asked the Minister of Transport when it is his intention to introduce the alternative Bill for the co-ordination of London traffic?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on 29th January to a similar question by the hon. Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Mr. Harris), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any recent recommendations have been made through his Department with reference to automatic train control on railways; and what action has been taken with reference thereto?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 14th April to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for South Edinburgh (Sir S. Chapman).

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the further accident last week at Camomile Bottom, Blackheath, when six people were injured; and what steps are being taken there to improve the safety of the public?

My attention has been drawn to the accident which took place at Camomile Bottom, Blackheath, on the night of 28th March. Discussions are in progress with the local authorities concerned regarding the institution of a roundabout system of traffic operation at this point with a view to improving the existing traffic conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War the percentages of men

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names and the amounts of their emoluments of those secretaries and acting secretaries who are in or employed by the diplomatic service and are, with the consent of the Foreign Office, on the pay roll of the countries to which they are accredited?

No members of the Diplomatic Service are in receipt of salary from the Government of the country in which they are employed. The case of the Acting First Secretary referred to in the question of the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Ward-law-Milne) of 9th April was dealt with in my reply of that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of slum improvement schemes approved and completed, respectively, under the Scottish Housing Act, 1925; and the number of persons re-housed, or proposed to be re-housed, under these schemes?

The ratio per 1,000 candidates for enlistment rejected by the examining medical officers for the following physical defects was as follows:

The number of improvement and reconstruction schemes confirmed by the Department of Health for Scotland under the provisions of Part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act. 1925, is 28, of which nine have been completed. In addition, 21 local authorities, with the aid of the 50 pet cent. slum clearance grant available in terms of Subsection (3) of Section 1 end Sub-section (5) of Section 23 of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, are proceeding with approved schemes for the accommodation of families removed from insanitary houses closed by means of closing Orders under the provisions of Part I of the Act of 1925. Of these authorities, 10 have completed their re-housing proposals. The total number of persons re-housed or proposed to be re-housed under the above schemes is, approximately, 62,910.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total cost of the improvements made to houses in rural areas under the Rural Housing (Scotland) Act, 1926; and the amount of the contributions made from rates and taxes, respectively?

According to the certificates received by the Department of Health for Scotland as at 31st March, 1930, the total estimated cost of the improvements made to houses in landward areas in Scotland under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, was £351,300, and of that amount a total of £170,977 is being contributed by the local authorities, who will recover one-half of their contributions from the State by way of annual payments over 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses reconditioned under the Rural Housing (Scotland) Act, 1926, in the years 1927, 1928 and 1929, respectively?

The number of houses reconditioned in Scotland under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in each of the years 1927, 1928 and 1929, was 62, 596 and 1,323, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of psittacosis reported during the present year; the number of these which have been fatal; and whether he is satisfied that adequate steps have been taken to deal with this matter?

Information has been received in the Ministry of Health of 80 cases of illness which commenced during the present year and in which the patients had been associated with sick parrots. Thirteen of these cases proved fatal. It is not possible for my right hon. Friend to say definitely how many of these persons were, in fact, suffering from psittacosis, but in nine of the fatal cases psittacosis appeared on the death certificate as a cause of death. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of post offices, letter-boxes and telephones in Breconshire and Radnorshire?

The total numbers of post offices, letter-boxes and telephones in the two counties referred to are 106, 384, and 1,235 respectively. The number of letter-boxes includes those at post offices.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of men and women employed by his Department in the Isle of Man?

The number is practically the same as when similar inquiry was made on 20th February last, namely, about 260, a number to which temporary additions are made during the holiday season.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that trade union officials who are in the Post Office service are being held personally liable as officers of the Department for statements they make in the course of their representations as spokesmen on behalf of their staff organisations; whether he is aware that disciplinary action by the Department in such cases will cause difficulties in obtaining free discussions on matters which have, from time to time, to be placed before head postmasters; and whether he will issue instructions which will modify the present official regulations and practice so as to remove the fear of disciplinary results in the exercise by the staff of free speech in voicing their grievances?

All Post Office servants must necessarily be amenable to the disciplinary regulations of the Department, but I am not aware that any difficulty is being placed in the way of local association officials freely making representations to their superior officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the Kenya Government has always been anxious to grant Matthew Wellington a State gratuity, but has hitherto been prevented by the ruling of the Imperial Treasury and Colonial Office, what is the obstacle to the granting of a gratuity to this old servant of Livingstone?

In 1911, when Matthew Wellington retired from the service of the Government of East Africa Protectorate (now Kenya Colony and Protectorate), the Governor urged that in the special circumstances of the case a pension of R.20s. a month should be granted, but the Colony was not then financially independent and it was found impossible to arrange for the grant of superannuation other than that strictly allowed by the existing rules, namely, a gratuity of £16. Now that Kenya is financially independent, there is no obstacle to the grant of a special compassionate allowance, provided that it is voted by the Legislative Council of Kenya and approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. My Noble Friend, as indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 22nd July last, has been in sympathy with the suggestion to make such an allowance, and has indeed pressed it upon the Government of Kenya. It is understood from a recent report in the Press that the matter is now before the Legislative Council, but official information as to the action taken has not yet been received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Turkish Petroleum Company is developing the oilfields of Mosul; whether it is paying any royalties to the Iraq Government; and, if so, whether any accrues to the benefit of His Majesty's Government?

