asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether limits are placed on export credits in dealings with Russian Soviet trade delegations, and how they compare with the limits placed on export credits in dealings with private firms in other countries?

In considering applications for facilities under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme, the Advisory Committee naturally have regard to existing commitments and to any other relevant factors and fix limits in each case accordingly. As these factors vary so widely from one case to another it is not possible to make any comparison between the limits fixed in different transactions.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has received definite information as to whether there will or will not be any increase in the duty upon imported boots and shoes under the new Egyptian customs regulations?

The general rate of duty on boots and shoes in the proposed new Egyptian Customs Tariff is 15 per cent. ad valorem as compared with the former rate of 8 per cent.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the proposals under the new Egyptian customs regulations to levy specific duties in place of the present ad valorem duties upon Lancashire bleached cotton goods, greys and prints, exported to Egypt, will result in higher duties being imposed upon any or all of such goods?

I am given to understand that the specific duties on cotton goods in the proposed new Egyptian Customs Tariff are, in most cases, equivalent to about twice the old ad valorem duties.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has called the attention of the Australian Government to the proposal of the President of the Board of Trade for a two years' tariff truce; and whether such tariff truce is intended to refer to the old rates of duty on British boots, shoes, and leather entering Australia or to the new rates of duty now proposed?

As regards the first part of the question, I understand that His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have declined the invitation of the League of Nations to participate in the forthcoming Tariff Truce Conference. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for India as to when it is hoped the Government of India will be in a position to make public the recommendations of the Indian Tariff Board on the question of the protection of the Indian chemical industry referred to the Board in 1928?

No, Sir. I have not heard what the intentions of the Government of India are.

asked the Secretary of State for India if any decision has been arrived at by the Council of Agricultural Research in respect of the steps to be taken to reduce the damage caused to crops in India by locusts?

I have not yet heard any decision being arrived at.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the present position in respect of the rule made by the Bar Council of the. Rangoon High Court prohibiting advocates of that Court from practising in the Courts subordinate to it except with the express permission of the presiding Judge in a particular cause or matter?

So far as I am aware, there is no change in the position indicated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's question of 25th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to the existence of a traffic in Sindh in girls kidnapped from Kachh, Kathiawar, Gujrat and Marwar; and if he will represent to the Government of India the desirability of bringing about a conference of official and non-official representatives from the British territory and the Indian States concerned to propose measures for preventing the continuance of this traffic?

I have no recent official information on the subject. Attention was called to it by my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr (Mr. Wallhead) in a question put to my predecessor on 20th February, 1928, as the result of which the Bombay Government were invited to consider the necessity of taking steps to deal with it. I am calling the Government of India's attention to my hon. and gallant Friend's question and inquiring what steps have been taken or are contemplated.

asked the. Secretary of Stale for India the policy of the Government of India with regard to the development of civil aviation in India; what steps are being taken to ensure that air transport does not fall into the hands of foreign interests; and what facilities are being afforded to Indians for training as pilots, mechanics, etc.?

In addition to information given in reply to previous questions, I am now sending my hon. and gallant Friend an extract from the Proceedings of the Standing Finance Committee of the Indian Legislative Assembly, which will bring his information up to date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to issue in the form of a Government Paper a Report upon recent raids into British territory from Abyssinia?

The only raids which have been reported during the last year are those which occurred in the neighbourhood of Lake Rudolf. Details of these were given in replies to questions asked by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on 10th July and 13th November last. It is not proposed to issue a Government Paper regarding these raids.

asked the Secretary for Mines to what extent the system of the two coal-getting shifts in the day has been adopted in place of the single shift in South Wales and elsewhere in Great Britain since 1926?

I regret that no figures are available for a later date than 1925.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that an examination of the Cwmtillery Colliery, Abertillery, was conducted by the workmen's examiners, and as a result a request was made to the inspectorate to hold an inquiry into the charges made by them; that this was done, an inspector remaining at the colliery for six days, from 4th November to 9th November, inclusive, who afterwards submitted a Report to his Department, and that a copy of the Report has been asked for by the workmen and has been refused; and whether he will authorise the despatch of a copy of the inspector's Report so as to remove any doubt that may exist amongst the workmen as to the safety of the mine, and that the colliery is managed in accordance with the Coal Mines Act and its regulations?

The Reports of His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines are confidential and I cannot disclose them. I can say, however, that the inspector's Reports in this case, though in a different form from those of the two workmen's examiners, who accompanied him throughout all the inspections, are to the same effect, and that they disclose no cause for anxiety on the part of the persons employed at the colliery.

asked the Postmaster-General whether consideration has been given to the laying of another cable from the mainland to the Isle of Man?

