asked the Secretary of State for India the number of Indians holding positions of secretaries to the Government of India in the various departments of the central secretariat?

Including the secretary in the Legislative Assembly Department, there axe two Indian secretaries in the central secretariat of the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number, location, and capacity of the educational institutions in India capable of giving such instruction as to enable Indian students to pass into the engineering branch of the Royal Indian Marine without coming to this country?

Particulars of the kind referred to cannot he given without reference to the Government of India. I am bringing my hon. and gallant Friend's question and this answer to their notice and asking for their views. I will let my hon. and gallant Friend know when they are received.

asked the Secretary of State for India the total cost to the Indian revenues of the sloop built for the Royal Indian Marine; whether this vessel has now been delivered to the Government of India; and what is the present size of the Royal Indian Marine?

As the sloop is not due for completion until September, 1930, I cannot yet give the total cost. The vessels of the Royal Indian Marine at present consist of one depot ship, three sloops excluding that now under construction, two patrol craft vessels, two survey ships, and a number of minesweeping and steam trawlers and other smaller craft.

asked the Secretary of State for India if Section 492 of the Indian penal code, providing a penalty of one month's imprisonment or fine for unreasonable refusal to perform work contracted for at a place to which the workman has been conveyed at another person's expense is still operative; and, if so, whether he will state the number of persons who have been charged and the

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received any notification that the Government of India have now reached any conclusions on the recommendations of the Indian Cinematograph Committee with reference to the modification of the censorship machinery of cinematograph films which they recommended in their Report?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 25th November.

The Section in question was repealed with effect from 1st April, 1926.

asked the Secretary of State for India what proportion of India's coastal shipping is carried in ships belonging to foreign shipping companies?

The information for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks is not available, but the following table may be of interest to him.

asked the Postmaster-General how many part-time posts have been created in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a consequence of the introduction of motor vehicles by the Post Office for the conveyance of mails; how many established posts have been abolished; and what is the ratio of part-time posts to full-time posts in the mail service?

I am having inquiry made, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the Postmaster-General is he is aware that the cable to Jersey is broken; if, and when, he proposes to repair it or to lay a new one, or to provide full wireless communication; if in the meantime he will approach the French Government with a view of improvement in the service through France where the average time taken for a telegram passing through is 12 hours; and if he can obtain a rebate on the 2½d. per word now charged while our cable is not in working order?

The cable to Jersey will be repaired as soon as a cable ship can be spared to undertake the work. Temporary wireless communication is being provided in the meantime, and it is hoped that when the service is stabilised there will be no undue delay in the interchange of telegraph communications. The telegraph services in Northern France were disorganised by the recent gales, and the transmission of messages via France to Jersey was undertaken by the French authorities as a, matter of courtesy and at great inconvenience. I am afraid I cannot ask them to do anything further, or to forgo the transit charges to which they are entitled under international regulations.

asked the Postmaster-General when the construction of the new telephone exchange at Sutton, Holmbury St. Mary, Surrey, was begun; and by what date the exchange is likely to be in operation?

The hon. and gallant Member no doubt refers to the telephone exchange now in course of construction at Abinger Hammer. The building work in connection with this exchange was begun on 3rd June last, and was expected to be completed last month; but failure of the contractors caused some delay. It is hoped, however, that the new contractors will complete the building at the end of February next, and that the exchange will be opened for telephone business about four months later.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of hours worked in overtime for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date at the factories under the control of the Post Office stores department; and whether any steps have been taken by his Department for the purpose of reducing overtime to a minimum and increasing the number of persons employed?

The number of hours for the year ended the 30th ultimo is somewhat over 14,000, representing about 280 hours weekly. The staff has however been increased, and the amount of extra duty worked has latterly been less than 100 hours weekly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the conditions which prevail in the Western Isles; and whether he will consider the advisability of establishing a telephone in each doctor's house and schoolhouse, or other convenient centre, in every parish of these isles, in the interests of the medical, surgical, commercial, and social services?