With regard to the first two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leeds, North, on 14th April. I understand that the Iraq Petroleum Company are at present engaged in testing and proving the extent of the Iraq oilfields, and in general preparing for the stage of commercial development which has not yet been reached. No part of the royalties payable by the company under their Convention with the Iraq Government will accrue to the benefit of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the effect on the economic well-being of Africa resulting from the absence of any indication by the Government as to what is their policy in connection with the Hilton Young and Wilson Reports, he proposes to make any statement on the subject, and, if so, when?

A statement on this subject will be made at the earliest possible date, but I am not yet able to say when this will be.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the agreement between the Department of Public Health in Palestine and the American University of Beirut, whereby graduates of the latter institution shall be employed in the Department of Public Health in Palestine in posts not occupied by English Christians, to the exclusion of graduates of European universities; and whether the policy of excluding non-Christian graduates of European universities from the Department of Public Health is to be continued?

I am not a ware of any such agreement, and would be glad if the hon. Gentleman will give me any information he has on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the desirability of establishing a better atmosphere in Palestine, he will take steps to see that the death penalty will not be inflicted on any Jews or Arabs who have been sentenced to death on account of the riots in Palestine during last August?

The prerogative in this matter is vested in the High Commissioner, who may be relied upon to be guided in his action by all proper consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Empire Marketing Board is contemplating the production of a film to illustrate and advertise the culture of British fruit and vegetables; and, if so, whether he will urge the Board to make use of the natural beauty and high standard of horticulture to be found in the Vale of Evesham?

The Board have no such film in immediate contemplation, but the right hon. and gallant member's suggestion will be borne in mind, should such a film at any time be included in the Board's programme.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason why His Majesty's Ship "Cornwall," which was built at Devonport and at present has a Devonport crew, is in future to be a Portsmouth-manned ship?

The change referred to is part of a scheme which will have the effect of reducing the time spent by Devonport ratings on foreign service and increasing the time spent on home service.

asked the First Lord the Admiralty whether it is intended to put new boilers into the Royal Fleet auxiliary "Petroleum" and whether, seeing that this vessel was built 27 years ago, he will consider the advisability, on economic grounds, of building a new modern tanker and thus provide further employment in the Royal Dockyards?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. This action is being taken on economic grounds owing to the very good condition of the hull of the vessel. The whole of the work involved, including manufacture of the new boilers, is being carried out in the Royal Dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of the total cost of construction of a modern ship of war is accounted for in wages paid to the workpeople engaged thereon?

Approximately 80 per cent. of the total cost of the construction of warships is paid in wages of labour either directly or indirectly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, when there have been two gangs of electricians standing almost idle in His Majesty's Ship "Courageous," naval electrical ratings are engaged in installing an auxiliary telephone system through almost the whole length of the ship?

I have made inquiries, and have ascertained that all the dockyard electricians engaged in His Majesty's Ship "Courageous" are fully employed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the cost to date of building and maintenance of the super-marine S 6 and the Gloster-Napier seaplanes, which were built for the purpose of taking part in the Schneider Trophy Race; whether these seaplanes are at present making any experimental flights; and the names of the pilots engaged in such flights?

The cost of designing, building and maintaining these seaplanes, with their engines, has been approximately £230,000 to date. I should point out that they were built not only for the Schneider Trophy Race but also as part of the equipment of the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, which is carrying out a programme of research which includes experimental high-speed flying. No such flying has been done recently with these aircraft because they have been undergoing reconditioning since the race, but it will now begin as soon as weather conditions permit. The names of the pilots of the establishment appear in the Air Force List.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has been arrived at as to the future use of the super-marine S 6 and Gloster-Napier seaplanes which were built for the purpose of taking part in the Schneider Trophy Race?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare) and the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) on 2nd April and to the hon. Member for Dorset, East (Mr. Glassey) on 14th April.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the sentences recently passed by the Amritsar Sessions Court on the editor of the "Baber Sher" of one year's rigorous imprisonment and transportation for life for expressions of opinion in leading articles in that newspaper; and what action he proposes to take in the matter, having regard to the fact that there was no defiance of law in any other form?

I have no information beyond the knowledge that the prosecution did take place. I will make inquiries, but I have no reason to suppose that my hon. Friends assumptions have any basis in fact.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has now been able to sanction certain alterations and improvements at the Woolwich County Court?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present retail price of first-grade petrol per imperial gallon in London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, and Berlin; and has he any statistics that will show the amount of taxation or various surtaxes in each case?

The retail price of first grade petrol in London is 1s. 6½. per imperial gallon, in Paris the average price is about 1s. 8½., in Madrid 1s 6¾d., and in Brussels 1s. 7½. In Berlin imported petrol is not first grade and its price is 1s. 4d., but motorists generally use a benzol-petrol mixture at a price of about 1s. 6½d. The above prices include taxation charges of 4d. per gallon in London, about 8½.-9d. in Paris, l½d. in Madrid, 5¾d. in Brussels, and 3d. in Berlin. In comparing the prices of petrol in foreign countries at different periods it should be borne in mind that when reduced to a common currency the prices may indicate changes which may be due to variations in the rates of Exchange.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet come to any decision as to the development of research into the causes of animal diseases, particularly swine fever?

Proposals are still under consideration. As soon as I am able to make an announcement on the subject I will do so.