The existing cables contain sufficient spare capacity to handle the traffic for some time to come and a new cable is not, therefore, yet required. The development of this, as of other cable routes, is kept constantly under observation, and additional capacity is provided in anticipation of traffic growth.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that telegraph poles erected on the sides of roads are the cause of frequent accidents; whether such poles have been so erected owing to the difficulty of obtaining consent to erect them on adjoining property; and, if so, will he take steps to obtain power to fix such poles in positions other than on the roads?

Special care is taken when erecting poles on the highway to select positions involving no danger to traffic. Where this condition cannot be met, there is seldom any serious difficulty in obtaining facilities for placing them on adjoining private property. It is not proposed to introduce legislation in the near future, but the question of obtaining powers to deal with occasional cases of difficulty will be considered if a suitable opportunity occurs.

asked the Minister of Transport how many fatal accidents have occurred in the course of the last six months on Rooks Hill and Carters Hill, near Sevenoaks; how many of these took place in the course of motor bicycle or other motor races; and whether measures will be taken to prevent the misuse of these dangerous roads for racing?

I am informed that the police have no record of any fatal accident, in which a motor car or motor cycle was involved, on these hills in the course of the last three years. They have been included in reliability trials from time to time, but there have been no motor races so far as the police are aware.

asked the Minister of Transport when electricity is likely to be available in the Parish of Farningham, in Kent?

I understand that if no unforeseen difficulties are experienced in obtaining wayleaves, the undertakers expect to establish a point of supply at Farningham in October next.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will review the law pertaining to the hire-purchase system in Scotland with a view to amendment of the powers for inflicting imprisonment?

Civil imprisonment is not a method of enforcing a hire-purchase contract. It can only arise out of such a contract, as in the case of any other contract, where there is refusal to implement an order of Court to do a specific thing. The law in that respect does not, in my view, call for revision.

asked the Attorney-General whether it is the policy of the Chief Land Registrar to encourage the voluntary use by the public of the facilities for land registration offered by His Majesty's Land Registry; if such is the policy, whether he will indicate what is being done to give effect thereto; and is he aware that property owners generally are not fully aware of the land registration facilities at their disposal?

As indicated in the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for West Dorset (Major Colfox) on 23rd December last, there have been considerable increases in the number of first registrations in voluntary areas in the last 17, and particularly in the last five or six years. Experience shows that the advantages of land registration are greatest in areas where registration is universal and compulsory on transfer, but the Chief Land Registrar, acting under the instructions of the Lord Chancellor, affords every facility for those who desire to register voluntarily. I have no means of knowing that property owners are not fully aware of the facilities at their disposal, but I am disposed to look for the success of land registration rather to a gradual increase in the number of compulsory areas than to a general extension of registration in areas where registration is not compulsory.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider the possibility of introducing legislation dealing with a reform of the divorce laws in the near future, particularly so that insanity, brutality, incest, and continued drunkenness may be considered as grounds for divorce?

Incest committed since the celebration of the marriage is at present a ground for divorce. As regards the other grounds for divorce suggested by my hon. Friend, Bills, intended to make the change in the law which he suggests have in recent years passed the House of Lords but have failed to make progress in this House, and I have no reason for supposing that there is such a body of opinion in favour of the change in the present House as would justify the Government in occupying Parliamentary time with any such proposals in the present state of Parliamentary business.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state the names of the economists who will serve upon the economic general staff?

I am not yet in a position to state the names.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the refusal of his Department to re-open the case of Private F. Stratford, of 45, Widdin Street, E.13, Reference No. 11/w/117,782; and whether, as this man is a permanent invalid, he will have the case again looked into?

Mr. Stratford's claim to be suffering from disablement due to his War service was rejected in 1920 and an appeal against the Ministry's decision was disallowed by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. No evidence has at any time been produced to justify a review of the case and there is, therefore, no ground for special action.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Haynes, widow of the late Private Percy George Haynes, No. 3,383, East Kent Regiment, whose claim for pension has been refused by the Ministry of Pensions; whether he is aware that the late soldier died on 25th January, 1929, from pulmonary tuberculosis; that the doctor who attended him certified that the pulmonary tuberculosis was due to the effects of War service following on the weak condition which was brought about by the dysentery for which Haynes was at one time pensioned; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, from which there appears to be conflicting medical evidence, he will refer the case to an independent expert for advice?