The distances between parishes in these islands are often great and the cost of providing telephone services is usually prohibitive, but any case in which there is a reasonable prospect of the revenue not falling too far short of the expenses is sympathetically considered.

asked the Postmaster-General what special arrangements he has made and what additional labour he has engaged in connection with the Christmas postal traffic in the Eltham area?

A temporary parcel office and seven additional motor-vans have been provided. Additional collections are being made and the delivery arrangements have been modified to meet the exceptional traffic. As in other parts of London, there was a delivery of letters and parcels yesterday. 32 temporary postmen have been engaged.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the capacity of the new post office at Orpington, Kent, as regards staff; what is the present number of staff employed there; what was the cost of the building; what was the cost of the equipment; is the number of the staff employed similar to that employed in other offices working under similar conditions; and what reports he has received with regard to the efficiency of this office?

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of boy messengers who were in the employ of the Post Office on 31st March, 1929, and the number of boy messengers who secured postmanships and other established posts or posts leading to establishment during the year ended 31st March, 1929?

The number of boy messengers employed in the Post Office on 31st March, 1929, was 7,623; and the number of boy messengers who secured postmanships and other established posts or posts leading to establishment during the year ended 31st March, 1929, was 1,483.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that local postmasters have informed sections of the public that large consignments of printed-matter-rate circulars cannot be

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the disparity between the value of the goods that we import from Russia

I am aware of the facts stated. The exceptional pressure during the week preceding Christmas Day would make it impossible in some cases to handle large consignments of circulars without serious delay to other classes of correspondence. While such consignments would not be refused it is considered well to warn the posters that in the general public interest they may inevitably be delayed till after Christmas if posted between the dates named.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of tinned and dried milk imported into this country in 1900 and in 1914?

In 1900, the only form of preserved milk for which separate particulars of imports were secured was condensed milk. The following statement furnishes particulars for 1903, when the classification now in use was first adopted, and for 1914, of imports of the different kinds of preserved milk and also the total amount of condensed milk imported in 1900:and those we export to Russia, whether he can give, on the lines of the calculations made for the whole of our trade, how much of these imports are paid for in shipping, banking, and insurance ser-

I regret that the information at the disposal of my Department does not enable me to give the particulars required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what variations exist in different parts of the Empire in the treatment of Empire imports as to the percentage of Empire labour and material that must enter into the value of the goods before they can obtain preferential treatment?

As regards the self-governing Dominions, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 12th November, a copy of which I am sending to him. In the other parts of the Empire which have adopted preferential tariffs (including the United Kingdom) the proportion of Empire labour and material required to qualify goods for preference is, with very few exceptions, 25 per cent. of the value of the goods.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can now indicate how much space has been let to exhibitors at the coming British Industrial Fair; how much is still unlet; and when it is proposed to open the fair in London next spring?

The space allotted to exhibitors amounts to 250,300 square feet. Only some 800 square feet have still to be finally allotted, but as applications exceed the available space by more than 10,000 square feet the hon. Member will recognise that no further applications for space can be considered. The fair will open as usual on the third Monday in February, 17th February, and will remain open until 28th February.

asked the Home Secretary the present capital and income of the National Police Fund, and the purposes for which expenditure from the Fund has and may be applied?

I understand that the capital of the Fund now amounts to £241,894 and that the income for 1928 was £11,984. The purposes for which the Fund has been applied are stated in the published reports of the trustees and those for which it may be applied are as set out in the Charter, copies of which I am forwarding to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary in which direction he has exercised his authority in regard to the appointment of a chief constable for Nottingham?

I have decided to approve the appointment made by the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, the number of horses and ponies shipped from Scottish ports in each year since 1924, including those months of 1929 for which figures are available, and stating the countries of destination?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the Noble Lady to the reply to a similar question printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1929 (columns 2587–8). The particulars for November, which are now available, are as follow:Exportation of Horses to Continent from Scotland (Port of Leith only) to—

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses and ponies exported to the Continent from England and Wales each year since 1924, including the months of 1929 for which figures are available, and stating the countries of destination?

