of the question, the undercutting of prices is attributable partly to mass production and partly to lower quality.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, whether his attention has been called to the difficult trade position in Turkey, created not merely by the new tariff but by a modus vivendi between France and Turkey giving preferential rates on more than 150 articles; and whether, in respect of these articles, we benefit by any most-favoured-nation clause or not?

I am aware that duties have been raised substantially in Turkey by the new Customs Tariff which came into force on 1st October. As regards the second part of the question, an Anglo-Turkish modus vivendi was concluded on 2nd July last by virtue of which we enjoy in Turkey most-favoured-nation treatment for our goods and in particular secure the benefit of the conventional rates accorded by Turkey to France under the Franco-Turkish modus vivendi of 29th August.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether mining inspectors when making their visits do so without any previous notification to the management or, if not, how much notice is given?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19th November to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Lawther), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much revenue is received annually, taking a five years' average, from duty on mortgages at 2s. 6d. per £100, on debentures at 2s. 6d. per £100, on collateral securities at 6d. per £100, on equitable mortgages at 1s. per £100, on transfers of mortgages at 6d. per £100, or reconveyances at 6d. per £100, on proxy forms at 6d., on powers of attorney at 10s., and on declarations of trust at 10s.?

The hon. and gallant Member will find particulars of the yield of Stamp Duty from mortgages (including collateral securities, equitable mortgages, transfers of mortgages and reconveyances) and from bonds, debentures, etc. (at 2s. 6d. per cent.) in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The latest figures covering a series of years, are given in the table on pages 47 and 48 of the Board's 71st Report (Command Paper 3176). It is regretted that no separate information is available as regards the other items referred to in the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of Income and Super-tax, separately, due to be paid, but not paid, on 31st March, 1929?

It is estimated that at 31st March, 1929, the amount of Super-tax assessed but not paid which will ultimately prove to be collectible, after allowing for all discharges and reductions that may be made, was about £14,000,000. In the case of Income Tax the only estimate available of arrears as at 31st March last represents the amount of tax then in arrear for 1928–29 and prior years which it is estimated will be collected during the current financial year, and this is estimated at £23,000,000.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any representations from the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Council of Trinidad, British West Indies, as to the alleged misapplication of Government military funds; whether he is aware that appeals locally to the Government authorities have been without avail and sometimes even without reply; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this matter?

Representations on various subjects have been received from the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Council of Trinidad. As the communications were not, in accordance with Colonial Regulation 200, forwarded through the Governor, they have been returned to the Colony to be forwarded through him. To prevent any possible misunderstanding it was suggested to the Governor, when the last communication of this nature was returned, that he or the Colonial Secretary should see the secretary of the council and explain matters to him. The answer to the second and third portions of the question is in the negative.