My attention has been drawn to this case, to which. I have given the most careful consideration. I am advised that the evidence does not enable a certificate to be given that the tuberculosis of which Mr. Haynes died was the result of his dysentery or of his War service. There are, therefore, no grounds for exceptional action in this ease, which is in fact outside the scope of the Royal Warrant.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of claims which have been received and the number which have been admitted since the announcement made by his Department regarding the administration of the seven years' limit condition?

Building Industry—Great Britain.
Occupation.		1928.				1929.
		Estimated Numbers insured in July.	Numbers recorded as unemployed.			Estimated Numbers insured in July.	Numbers recorded as unemployed.
			22nd Oct.	26th Nov.	17th Dec.		21st Oct.	25th Nov.	16th Dec.
Bricklayers	…	72,810	5,809	6,380	6,656	74,630	7,250	9,155	9,089
Masons	…	21,640	1,944	2,138	2,304	21,960	1,468	2,351	2,466
Plasterers	…	22,880	2,355	2,672	2,941	23,840	2,592	4,139	4,700
Plumbers	…	32,070	2,563	3,020	2,620	32,910	2,504	2,705	2,878
Slaters	…	5,860	588	515	470	6,220	718	799	665

About 4,500 fresh applications have been received in this period, though the number of these which were made directly in consequence of the announcement referred to cannot be distinguished. These claims are in process of examination, but it is not possible to say how many of them have been admitted. Altogether 140 claims have been admitted during the past three months.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of the recipients of local or State relief in respect of unemployment are of other than British nationality?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered bricklayers, masons, plasterers, plumbers, and slaters employed and unemployed for the last quarters of the years 1928 and 1929, respectively?

Statistics of the numbers actually in employment in the periods specified are not available, but the following table gives the estimated numbers of insured persons in the occupations in question, classified as belonging to the building industry in Great Britain at July of 1928 and 1929, and the numbers of such persons recorded as unemployed in the last quarter of each of those years.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department is prepared to give a general approval to the principle of county councils incorporating in their schemes of repair and maintenance of classified roads a proportion of the able-bodied who are now a charge to the local rates, and who may become a burden to the county councils as the new administrators of poor relief?

The recuirment of labour for the ordinary repair and maintenance of classified roads is within the discretion of the responsible highway authority, and I do not feel called upon to express any general opinion on the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in regard to unemployment of farm workers, whether he will invite all district councils or boards of guardians to furnish a Return of all such unemployed men, with the number of their dependants, in their respective districts?

It would not be practicable to obtain reliable statistics as to the number of agricultural workers at present unemployed by means of the inquiry suggested by my hon. Friend. I am, however, arranging to receive from the Ministry's crop reporters, during the course of the next few days, reports as to the extent of unemployment among agricultural workers in each of their respective areas.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the claim of Mrs. Battersby, of Easingwold, to a widow's pension; whether he is aware that nine weeks have now elapsed and Mrs. Battersby has not yet received any communication from the Ministry; and whether he will instruct his Department to inform Mrs. Battersby at an early date that she may draw the pension?

A widow's pension has now been awarded to Mrs. Battersby (not Battersby) as from 3rd December, 1929, the Tuesday following the date of her husband's death, and the necessary forms to enable her to secure payment of the pension were issued on the 27th ultimo.

asked the Minister of Health the average cost of the non-parlour, three-bedroom house during the period covering approximately the last 12 months; and whether he will give examples of the highest and lowest costs with, in each case, floor area, at which contracts have recently been placed both in large cities and in small urban districts?

Particulars distinguishing the average price of non-parlour, three-bedroom houses from that of other non-parlour houses are not available. The average price of non-parlour houses included in contracts let by or in direct labour schemes of local authorities in England and Wales during the year 1029 was £344. Some examples of high and low costs in recent cases are shown in the following table:

—	Average price per house.	Average area per house.
High Costs.	£	sq. ft.
Large Towns.
Huddersfield	414	795
Bolton	427	860
Stoke-on-Trent	410	848
Stockport	402	785
Small Urban Districts.
Wolverton	400	768
Littleborough	431	906
Darlaston	365	874
Kirkby-in-Ashfield	371	880
Low Costs.
Large Towns.
Carlisle	281	647
Barnsley	288	675
Liverpool	334	710
Doncaster	319	886
Small Urban Districts.
Whitwood	306	725
Winsford	305	722
Horsforth	292	670
Arnold	299	680

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give particulars of the death rate from diphtheria in the United States of America, Germany, England and Wales, Scotland and