I would refer the Noble Lady to the reply to a similar question printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1929 (columns 2587–8). The particulars for November, which are now available, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any of the parties he has invited to meet in a conference on agriculture have yet accepted the invitation; if any have refused; and when is the conference likely to be held?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is yet in a position to state what are the Government proposals to assist the inshore fishermen?

Considerable work is already going forward for the improvement of certain fishing harbours, and other harbours are being surveyed and reported upon. The Ministry proposes next year to conduct a search for new crab and lobster grounds, and to undertake an investigation of the sprat fisheries, with a view to developing the canning of sprats. I would also remind the hon. Member that the condition of the inshore fishermen will be fully investigated by the Sub-Committee of the Committee of Civil Research which is inquiring into the fishing industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the condition of the fishermen in the River Ouse between Denver Sluice and King's Lynn, whose livelihood has been taken away by the pollution of the river by the effluent from the beet-sugar factory at King's Lynn; whether any compensation can be given these men owing to the loss of

I have now received acceptances from all the organisations invited to send representatives to an agricultural conference. The conference will, I hope, be held early in the new year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases of foot-and-mouth disease that have occurred during the previous three months; and whether any fresh sources of infection have been discovered?

10 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, involving five new centres, have been confirmed during the three months ended 20th December, as follow:their living; and if any steps have been taken in order to purify this effluent?

No definite complaint of pollution by the beet sugar factory at King's Lynn has reached me, but I have given instructions for an early inspection to be made with a view to the ascertainment of the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government have contributed in any way to ransom money which has been paid to bandits by British subjects in China during the last three years?

His Majesty's Government have in no instance contributed in any way to ransom money which has been paid to bandits by British subjects in China during the last three years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is satisfied that everything possible is being done by His Majesty's Navy to prevent piratical outrages on ships of the British mercantile marine in China; what measures are being adopted at the present case under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927?

Seasonal workers, like other workers, will be entitled to benefit under the provisions of the present Unemployment Insurance Bill if they satisfy the statutory conditions and are free from disqualification. Amongst other conditions they must be available for any suitable employment during the "off" season. The payment of a certain number of contributions is only one of the requirements for the receipt of benefit. The question whether seasonal workers who are at present exempt from Unemployment Insurance should surrender their exemption certificates is a matter for the individuals concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour by how much the numbers of persons employed in the cotton industry, the woollen industry, the iron and steel industry, and the building trades have, respectively, increased or decreased since the Government took office?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men, women, and young persons in Cornwall in October and November last?

Statistics of the total number of insured persons in particular industries are available only in respect of the beginning of July or each year, and it is therefore not possible to make an exact comparison of the numbers in employment at the end of June and at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour bow many placings of adult men and women in employment have been effected by the Ministry of Labour, excluding those placed either under the transference schemes for miners or their sons or of trainees on leaving Government training institutions during the years 1927 and 1928 and during each of the months of the present year?

The following table shows the number of vacancies for men and women, aged 18 and over, filled through Employment Exchanges in the years 1927 and 1928, and in January-October, 1929, exclusive of those filled by trainees on leaving Government training institutions and those filled under the Industrial Transference Scheme:

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the County of Cornwall at 14th October and 11th November, 1929, respectively: time; and whether there has been any additional expenditure on this account during the current year?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards methods which are being adopted to prevent piratical outrages, it must be understood that these pirates travel in a ship disguised as passengers. Responsibility for dealing with this form of piracy rests primarily with the shipping companies and with the civil authorities on shore. His Majesty's Navy assists in the suppression of piracy by patrolling the vicinity of such. Known bases as Bias Bay, in order to intercept pirated ships before they are brought in and abandoned. A piracy committee under the Governor of Hong Kong is studying this question, and constantly urging upon the Chinese authorities the necessity of using every means in their power to locate and round up these pirates in their villages. The only additional expenditure is the cost of the fuel expended in special patrols.

asked the President of the Board of Education, as representing the Coalfields Distress Fund, whether any sum has been disbursed or promised by the local district committee of this fund to assist the movement started in Sheffield to provide the unemployed of that town with the opportunity of cultivating allotments; and whether, in view of the need for encouraging schemes of this kind, he will bring to the notice of those responsible for the administration of the fund the desirability of giving this movement the maximum possible practical support so far as it affects unemployed miners?

