asked the Minister of Health if he has reached any decision on the petition recently forwarded to him from the urban district of the Maidens and Coombe asking that further houses to let should be built by the urban district

STATEMENT showing the number of houses built, with and without State Assistance, in the area of each urban and rural authority in the Administrative County of Leicester, between certain dates.
Local Authority.			Number of State-assisted houses built between 1st January, 1919, and 1st February, 1930.		*Number of houses built without State Assistance between 1st October, 1922, and 30th September, 1929.	Total.
			By Loca Authority.	By Private Enterprise.
Boroughs and Urban Districts.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch	…	…	72	22	40	134
Ashby Woulds	…	…	90	24	9	123
Coalville	…	…	190	305	80	575
Hinckley	…	…	130	740	145	1,015
Loughborough	…	…	541	381	133	1,055
Market Harborough	…	…	164	233	88	485
Melton Mowbray	…	…	99	196	42	337
Oadby	…	…	32	281	180	493
Quorndon	…	…	6	76	51	133
Shepshed	…	…	80	41	24	145
Thurmaston	…	…	12	287	130	429
Wigston Magna	…	…	346	386	74	806
Rural Districts.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch	…	…	—	173	99	272
Barrow-upon-Soar	…	…	338	1,189	384	1,911
Belvoir	…	…	16	2	6	24
Billesden	…	…	2	373	823	1,198
Blaby	…	…	190	1,490	575	2,255
Castle Donington	…	…	26	45	33	104
Hallaton	…	…	22	—	1	23
Hinckley	…	…	348	592	303	1,243
Loughborough	…	…	—	72	55	127
Lutterworth	…	…	94	113	34	241
Market Bosworth	…	…	52	261	55	368
Market Harborough	…	…	66	60	16	142
Melton Mowbray	…	…	—	137	75	212
* Figures as to unassisted houses built before 1st October, 1922, and after 30th September, 1929, are not available. The figures shown exclude houses having a rateable value exceeding £78.

The matter is receiving my active consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built in the area of each rural and urban authority in the administrative county of Leicester since 1918; how many in each case were built by the local authority; and how many by private enterprise, with and without subsidy?

The required particulars, so far as they are available, are shown in the following statement.

asked the Minister of Health how many town-planning local authorities in England and Wales are urban district councils and rural district councils, respectively; and how many of each council are now operating under the Town Planning (General Interim Development) Order, 1922, and the aggregate area and population of the districts of such councils, respectively?

All urban and rural district councils in England and Wales are town-planning authorities. There are 783 urban district councils, other than borough councils, and 643 rural district councils. The numbers of urban and rural district councils responsible for grafting permissions for their districts or parts of their districts under the Town Planning (General Interim Development) Order, 1922, or similar Orders are 237 and 129. The aggregate area and population of the districts of these 237 urban and 129 rural councils are 861,500 acres and 4,181,300 persons, and 5,846,500 acres and 2,339,800 persons, respectively. The aggregate area of the parts of these districts for which town-planning schemes are in course of preparation is, in the case of the urban districts, 716,900 acres, and, in the case of the rural districts, 2,891,600 acres, but I have not information of the aggregate population of the town-planning areas as distinct from the districts as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health the number of condemned houses in Devonport and Plymouth, respectively?

I am making inquiries and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to introduce legislation for the purpose of enabling trustee savings banks to lend money to local authorities in aid of municipal housing schemes?

No legislation is necessary to enable the banks to lend the deposits of their special investment departments in aid of municipal housing schemes, provided that the requirements of the National Debt Commissioners are fulfilled. Ordinary deposits, as my hon. Friend no doubt knows, are handed over to the National Debt Commissioners who pay interest on them, and it is not proposed to alter this practice.

asked the Minister of Health when the Committee on Ethyl Petrol will issue its Report; and, if not, considering the length of time it has been established, whether he will consider setting a time limit to its activities?

The Final Report of the Committee has been received, and is in the printer's hands.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has ever withheld or threatened to withhold grants payable to local authorities in respect of maternity and child welfare work on the ground that medical officers had given information on birth control to women attending the centres; and, if so, under what regulations was this action taken?

