asked the Postmaster-General the number of promotions in the direct line of promotion, and the average age of the officers promoted from the following Post Office manipulative grades during each of the past five years in respect of men and women, respectively: sorters, counter clerks and telegraphists (men), counter clerks and telegraphists (women), telegraphists (men), telegraphists (women), sorting clerks and telegraphists (men), sorting clerks and telegraphists (women), telephonists, night telephonist, postmen (London), and postmen (provinces)?

The information desired could not be furnished without the expenditure of an amount of time and labour which would hardly, I think, be justified.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of men and women in the employment of the Government Departments who receive an annual holiday with payment; and the number of persons in the employ of Government Departments who do not receive such concession?

With the exception of caretakers, whose employment is subject to special conditions, all men and women in whole-time employment in Government Departments in this country are eligible for annual leave with pay, subject in certain cases to a qualifying period of service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the total value of manufactured goods imported into the Dominions from foreign countries for the latest year for which he can obtain the figures?

I have been asked to answer this question. For the purposes indicated in the question, the information available in the published official records of imports into the several Dominions is insufficient, both because the classification of goods does not in all eases distinguish manufactured articles from the materials of manufacture and because the detail relating to the countries from which particular classes of imports are received is not always sufficient to permit of a complete separation of goods received from foreign countries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total value of the manufactured goods imported into the Crown Colonies and Protectorates from foreign countries for the latest year for which he can obtain the figures?

Tables are being prepared in reply to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon (Major Glyn) showing the values of imports into the several Colonies and Protectorates from the United Kingdom, from other parts of the British Empire and from foreign countries, classified under four general headings one of which is "Articles wholly or mainly manufactured." I hope that it will be possible to complete the tables in a few days, and I would suggest that the hon. Member should wait for their publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health as regards the county boroughs of England, what proportion the rate required for the service of debt for the non-trading departments bears on the average to the total rate?

The exact information desired by the hon. Member is not available. The total expenditure (other than capital expenditure) of the councils of county boroughs in England and Wales in 1927–28 on non-trading services amounted to £79,605,000, which included £17,028,000, approximately 22 per cent., for loan charges. Apart from local rates, there was available to meet this expenditure £22,718,000 from Government Grants and £15,204,000 from other specific income. It is not possible to say in what proportion income from various services was applied to loan charges and other expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received copies of the series of resolutions in favour of granting Dominion status to India as the immediate objective of British policy, and kindred matters, passed by the conference of landowners, at Lucknow, on 6th February, 1930; and, if so, what action he proposes to take with regard to their representations at the forthcoming Round Table Conference in Resolution 3 and their recommendation for a second chamber for the provinces of Agra and Oudh in Resolution 4?

As I stated in reply to a question on 17th February, I have seen reports of these Resolutions in the Press. On the question of representation I have nothing to add to the Governor-General's address to the Legislative Assembly of 25th January; the question of second chambers in the provinces is obviously one of the matters for settlement in connection with constitutional reform.

asked the Secretary of State for India the total number of British officers in the Indian medical service, the number who joined, and the number who left the service in each year from 1921 to date?

The following is the information asked for. So far as the figures can be ascertained, the following table gives (1) the total number of British officers in the Indian medical service in January in each of the years stated; (2) the number who joined; and (3) the number who left the service in each year:

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information as to the arrangement made by the Government of India for the granting of wireless receiver licences in the Indian States and the collection of sums on this account?

The arrangement agreed to by the Chamber of Princes is that the States should issue licences and collect fees for them at the same rate as is in force in British India, and should contribute a proportion of the proceeds to any broadcasting company which serves the State. How far this arrangement, which is not yet in force, will require modification now that the Government themselves have taken over broadcasting, I cannot say.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the present position in regard to the proposals under consideration by the Government of India for the development of an Indian mercantile marine?

I have no later information than that given in the communique issued by the Government of India on 6th January and published in the Press of this country on the following day.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the total value of manufactured goods imported into India from foreign countries for the latest year for which he can obtain the figures?

The value of articles, wholly or mainly manufactured, imported into India by sea in 1928–29 from foreign countries was £54,330,000.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the shortage of engine-room artificers for the needs of the Navy, with the result that the home service of such men is being considerably reduced, he will inquire into what has occurred on His Majesty's Ship "Ross" and other vessels as a result of this shortage?

As there is no shortage of engine-room artificers for the needs of the Navy, I do not understand my hon. Friend's question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give any figures as to the amount of milk provided for children in schools; and what proportion is provided free to necessitous children?

I regret that I am not in a position to give figures for the whole country. But as I have stated already, I am making further inquiry into the provision of milk in schools.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that some farmers are finding it does not pay them, owing to the existing low prices, to lift their potatoes; and if he can state the acreage of such land which has not been cleared?

While I am aware of the difficulties of the situation, I have not heard of any instance where the farmer has decided not to lift the crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has investigated the possibility of using the present surplus of potatoes for the manufacture of farina, commercial spirits, or other products, or of drying them for use for stock-feeding purposes; and whether he has any proposals to make on the subject?

My Department has recently prepared a memorandum on the question of converting surplus potatoes into various products, including drying them for food for stock. This memorandum has been furnished to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and also to the National Farmers' Union which has had the question under consideration as regards England and Wales. I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of this merorandum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farina mills in Great Britain and their output capacity; the number of such mills now operating; and the districts in which they are situated?

Farina mills were established at four centres in Great Britain as a result of an arrangement made by the Food Controller in 1918 but, so far as I am aware, there are no farina mills operating in Great Britain to-day.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether potato disease is known to exist in France, Spain, the Canary Islands, the Azores, and in Algeria, from which countries potatoes are being exported to Great Britain; and whether he is prepared to prohibit the importation of foreign potatoes from all countries where potato disease exists and also where foot-and-mouth disease is known to exist, owing to the danger of this latter disease being carried to this country by infected potato bags?

The entry of foreign potatoes into this country is already pro- hibited from that part of France where the Colorado beetle exists. Potato moth exists in Spain, Algeria and the Canary Islands, and potatoes imported therefrom must be accompanied by a health certificate and are subject to inspection at the ports. The strictest measures are taken to guard against the introduction of any pests or disease of a harmful nature not at present found in this country. So far as foot-and-mouth disease is concerned, careful inquiries have furnished no evidence that imported potatoes, or the sacks in which they are packed, have been a source of infection. There would, in these circumstances, be no justification for the use of my powers under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts and the Diseases of Animals Acts for the purpose of imposing what would in effect be a general embargo on foreign potatoes.