I understand that, both for the past season and for the coming season, grants have been approved by the Central Committee of the Lord Mayor's Fund for assistance in the cultivation of allotments by unemployed miners; and that in the West Riding area, in which Sheffield is situated, the grant is being administered for the Divisional Committee of the fund, not by a local committee, but by the County Land Agent for the West Riding.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in the administrative county of London at the last convenient date?

At 16th December, 1929, there were 85,205 persons resident in the administrative county and city of London on the registers of Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of money expended for schemes approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee, exclusive of grants made by the Ministry of Transport, for tile 12 months ended to 30th June, 1929?

The expenditure out of public funds for the 12 months to 30th June, 1929, on schemes approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee is £1,866,816 13s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will define the exact position of seasonal workers under the new Unemployment Insurance Bill; whether these are entitled to benefit provided they can produce 30 stamps in the last two years; and, if so, whether she proposes to issue new regulations advising such workers to come under the Act and not to stand outside, as has been the

asked the Lord Privy Seal the size of the staff of the Unemployment Grants Committee; and whether be is satisfied that it is sufficient to deal with the number of applications now to hand?

I have been asked to reply. The staff of the Committee has recently been increased and additional accommodation provided. It now consists of a secretary, assistant secretary, 11 clerical assistants and seven shorthand-writers and typists. The staff is considered adequate at the moment, but it will be increased if necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a copy of a memorandum upon the recent housing situation in England and Wales, November, 1929, issued by the National Housing and Town Planning Council Association, in which it is stated that in Plymouth there is much house property of so poor and decadent a nature that it is not reasonably fit for human habitation; and what urgent steps he is taking to help those who suffer from these conditions to obtain more suitable accommodation?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the quotation from the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health which is contained in the memorandum to which the hon. Member refers. The responsibility for dealing with unsatisfactory housing conditions rests primarily with the local authority. They have already wide powers, but my right hon. Friend hopes that the legislation which he will shortly lay before the House will facilitate their action.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will provide a Return showing the results of the working of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in England and Wales, and giving the figures for the various counties separately?

I am having a statement prepared, and will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a request on behalf of certain tenants on the Woolwich Borough Council housing estate at Eltham to receive a deputation concerning their complaints in respect of the management and condition of their houses; and what reply he has made thereto?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses constructed under the various Housing Acts which were completed in the three months ended 31st December, 1929; and, for comparison, the corresponding total during the same quarter of 1928?

Particulars of the number of houses which have been or will be completed during the current month are not yet available. The number completed under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924 during the three months ended 30th November, 1929, was 46,039. During the corresponding months of 1928, the number was 32,090.

asked the Secretary of State for War what changes have been made in the strength of garrisons of British troops at home and abroad after this trooping season compared with the years 1926, 1918 and 1914, the return to include units of all arms and supply services?

As regards 1914 and 1926, the hon. and gallant Member will find a detailed statement of the distribution of regimental establishments between home and the various stations abroad on page 24 of the Army Estimates for 1914 and on pages 28 and 29 of the Army Estimates for 1926. As regards the current financial year a similar statement is contained on pages 28 and 29 of the current Army Estimates. The distribution for 1930, after the end of the present trooping season, falls to be considered with Army Estimates for that year. As regards 1918 the distribution of troops was abnormal and unstable and figures in a form comparable with those for the year 1914, 1926 and 1929 are not available. If there is any point on which the hon. and gallant Member wishes the figures to which I have referred him supplemented, and he will write to me, I shall be glad to see whether I can meet his wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will order the discharge of Private J. Lissimore, No. 5,247,394, D company, Worcestershire Regiment, seeing that he was wrongly enlisted under age in May last, and his parents are desirous of his return?