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 whether he has received a resolution from the South Berkshire Women's Unionist Association, asking him to give careful consideration to the desirability of authorising certificated midwives to give anaesthetics in cases of childbirth; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the question of giving anaesthetics at the time of childbirth is being considered by the Maternal Mortality Committee, and I propose to await their Report on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women

Persons on the Registers of the Employment Exchanges at Camborne and Redruth.
Date.				Camborne.			Redruth.
				Males.	Females.	Total.	Males.	Females.	Total.
2nd	December,	1929	…	642	63	705	874	102	976
9th	December,	1929	…	642	62	704	867	103	970
16th	December,	1929	…	601	60	661	831	87	918
23rd	December,	1929	…			No statistics available.
30th	December,	1929	…	611	67	678	845	111	956
6th	January,	1930	…	606	71	677	803	91	894
13th	January,	1930	…	586	73	659	809	136	945
20th	January,	1930	…	578	70	648	828	122	950
27th	January,	1930	…	585	75	660	864	121	985
3rd	February	1930	…	619	85	704	873	126	999
10th	February	1930	…	622	85	707	883	105	988
17th	February	1930	…	620	83	703	865	110	975

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has made any representations to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company with regard to the building of a new high-level railway station at Wolverhampton in connection with the provision of work for the unemployed; and with what result?

No, Sir. A scheme of the kind referred to would, however, be eligible for consideration with a view to assistance under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has made any further communication to the Woolwich Borough Council with the object of promoting schemes for the unemployed in the borough, and at the same time assisting the distressed areas; and what is the present position of the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. On 6th February a communication was received from the Town Clerk to the effect that the council were unable to comply with the condition for grant which had reference to the employment of a percentage of transferred labour.

The following statement gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for unemployment benefit whose claims have been rejected by the insurance officer in Dundee, and whose appeals to the court of referees have been sustained, during the six months ended 30th June, 1929, and during the six months ended 31st December, 1929?

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

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many men are now working in Whitwell Woods, Derbyshire; what is the kind of work that is being done and what wages are being paid per man per week; and whether, in view of the fact that consequent upon two large collieries in the, immediate neighbourhood being closed, and that considerable work could be undertaken in clearing and planting in these woods, he will consider engaging upon this work some of the older men who are finding it almost impossible to find employment?

In Whitwell Wood 10 men are directly employed by the Forestry Commission and nine men are employed by contractors. The Commission's employés are preparing ground for planting, fencing and planting. The contractors' employés are clearing under-wood and lop and top. The Commission's employés are earning from 42s. to 43s. per week. The work is already proceeding at its maximum economic rate, and the Commissioners see no immediate prospect of employing more men.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is intended to commence work on the new Employment Exchange at Wolverhampton?

I have been asked to reply to this question. It is hoped to commence work on the site in five or six months' time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the programme and set piece for this year's display by the Royal Air Force has now been finally settled; and can he give particulars?

The programme has now been decided except for details, and follows the general lines of those of previous years. Certain new events are, however, being introduced, which are designed to demonstrate the improvement in equipment and training achieved by the Royal Air Force. New and experimental types of aircraft will also be demonstrated. The set piece, which terminates the display, deals with air action taken to bring the activities of certain pirates to an end. Further details will appear in the Press in due course.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any changes have been made in the practice of obtaining, in connection with the consideration of pension cases, information from employers as to a man's health during his employment?

The practice referred to has been very carefully considered by me, and it has now been laid down that in any case where boarding is required on the initiative of the Ministry (other than cases of epilepsy and tuberculosis where the practice is discontinued altogether) it is made clear to the man that if he has definite reasons against asking his employer for this information he need not do so.

asked the Minister of Pensions to what extent the medical boarding of men suffering from tuberculosis is undertaken during the more favourable summer months; and will he inquire as to whether this operates adversely to the pensioner?

The medical boarding of these cases, as of all other classes of disability, is distributed as evenly as possible over the whole year. The seasonal variations in the condition of a tuberculous case are fully appreciated and are always allowed for in the assessment of pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for pensions have been received from the county of Carnarvon from ex-service men whose claims were out of date under the seven years' limit provision; and how many of these applications have been granted?

The information required is, I fear, not available, as the records of my Department are not kept on a county basis.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-service men who have died from the effects of gas poisoning, and whose disability has been recognised by his Department as being attributable to, or aggravated by, war service during each of the last 10 years; how many new claims in respect of applications for pensions for disabilities attributable to gas poisoning have been made within each of the last five years; and how many of them have been approved?