TABLE showing Death rate from Diphtheria per 10,000 population in certain countries for the years 1920–1928.
Country.	Year.
	1920.	1921.	1922.	1923.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.
England and Wales	1·5	1·3	1·1	0·7	0·6	0·7	0·8	0·7	0·8
Scotland	1·5	1·3	1·1	1·0	0·9	1·0	1·0	1·0	1·0
United States of America (a).	1·5	1·8	1·5	1·2	1·0	0·8	0·8	0·8	0·7
Germany (b)	1·3	1·0	0·7	0·7	0·6	0·5	Male 0·4	0·5	Not available.
(including deaths from Croup).							Female 0·3	0·4
Canada (c)	Not available.	2·0	1·6	1·3	1·3	0·9	0·8	1·1	1·0
(a) Rates for years 1920–1926 are taken from "Mortality Statistics, 1926" and relate to Registration Area of 1920. Rates for years 1927 and 1928 are taken from Public Health Reports No. 51, 1929, and relate to Registration Area of 1928.
(b) The rates given refer to deaths from diphtheria and from croup, and in respect of the years 1920–25 are taken from "Die Beweguug des Bevölkerung im Jahre, 1924," and relate to the Deutsches Reich: the rates for 1926 and 1927 are taken from "Statistisches Jahrbuch fur das Deutsche Reich, 1929," and are exclusive of the Saargebiet.
(c) The rates given for the years 1921–1926 are taken from "Vital Statistics, 1926," and relate to Registration Area as of 1921, i.e. excluding Provinces of Quebec, Yukon and North West Territory; the figures for 1927 and 1928 are taken from "Preliminary Vital Statistics," 1927 and 1928, and relate to Registration Area as above but including Porvince of Quebec.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the amendment of the law under the Shops Act, 1912, requiring that a hairdresser exercising his calling, but not employing any assistant, should refrain from work and close his business for a half-day each week; and whether he appreciates the difficulty which such men experience in meeting high rents in main thoroughfares where the business may be established and the struggle involved to make even a small living?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I appreciate the difficulties referred to by the hon. Member, but any such exemption as he suggests would, in my opinion, operate most unfairly, and tend seriously to prejudice the maintenance of the weekly half-holiday in this trade.

The particulars required, so far as they are available, are as follow:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the relative proportions of coal and oil fuels used in the ships under his control?

The relative proportions of coal and oil fuels used in the ships under the control of the Admiralty is as one is to 6.3, but if all shore establishments and services are included the relative proportions are as one is to 1.6.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will consider replacing the obsolete electric lamps in the Houses of Parliament by lamps consuming less electrical energy per candle-power?

I am not aware that the electric lamps in the Houses of Parliament are obsolete. The lamps are, of course, replaced as they come to the end of their useful life.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of Civil Service pensions which were commuted for lump sum payment during the four quarters of 1929 and the period for which these pensions had been paid?

The only Civil Service pensions which can be commuted for a lump sum are compensation allowances awarded upon retirement owing to abolition of office. Seven allowances of this nature were partially commuted in 1929, the distribution over the successive quarters of the year being four, two, none and one. The allowances had been drawn in one case for 13 months, in one case for four months, in four cases for three months, and in the remaining case for two months prior to partial commutation. No allowances were wholly commuted during 1929.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of men and women civil servants, respectively, who died whilst in the employment of the Crown in the clerical, executive, and administrative grades of the Civil Service during the years 1927, 1928, and 1929?

The total number of deaths during 1928 of established male civil servants in whose cases service was sufficient for the award of a death gratuity under the Superannuation Act, 1909, was 687, but the information available does not enable me to distribute the total between the various grades in the Civil Service. The Act does not apply to women. Information in fuller detail for 1929 is being collected, and I will send it to the Noble Lady in due course. I regret that the figures for 1927 are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether reports have been received from the industrial assurance commissioner as to the action of assurance companies in taking profits which rightly belong to industrial policyholders and using them for other purposes such as extending the business?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give approximate estimates for the most recent convenient year of the total capital wealth of Great Britain, the total amount of wealth invested in industry in Great Britain, the total national income, and the total income derived from industry in Great Britain, respectively?

I fear I have not the material to answer so comprehensive a question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will examine the present methods by which securities within the scope of the Trustee Act, 1925, and/or upon the Treasury list of trustee securities are issued, registered, and transferred, with a view to finding means to reduce the possibility of such securities being subjected to fraudulent treatment, as was disclosed in a recent criminal prosecution?