In view of the special circumstances of the case, instructions have been given that, subject to the verification of his age, this soldier shall be given his discharge if he desires it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that officially all ranks married on the strength in the British Army are entitled to medical attendance at their station, but that by a recent decision this service is now limited to places where a hospital exists, it is now intended that non-com- missioned officers and men must subscribe to the local civil hospitals to obtain treatment for their families on the strength if there is no military hospital in the vicinity?

I am not clear to what the hon. and gallant Member refers, but if he will furnish me with details of any particular case which has given rise to the question, I shall be happy to inquire further into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War the amount of oats purchased by his Department within the last six months, giving the average price paid and the country of origin?

The estimated quantity of oats purchased at home stations during

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in what Departments are the three conscientious objectors who have been promoted over the heads of civil servants who served in the War; and what were the reasons for their promotion?

The answer to the first part of the question is, two in the Post Office and one in the Inland Revenue Department. As regards the second part, the hon. and gallant Member must apply to the Postmaster-General for the reasons for the Post Office promotions. In the Inland Revenue case the officer owes his selection for promotion solely to merit.

asked the Postmaster-General, seeing that clerical officers in the Savings Bank Department have been invited to transfer to the Ministry of Health, the men to carry their seniority, whereas women will be required to take their places at the bottom of the present Ministry of Health staff, what is the reason for the differentiation between the sexes, especially in view of the fact that there is some redundancy of the women's staff in the Savings Bank Department?

The Post Office, in common with other Departments of the Civil Service, was asked by the Ministry of Health to invite applications for transfer from clerical officers (men and women) in connection with the new pensions work, and it was stipulated that seniority could be carried only in the case of redundant staff. In the Post Office Headquarter Departments the condition as to redundancy was fulfilled only in the case of male clerical officers employed in the Savings Bank and one other Department. There is no redundancy of women clerical officers in the Savings Bank Department.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to make a grant towards the paving and other works necessitated by the widening of Artillery Place, Woolwich; and whether he can state the position of the scheme?

With the assistance of grants from the Road Fund, the Woolwich Borough Council have recently widened Artillery Place, Woolwich, between the Queen's Arms public house and Rectory Place, and have completed the paving and other works necessitated by this widening. No scheme has been submitted to the Minister dealing with any other section of Artillery Place.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the making of new roads or the re-making of old roads, more consideration can be given in the future to correct banking at corners?

The hon. Member can be assured that in dealing with road improvement schemes submitted by highway authorities full consideration is given to securing banking at corners in all cases where this is desirable and practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the congestion on the Great North Road, A 1, on the narrow sections south of Stevenage and to Baldock; and when it is proposed to complete the widening of this road, which was commenced many months ago?

A proposal for the widening of this section of the Great North Road has been approved in principle. My hon. Friend is advised that the Hertfordshire County Council are preparing the details of the scheme. The necessary land has already been acquired, and it is anticipated that the work will be commenced early in the new year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in what territories within the British Empire under the control of his Department there still exists slavery or forced labour?

The only territories which are administered under the authority of the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs are Basutoland, Swaziland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Slavery does not exist in these territories and there is no form of compulsory labour except in so far as native custom requires the natives to render certain services to the chiefs for tribal purposes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to bring to an end compulsory labour in Ceylon, Cyprus, Fiji and islands in the Western Pacific High Commission, Montserrat and the Virgin Islands, the States of North Borneo and Sarawak, and in the Colonies and Protectorates in West, East, and Central Africa?

I am afraid that it is not practicable, within the scope of a reply to a Parliamentary question, to give a detailed statement of the kind desired by the hon. Member in respect of the various territories mentioned. The whole question of forced and compulsory labour is, however, engaging the active consideration of His Majesty's Government in connection with the draft convention which it is hoped will be adopted at the International Labour Conference in June next. It is the general policy of His Majesty's Government to proceed progressively towards the ultimate suppression of forced and compulsory labour in all its forms. As, however, its immediate suppression, in all the Dependencies, is not practicable, it is the policy of His Majesty's Government in the meantime to prohibit the exaction of compulsory labour, except for necessary public services, and that only under very careful safeguards, in cases where it has been found impossible to obtain voluntary labour.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the different Colonies and Protectorates whose legislative bodies have either complete or partial control of customs duties, etc., without reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies?