The particulars required by the hon. and gallant Member could not be given with any degree of completeness, since the effects of gas poisoning would ordinarily appear in the form of specific disabilities of the respiratory organs, and any claim submitted in consequence would be recorded under these disabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for India the present position in respect of the proposals for connecting Burma by rail to the rest of India?

The Government of India regard such schemes as desirable in themselves, but their execution is at present impracticable on financial grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for India if, during the last five years, the Government of India have received and considered any claims put forward by the Indian Maritime States to export salt under proper safeguards to countries outside India?

I will ask the Government of India whether any such claims have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give figures showing the total imports of kerosene, petrol, and other petroleum products, during each of the past ten years, from the United States of America and from other countries?

The information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend will be found in the Annual Seaborne Trade Accounts of India on pages 338–340 of the 1923–24 Annual Statement (Volume I) and pages 360–363 of the 1928–29 Annual Statement (Volume I). I am placing copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many masters of foreign merchant ships were sentenced in Scotland for the year 1929 for offences against the harbour bylaws and the Merchant Shipping Acts; and how many of these were sentenced to a fine or imprisonment, respectively?

The answer to the first part of the question is one. The offender, who had contravened Section 10 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, was sentenced to a fine of £25 or 60 days' imprisonment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the need for improving the road access to the Tynemouth docks and deep-water quay; and whether he can co-operate with the local authorities concerned in respect of the necessary financial outlay?

My attention has not been called to this matter; but I will give due consideration to any agreed scheme which may be put forward by the appropriate highway authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether there has been any delay with the widening of High Street, Eltham; whether the same is to be postponed until negotiations over Barclays Bank property have been settled; and whether he can state the present position of the matter?

It has been necessary to await the acquisition of certain properties, in respect of which arbitration proceedings have been recently held. The widening of the east side of Barclays Bank will be proceeded with immediately possession is obtained. Negotiations are about to be entered into with the bank with a view to the setting back of that property to the widened line.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when it is proposed to commence work on Waterloo Bridge?

I have been asked to reply. It is understood that action in regard to the reconditioning and widening of Waterloo Bridge is suspended pending progress of the Bill relating to the Charing Cross Bridge scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the danger to pedestrians through the scarcity of footpaths on the main road between Shoreham-by-Sea and Worthing; will he call the attention of the West Sussex County Council thereto; and whether any grants have been applied for from the Road Fund for the purpose of constructing footpaths in this district?

Complaints were made to my Department in 1927 with respect to the absence of footpaths on the road between Lancing and Worthing and in 1928 a 6 feet footpath was constructed from the "Three Horseshoes" public house, Lancing, to the Worthing borough boundary, towards the cost of which a grant was made from the Road Fund. I understand that the West Sussex County Council realise the need of adequate footpath accommodation. Grants have not been applied for from the Road Fund for the specific purpose of constructing footpaths in this district; but I am informed that the county council have under consideration schemes for the provision of a second footpath between Worthing and South Lancing and for widening the road between South Lancing and Southwick, and at the same time providing two footpaths.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will favourably consider the exemption from annual duties of motor vehicles used solely for the benefit of invalids?

I have been asked to answer this question. I presume the hon. Member refers to mechanically-propelled vehicles not exceeding 5 cwt. in weight unladen, adapted and used for invalids, upon which the annual tax is five shillings. I do not think there is any ground for remitting this tax.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will consider the advisability of making the postal pillar-boxes more attractive; and whether any changes which will bring financial returns would benefit the local authority in which the pillar-boxes are fixed or whether any such increment would accrue to the State;(2) whether he is aware that the various tramway standards in London where there are overhead wires have been successfully used for advertising signs; and whether he will consider the desirability of using the postal pillar-boxes for similar purposes?

I will answer these two questions together, as I understand that both refer to a proposal to use pillar-boxes for commercial advertisements. Similar proposals have frequently been made; but they have invariably been rejected on the ground that such prospects of revenue as they offered were not worth the disfigurement involved, or the friction with the local authorities who are concerned with the amenities of the streets. With that view I concur, and I could not agree to the use of pillar-boxes for advertisement even if particular local authorities were ready to waive objection. In these circumstances the question as to what extent if at all the hypothetical revenue from the advertisements would be shared by the local authority does not arise. I have no information as to the success of any advertisements which may have been displayed on overhead tramway standards.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of pillar-boxes in use in the London area; and the total number in England and Wales and Scotland?