I shall be pleased to consider any suggestions that the hon. Member has to make, though I am not altogether clear what measures special to trustee securities he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total amounts, respectively, of British, French, Italian, and Japanese claims put before the Commission set up by the Convention, dated 23rd November, 1923, for reparations for damage caused to the subjects of the said countries on Ottoman territories; what amounts were respectively paid to the said countries; whether the same percentage of the damage assessed was allowed and paid in respect of the claims to subjects of each of the said countries; if not, what were the respective percentages allowed; and upon what grounds the dividend on British claims was reduced from the original estimate of 80 per centum to 52½ per centum?

I understand that the total amounts of the claims put forward by the nationals of the countries named is not ascertainable since some of the claims were for no definite amount. The amounts paid by the Commission in respect of the claims of the nationals of each country up to the present are as follow:

		£T gold.
France	…	1,954,698.35
Britain	…	1,848,977.43
Italy	…	1,629,192.16
Japan	…	5,019.52
£T gold	…	5,437,887.46

The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative, and the fourth part of the question therefore does not arise. With regard to the fifth part of the question, the amount of the dividend on all claims is limited by the amount of the sum placed at the disposal of the Commission by the Convention of 23rd November, 1923.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount received in each of the last six years from the duty on imported di-calcium phosphate?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will favourably consider the inclusion in the next Finance Bill of a provision to exempt from Income Tax the income received by hospitals and other charities from the letting of their premises or from entertainments given by them for the purpose of raising funds?

The hon. Member-will appreciate that I am unable to anticipate the contents of my forthcoming Budget. If, however, he has in mind a particular case in which, in his opinion, the existing law bears hardly upon a charitable organisation, and will supply me with full particulars, I shall be happy to inquire into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the treaty now under negotiation between Great Britain and the Russian Soviet Republics, any and, if so, whit provision is being made for the due payment of Income Tax on their trading profits by Arcos, Limited, and other associated companies incorporated in this country?

No provisions of this nature are necessary, since, as stated on Thursday last by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Soviet trading organisations of the type referred to have been, and will be, treated as within the scope of the Income Tax Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any statistics that will show the amount per head of the population that was distributed in respect of teachers' pensions in England and Wales in 1927 and 1928?

The expenditure on this service in 1927 was equivalent to 2s. 2¼d. per head of population, and in 1928 to 2s. 3¾d.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government are prepared to advise the principal cocoa firms who still refrain from knowingly purchasing cocoa of Portuguese origin that the present conditions under which native labour is engaged for and employed in the islands of San Thomé and Principé are such as justify the purchase of cocoa?

I should be grateful if the hon. Member would be so good as to furnish me with such information as ho possesses on the question of native labour in the islands mentioned, and I will then consider the question which he puts to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow has been instructed to make any protest to the Soviet Government respecting the non-observance of the pledges respecting propaganda?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will consider the desirability of urging that the League of Nations should convene in 1931 a world education conference to consider and report upon the study and teaching of the organisation of peace?

The last Assembly of the League of Nations considered the question of the instruction of youth in the aims and ideals of the League and voted credits for the further distribution of the publication "The Aims and Organisations of the League of Nations." In view of the interest taken by the Assembly in the question, I hope that useful progress may be made without the necessity of calling a special conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government are prepared to support the proposals now laid before the Council of the League of Nations for a minimum international standard in the treatment of prisoners?

No proposal of the nature indicated by the hon. Member has actually come before the Council of the League. At its last session the Council decided to consult the Inter- national Prison Commission, which has lately endeavoured to draw up a code setting out the minimum standard for the treatment of prisoners, and the Howard League of Penal Reform, as to what aspects of the question can advantageously be dealt with by the League. The results of this inquiry, together with the views of the International Labour Office and various League committees, will be communicated in due course to the Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any evidence in the possession of British Consuls in different parts of the world on the subject of slavery will be made available to the inquiry on the subject being made by the League of Nations for the next meeting of the Assembly?

In accordance with the resolution of the last Assembly of the League of Nations, His Majesty's Government hope to forward to the Secretary-General of the League, in due course, and before the next Assembly, a summary of the information at their disposal relative to slavery. Whether it will be necessary or desirable to include in this any information derived from reports of British consular officers, will be considered at the proper time when the material as a whole is reviewed, and when the communication to the Secretary-General has to he drafted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken to put into operation the Government's policy to stabilise prices for agricultural produce; and whether he has taken, or proposes to take, action in order to stabilise prices for the growers of British potatoes?