In the Colonies not possessing responsible Government and in Protectorates the legislature has control of customs duties without prior reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, but subject, of course, to His Majesty's general power of disallowance in respect of any law, which power is exercised on the advice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any British Crown Colony or Protectorate has at the present any import duties of any kind; and what is the total value of imports from this country, from the Dominions, and from foreign countries, respectively, that annually enter these Colonies and Protectorates?

Every British Colony and Protectorate levies import duties. I regret that the notice given by the hon. and gallant Member has not been sufficient to enable me to carry out the elaborate statistical inquiries which would be necessary to furnish a reply to the second half of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it has now been decided by the legislative council to replace the Indian penal code which has up till now been in use in Kenya by the British penal code; and, if so, when this change will take place?

A Bill is now before the legislative council of Kenya for the purpose of bringing into force a penal code and a criminal procedure code based upon English law and practice. It is proposed that similar codes should be brought into effect also in the Tanganyika Territory, Uganda and Nyasaland, and the necessary legislation has been, or will be, introduced in the legislative councils of those dependencies. It was contemplated that these codes should come into operation on 1st January, 1930; but so far as concerns the Tanganyika Territory, Uganda and Nyasaland, it is understood that they could not in any case be adopted before 1st April, 1930.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any decision has yet been reached as to the future location of the administrative capital of the territory of Northern Rhodesia; and whether it is proposed to carry out any Government land-settlement policy in the near future in Northern Rhodesia?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to settlement, my Noble Friend has sanctioned expenditure amounting to £59,000 on loans to European farmers for dipping tanks and fencing, on the establishment of a creamery and on assistance towards importation of stock. Assistance from the Colonial Development Fund has enabled him also to sanction expenditure of £23,700 on special agricultural surveys and investigations connected with European settlement and £6,000 on road surveys.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further information to give the House in regard to the recent disturbances at Abu and Opobo, in Southern Nigeria, in which 18 women were shot by British Government armed police; whether adequate precautions were taken before the order was given to fire upon these warren; and what was the length of service of the responsible officer?

A full report on the not at Opobo has not yet reached the Governor at Lagos owing to the difficulty of communications and the absorption of administrative officers in the work of pacification. The information available is to the effect that in the early morning of 16th December the district officer met a large mob of women armed with sticks and parleyed with them for 1½ hours. War canoes arrived to carry off loot from the factories and men armed with machetes landed and hung around the outskirts of the mob. A rush of the mob cut off the district officer and a small party of 12 police from the rest of the town, leaving Europeans defenceless. Fortunately at 8 o'clock in the morning one platoon of troops under Lieutenant R. M. Hill, Welch Regiment and Nigeria Regiment, arrived and forced its way through the mob to join the district officer. Parley with the mob continued and Lieutenant Hill was hit with sticks. The mob gradually pushed back the district officer and Lieutenant Hill until the troops had their backs to the office wall. Lieutenant Hill warned the mob more than 10 times that he would be compelled to fire unless disorder ceased and fired his revolver as a warning. At last as attempts were being made to snatch rifles from the troops and the district officer was being attacked, Lieutenant Hill gave orders to fire. The rush of the mob pushed some women into the river, of whom eight were drowned. Nineteen women and one man were killed by the rifle fire and 10 women died of wounds. The officers on the spot are satisfied that to open fire was the only possible course to save life and property.The district officer with a party of police then rescued Chief Mark Pepple Jaja from the native town. He had been beaten and his house surrounded by the mob. Chief Jaja states that the plan was carefully drawn up on the assumption that women would not be fired on. Women were to rush the officials into the offices and the men were then to loot the factories. The only other casualties are reported from Abako where a frenzied mob attacked the station on 14th December and the police were compelled to fire, six women being killed. Full details will be telegraphed as soon as they are available. European ladies were assaulted during the riots at Aba and Imo River and many European traders and administrative officers were subjected to minor assaults. The general situation is now well in hand in all the affected districts, although in some areas the people are still sullen and restless.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any recent reports from the Colony of Kenya with reference to the proposed destruction of Kaniki forest, which is in the neighbourhood of Kahawa, or whether it is proposed to destroy this forest; and has any report been made by the Forest Department in Kenya since 1927 on the policy of forest regeneration and re-afforestation?

My Noble Friend has not received any report from the Governor of Kenya regarding the proposed destruction of the Kaniki forest, nor is he aware of any such proposal. He has not yet received any report by the Forest Department on forest regeneration and reafforestation since that contained in the Annual Report of the Department for 1927, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the fact that it is the policy of the Government of Kenya to endeavour to persuade native races to abandon at least the severer forms of the circumcision of girls, he will state what steps the Government are taking to bring home to the people concerned how prejudicial this custom is to the welfare of their race, and in particular to the health and wellbeing of the women and children?

In August, 1926, the Chief Native Commissioner in Kenya sent a circular letter to all Senior Commissioners requesting that the local native councils should be approached in the matter, and he directed inter alia that it should be made clear that, pending any voluntary abandonment of the custom, it was the desire of the Government that, in the interests alike of humanity, of eugenics and of the increase of population, the milder form of the operation, which is stated to be more in keeping with ancient tribal usage, should be reverted to. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies expects to receive full and up-to-date information as to the position in reply to a communication in the Governor of Kenya.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the estimated revenue of Kenya for 1930–31 includes £20,000 for arrears of hut tax not collected in 1929 on account of famine; and whether the Secretary of State is prepared to advise the Governor to exercise his powers of remission of taxation provided in Sections 10 and 12 of the Native Hut and Poll Tax Ordinance?

My Noble Friend has received an advance copy of the draft estimates of revenue and expenditure for 1930 as submitted to the Legislative Council of Kenya, and in these the provision referred to by the hon. Member is included. He has not yet received the draft estimates in their final form with the Governor's explanations, but if the item mentioned has been retained, the suggestion made by the hon. Member will be very carefully considered when the actual position of those from whom the arrears are due will be taken sympathetically into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to announce the terms of the Government's land drainage scheme for the current year?

The terms generally will be similar to those offered in the current year, but it is proposed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to increase the amount available for grants from £15,750 in the present year to £30,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what channels and in what directions, other than a voluntary relief fund, the Government propose to help the Scottish fishermen who suffered in the recent disaster off the East Anglian Coast; and whether, in considering precedents for an extension of relief from Government sources to industries stricken by overwhelming misfortune, they have considered not only the precedent of the mining industry but also that of the grant of seed-oats and potatoes to the agricultural industry after disastrous harvests?

The Government has decided, subject to approval by Parliament of the necessary provision, to offer loans at a low rate of interest to assist Scottish fishermen to replace nets lost in the gale off the East Anglian Coast on 11th November. It is proposed to ask Parliament to vote a sum not exceeding £50,000 for such loans on the Vote of the Fishery Board for Scotland. Arrangements are being made with a view to the co-ordination of this scheme with the administration of the Lord Provosts' Relief Funds. Perhaps I may take this opportunity of informing the House that at my meeting with the Lord Provosts on Saturday it was decided that the Lord Provosts' Funds should be pooled in a single fund to be administered by a Central Committee. The Lord Provosts will continue to receive contributions which they will pass on to the Central Fund. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of capital borrowed by local education authorities, Scotland, and outstanding in each of the years 1914 to the last finan-

Each Scottish education authority receives annually a general grant under the Education Authorities (Scotland) Grant Regulations in aid of the total expenditure falling to be met from the education fund of the area. It is, therefore, not possible to show the proportions in which expenditure under particular heads is met from local rates and Exchequer grants respectively. The remaining information asked for is shown in the following statement:—