There are 3,966 pillar-boxes in the London postal area and about 1,300 posting boxes of other types. Up-to-date figures for the provinces are not available, but the number of posting boxes is estimated at, roughly, 53,000, including 11,000 pillar-boxes.

asked the Postmaster-General the maximum and minimum numbers of workers temporarily employed in the postal service during the year ending 31st December, 1929, and also the number of temporary men who were placed upon the establishment during the same period; the number of temporary workers engaged during the Christmas pressure; the number of hours of overtime worked by the established staff during Christmas and the new year; and the average number of hours per individual employed on overtime?

The number of fulltime temporary male workers (exclusive of the temporary Christmas staff) ranged between 2,900 and 1,900 during the year 1929. There is no provision for advancing purely temporary employés to the establishment, and while in some instances service in a temporary capacity is given before appointment to the establishment, there is no record of the actual number of such cases. Statistics are not available as regards the total number of temporary workers employed during the Christmas period, nor as regards the number of hours of overtime worked. Approximately 9,500 men were engaged in London.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated amount, expressed as a percentage of wages, inclusive of the present cost-of-living bonus, which should be paid annually into a hypothetical pension fund in order to secure for the established manipulative staffs of the Post Office the benefits payable under the Superannuation Acts; and what rate of interest is the fund assumed to earn in arriving at this percentage?

The estimate of pension liability which is made for the Post Office Commercial Accounts is based on actuarial calculations in which the various sections of the manipulative staff are dealt with separately; and the percentages of wages (including bonus) which represent the current provision in respect of a hypothetical pension fund to meet the liabilities under the Superannuation Acts range from 9 per cent. to 13¼ per cent. The rate of interest used in the calculations is 4½ per cent.

asked the Prime Minister if he will grant a day for the discussion of the Government's agricultural policy?

I regret that, in view of the state of public business, it is not possible to grant a day for this purpose, but the hon. Member will be aware that opportunities will arise for the discussion of the subject in the ordinary course of business if arrangements are made through the usual channels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total sums advanced to farmers and smallholders to date under the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928?

Up to and including Tuesday, 25th February, 1930, the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation had advanced the following sums under Part I of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928:

		£
Loans on mortgage	…	3,837,205
Improvement loans	…	7,335
		£3,844,540

In addition, the Directors of the Corporation had approved the following loans, subject to satisfactory completion of the formalities:

		£
Loans on mortgage	…	1,388,155
Improvement loans	…	21,085
		£1,409,240

The number of agricultural charges created under Part II of the Act from 1st October, 1928, up to and including Saturday, 1st March, 1930, was 1,989, standing in the names of 2,367 farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has received a copy of the resolution passed on 20th February by the National Farmers' Union on the unfair competition of ungraded eggs and declaring that such competition was a check to the progress of the national mark egg scheme; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have seen a copy of the resolution referred to which, as a first step, has, I understand, been referred by the National Farmers' Union to its county branches for consideration. The general question raised by the resolution has also been referred by my Department to the other organisations concerned in the egg trade. The views of all these bodies will in due course be placed before the Poultry Advisory Committee, from whom I shall doubtless receive a recommendation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the following Committees will issue their Reports; and, if not, whether, considering the length of time they have been established, he will consider setting a time limit to their activities: Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Crab and Lobster Fisheries?

The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee which was set up in 1924 to conduct investigations into foot-and-mouth disease has already issued three progress reports, and a further report is in course of preparation. The Inter-Departmental Committee on the Crab and Lobster Fisheries of Great Britain issued an interim report on lobsters in 1926, and will issue an interim report on crabs in the next few months. In each case the Committee considers, and I agree, that further investigations are required into the subjects referred to them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that between 26th October and 22nd November, 1928, there were 12 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the Tamerton Foliott district of Devon, the initial one of which was caused by pigs being fed with unboiled swill containing scraps of imported meat for which the owner was fined; will he say from what country the foreign meat was imported; whether an embargo was put on against any further imports from that country in the same

—		19th Feb., 1925.	18th Feb., 1926.	17th Feb., 1927.	16th Feb., 1928.	21st Feb., 1929.	20th Feb., 1930.
Under 10 stone	…	7/− to 7/4	8/4 to 8/8	9/− to 9/8	6/8 to 7/4	7/8 to 8/4	9/10 to 10/-
10 to 15 stone	…	6/8 to 7/−	7/8 to 8/4	7/8 to 9/−	6/2 to 6/6	7/2 to 7/10	9/− to 9/8
Over 15 stone	…	6/2 to 6/8	7/4 to 7/8	6/8 to 7/4	—	6/8 to 7/4	8/4 to 8/10
Sows	…	5/2 to 5/4	6/- to 6/3	5/4 to 5/6	3/8	5/2 to 5/4	7/2 to 7/4

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity of wheat grown

I am aware that in the case of the initial outbreak of the series referred to by my hon. Friend it was found that the affected animals, which were pigs, had been fed with unboiled swill, in contravention of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Boiling of Animals Foodstuffs) Order, an offence for which the owner concerned was convicted and fined. The meat contained in the swill had been imported from three sources—New Zealand, Australia and South America. No definite proof was obtained that infection had actually been introduced by means of these meat scraps, and in these circumstances the question of imposing an embargo did not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the official price, under the Food Ministry, for carcases of English pork for the last year under which control was established; and what, respectively, were the prices officially published by the City Corporation for pigs under 10 stone, pigs 10 to 15 stone, pigs over 15 stone, and sows, as ruling in Smithfield Market on the third Thursday of each February for the years 1925 to 1930, respectively?

The price of pork carcases during the last four months of control of pigs and pork, which ended on 31st March, 1920, was 11s. 8d. per 8 lb. stone and 10s. 8d. in the preceding eight months. The price of pork at Smithfield Market on the third Thursday of each February for the last six years is shown in the following statement:in Great Britain and the quantity imported for each of the last 10 years; and the value of the same, respectively?

The following statement gives particulars of the quantity and estimated value of the wheat grown in Great Britain in each of the years

Calendar Year.				Home Production.(a)		Gross Imports.(b)
				Quantity.	Estimated value.	Quantity.	Declared value.
				Thousand tons.	Thousand £.	Thousand tons.	Thousand £.
1920	…	…	…	1,515	30,047	6,298	167,999
1921	…	…	…	2,027	23,817	5,124	89,670
1922	…	…	…	1,742	16,984	5,755	69,466
1923	…	…	…	1,586	15,728	5,837	61,776
1924	…	…	…	1,412	18,003	6,638	77,329
1925	…	…	…	1,414	16,850	5,476	76,158
1926	…	…	…	1,360	16,207	5,553	71,642
1927	…	…	…	1,488	15,376	6,283	76,615
1928	…	…	…	1,328	12,948	5,799	63,899
1929	…	…	…	1,329	12,625	6,262	64,118
(a) Wheat crop of Great Britain valued at England and Wales average prices during the twelve months subsequent to the harvest. For 1929 the crop is valued at the average price during the 1929–30 season to date.
(b) Total imports of wheat and flour (expressed in terms of wheat) into the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland only from 1st April, 1923).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any Admiralty work can be given to yards in Newcastle-on-Tyne in substitution for the work suspended or cancelled last year under the policy of limitation of naval armaments?

Tenders will shortly be invited for certain classes of vessels, and the facilities of yards on the Tyne will be borne in mind when the allocation of orders is being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, in consequence of the school-leaving age being fixed at the end of terms instead of being dependent on the attainment of a standard age by the scholar, a number of boys in industrial areas come into the labour market at one time, with the result that many of them have to wait substantial periods before they can obtain work; and whether he will favourably consider the introduction 1920 to 1929, inclusive, and of the quantities and declared values of the wheat (including flour) imported into the United Kingdom during the same period:of legislation to make the school-leaving age co-terminous with the attainment of a standard age by the individual scholars?

I am satisfied that the educational advantages of Section 138 (1) of the Education Act, 1921, outweigh any disadvantages which its requirements may involve, and I see no sufficient ground for proposing any modification in the present law.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the following committees will issue their Reports; and, if not, whether, considering the length of time they have been established, he will consider setting a time limit to their activities; technical education for the engineering industry, salesmanship, and rural education in Wales?

The Committee on education for salesmanship has already presented an interim report. I understand that the Committee may desire to present another interim report shortly, and that it is hoped that their final report will, in any case, be ready in a few months' time. I understand that the other two Committees named expect to present their reports at an early date.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of colliery explosions, the names of the collieries, and the loss of life in South Yorkshire for the years 1910 to 1929?

The information is as follows:

LIST of FATAL ACCIDENTS from Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust in South Yorkshire from 1910 to 1929, and the number of lives lost.
Date of Explosion.	Name of Colliery.	No. of Deaths.
21st July, 1910	Rotherham Main	3
21st August, 1911	Maltby Main	3
2nd February, 1912	Bentley	3
6th July, 1912	Barnley Main	3
9th July, 1912	Cadeby Main	88*
30th May, 1914	Wharncliffe Silkstone	12
22nd June, 1914	Haigh	1
9th January,1917	Handsworth	2
2nd March, 1918	Wharnecliffe Wood	1
31st March, 1921	Hickleton Main	1
28th July, 1923	Maltby Main	27
23rd February, 1924	Birley East	4
24th April, 1924	Mottram Wood	1
* A further death occurred during 1913.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that copies of a British newspaper published in Tientsin have been seized in the local post office under order of the local propaganda committee of the Kuomintang, and that the reason given for this action is the publication in that paper of an article protesting against the broadcasting by the committee of circulars alleging that missionaries come to China for the purpose of trafficking in drugs and arms; and, seeing that this is an illegal action by a local party committee and constitutes an attack upon the rights of British subjects against which the Chinese Government was solemnly warned in the Aide Memoire of 20th December, 1929, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

Copies of the newspaper in question have been seized by the censors at Tientsin, who allege that the paper has attacked the local Kuomintang. Sir Miles Lampson has made representations on the subject to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any limit is placed upon the number of Russian subjects who will be admitted to this country for the operations of the Russian trade delegation; how many are expected; and what steps are being taken to ensure that their activities are solely confined to trade matters?

The status and numerical strength of the trade mission form one of the subjects now under discussion with the Soviet Ambassador in connection with the regulation of the commercial relations between the two countries. I can make no statement on the details of the present negotiations until they have reached a more advanced stage. No necessity has arisen for any such steps as are suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what nations have accepted the protocol prohibiting chemical and bacteriological methods of warfare; what nations have expressed their intention of accepting this protocol; and what nations are still carrying on research work in this connection or are known to be equipping their forces with means for using such methods of warfare as an offensive weapon?

The following countries have ratified or definitely acceded to the Convention:

Australia.	Germany.
Austria.	India.
Belgium.	Italy.
Canada.	Liberia.
China.	New Zealand.
Egypt.	Persia.
Finland.	Poland.
France.	Rumania.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what cases have arisen, under Article 20 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, in which members declare that if before becoming a member of the League they have undertaken any obligations inconsistent with the terms of the Covenant they will take immediate steps to procure release from such obligations; if this affects this country in any way; and if he is satisfied that other members of the League have fulfilled their duties in the matter?

I know of no cases of the nature mentioned by the hon. Member. The rest of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total approximate aggregate amount of interest, excluding sinking fund payments paid during the last 10 years on overseas debts of the Commonwealth States of Australia, and also the amount of (nominal) new debt raised overseas by the Commonwealth and States of Australia over the same period, refunding amounts excluded?

I have been asked to answer this question. The following figures have been supplied:

Commonwealth:
	£
(1) Interest paid to Stockholders (£11,895,000 recovered from States)	30,123,000
(2) Nominal new debt raised—excluding conversions	125,063,000
(3) Interest on debt to British Government	36,726,000
States:
(1) Interest paid to Stockholders	133,865,000
(2) Nominal new debt—excluding conversions	128,673,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount raised by Customs tariffs per capita in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, United States of America, France, Germany and Italy, respectively?

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, as soon as possible, such information as is available.

asked the Home Secretary when the following Committees will issue their Reports; and, if not, whether, considering the length of time they have been established, he will consider setting a time limit to their activities; East India Wool and Cotton Cardrooms?

The East India Wool (Disinfection Costs) Committee have already presented their main Report, which was published in the autumn of 1928. This Report dealt with the woollen and felt trades which comprise nearly the whole of the works in which East India wool is used. It was subsequently thought desirable that the worsted trade which uses a small quantity of this wool, should be included, and the Committee were asked to arrange for further tests accordingly. This supplementary inquiry is already well advanced, and the Report is expected within the next few months. The Committee on Dust in Cotton Card-rooms has also made good progress, but its inquiry is a laborious one, and I understand that the Committee may not be in a position to report for a considerable time. A large number of medical examinations of workers have to be carried out and the mortality figures for particular sets of workers have to be critically compared. The Committee are engaged on an important inquiry and their work cannot be hurried, but I am assured that they are anxious to expedite it as much as possible and that there will be no unreasonable delay.