In regard to the first part of the question, I am not in a position to add anything to the answer I gave to the question by the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) on 23rd December, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. In regard to the second part of the question, the stabilisation of potato prices is primarily a marketing problem, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave on 4th December and 16th December to questions on this subject, copies of which I am also sending him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity and value of the exports of British potatoes free of disease during 1929; and whether any guarantees or certificates were issued by the Ministry in connection therewith?

Certificates in the forms prescribed by the regulations of the various importing countries were issued by the Ministry, in respect of potatoes grown in England, for 1,174,300 cwts., valued at £280,015. The total export of potatoes from the United Kingdom during 1929 amounted to 2,919,740 cwts. valued at £696,163.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that inquiries are being made with a view to the erection of a beet-sugar factory at Thetford, Norfolk; and what stops the Ministry is prepared to take to expedite this development in a distressed agricultural area?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Though I am afraid I have no power under the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, to take direct steps in the direction suggested, the Ministry is prepared, if requested, to give all the advice and assistance it can to any group contemplating the erection of a new factory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any information showing whether existing beet-sugar factories in Norfolk are adequate to accept and cope with next year's contracts in that county; and, if the figures are not available, may inquiries be made in order to furnish a return?

I understand that the three beet-sugar factories in Norfolk have made a special effort to meet the requirements of growers and have accepted contracts for the 1930 season for an acreage substantially greater than in any previous year. I have no informa- tion that the factories have refused any contracts that have been offered by growers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that the traffic in worn-out horses is now carried out under proper conditions, and if he contemplates making any further provisions in order to ensure that no avoidable suffering is caused to horses exported from Great Britain and that horses exported for slaughter are humanely killed?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) on 30th January, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the failure of the farmers of Great Britain to provide a pork supply to the industrial centres, he will rescind the embargo on the importation of pork for consumption, and limit the ports at which it may be landed to London, Queenborough, Harwich, Hull, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. and with respect to bacon pigs intended for processing in bacon factories to admission at the same ports providing that they be scalded, cleansed, and scraped before shipment abroad and that, on arrival in this country, they be transported only in certain registered motor vans or railway vehicles and, if considered desirable, inspected?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave to his questions on this subject on 4th November and 12th December, 1929, in which I pointed out that such movements of pork prices as had taken place only represented well recognised cyclical fluctuations in pig prices both at home and abroad. I further indicated to him that I had carefully considered whether any modification of the embargo was possible and that the embargo was undoubtedly necessary for the protection of livestock in this country from disease. The position remains as then stated. The conditions under which my hon. Friend proposes that the importation of pig carcases should be permitted would not afford adequate safeguards against the introduction of infection and I regret, therefore, that I am unable to modify the embargo in the manner he desires.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many stations for grading and marking eggs, under the national-mark scheme, existed at the end of May, 1929; and how many have been started since that date?

165 authorised packing stations were in existence at the end of May, 1929, and 33 stations have been authorised since that date; 34 stations have either voluntarily withdrawn or had their authorisations revoked by the National Mark Committee on various grounds, so that 164 stations remain at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what increase or decrease there has been in the area of arable land in cultivation in Great Britain during the past year?

Returns collected on 4th June, 1929, showed that there was a decrease of 188,939 acres in the area of arable land in Great Britain as com pared with 1928.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of allotments in this country for the last two years; whether the officers of his Ministry are

Name of Common.			Local Authority.	Approximate Area.
				Acres.
Colney Heath (part of)	…	…	Barnet Rural District Council	42
Giggs Hill Green	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	7
Weston Green	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	6
Ditton Common	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	80
Littleworth Common	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	116
Hare Lane Green	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	4
Arbrook Common	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	51
Claygate Common	…	…	Esher and the Dittons Urban District Council	34
			Total	340

The latest complete returns available are those for the year ended 31st December, 1928, which showed a total of 1,001,741 allotments in England and Wales, as compared with 1,022,580 in the previous year. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will provide a list giving the names of unregulated commons within the Metropolitan Police District; the name of the local sanitary authority within whose area each is situated; and the estimated approximate acreage of each?

The Ministry has no official record of the particulars which my hon. Friend requires. A list of Metropolitan commons not placed under regulation, together with their areas, was, however, submitted by the Commons Preservation Society to the Select Committee of this House on Commons in 1912, and will be found on page 152 of the Appendix to the Report of that Committee, No. 85 of 1913. Under Section 193 of the Law of Property Act, 1925, the following commons, which had previously been unregulated, have since been made the subject of Orders of Limitations and Conditions, namely: