asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the figures of the value of British goods exported to Rumania, the various classes of goods being indicated in the most convenient manner, for the years 1912–13, 1920–21 and 1928–29; and further, if he can explain whether the cause of the fall of British exports is due to any failure to market

The following statement shows the declared value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported therefrom and registered as consigned to Rumania during each of the years specified. With regard to the latter part of the question, I have no reason to think that there has been any failure by British firms recently to market goods in Rumania by modern methods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state, in tabular form, the various treaties with foreign Powers that contain most-favoured-nation clauses, showing the dates at which each lapses unless further renewed or, in cases where the date is indefinite, the length of notice that is required to rescind the treaties or clauses?

Except in the case of a few old treaties, commercial treaties are usually concluded by this country for a specified period at the end of which they do not lapse but remain in force in the absence of denunciation by either party. In the event of such denunciation, the treaty then comes to an end after the expiry of a specified period of grace. The following table shows the countries with which treaties and arrangements which entitle the goods of this country to most-favoured-nation treatment in the matter of customs duties have been concluded, and the required particulars with regard to termination.Country, and when terminable.Abyssinia—No provision for termination.Albania—At any time on three months' notice.Argentina—No provision for termination.Austria—11th February, 1935, or thereafter on 12 months' notice.Belgium—At any time on three months' notice.Bolivia—At any time on 12 months' notice.Bulgaria—At any time on three months' notice.China—No provision for termination.Colombia—At any time on 12 months' notice.Czechoslovakia—At any time on 12 months' notice.Denmark—No provision for termination.Estonia—At any time on 12 months' notice.Finland—At any time on six months' notice.Germany—8th September, 1930, or thereafter on 12 months' notice.Greece—At any time on 12 months' notice.Guatemala—At any time on 12 months' notice.Hayti—At any time on six months' notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the large number of sea birds which are killed by starvation or suffocation in consequence of the crude oil discharged by ships at sea, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation making it illegal for ships to discharge such oil in home waters?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, which provides that the owner or master of a vessel from which oil is allowed to escape into the territorial waters of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall be guilty of an offence, and shall, in respect of each such offence, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the decrease in the area of

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any comparisons showing the production per acre of sugar beet in Great Britain as compared with Continental countries?

The average yield per acre of topped and washed sugar beet in Great Britain was 8.7 tons in 1929, as compared with an average of 7.6 tons for the years 1925–1928. The yields in Continental countries for 1929 are not available, but the average yields per acre for 1925–1928 in certain countries were as follow:

The following table shows the changes during the past three years in the area of arable land, permanent grass, rough grazings and in the total area used for agriculture in England and Wales. The decrease in the last mentioned item may be taken as some measure of the amount of land taken for building and other non-agricultural purposes.In comparing British with Continental yields, it should be remembered that the sugar beet crop has long been cultivated on the Continent, whereas it is a comparatively new crop in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount paid in subsidy for the growth of sugar beet and the value of the beet sold off the farms for each year since 1924–25?

The amount of subsidy paid on sugar and molasses manufactured in British beet sugar factories, and the payments by the factory companies to beet growers in respect of washed and topped beets delivered to the factories in each manufacturing year since the date of the passing of the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, have been as follow:

asked the Postmaster-General the difference between a telegram, a followgram, and a telephone letter; to what extent are telegrams sent by morse instrument compared to those sent by telephone; and to what extent does the telephoning of telegrams occupy the local telephone circuits and prevent telephone subscribers having the full benefit of the service for which they subscribe in rural districts?

The term "phonogram" is applied to a telegram which is telephoned to a past office instead of being handed in over the counter, or is telephoned by the post office to the addressee instead of being delivered to him by a messenger. The term "telephone-telegram" is applied to a telegram which is telephoned from one post office to another in the course of its transmission. A "telephone letter" is a message dictated by telephone to a post office for onward transmission and delivery by post. It is not a telegram. According to the latest figures available, 28.4 per cent. of the inland telegraph traffic is dealt with by morse instruments and 13.5 per cent. by telephone. The remainder is dealt with mainly by machine telegraph apparatus. The number of telegrams handled in rural districts is small, and telephone lines are not used for their transmission where such use would interfere with the service afforded to telephone subscribers.[NOTE.—It is assumed that "follow-gram" should be "phonogram," and that what is really desired is an explanation of the difference between a phonogram and a telephone-telegram.]

asked the Postmaster-General if it is his intention to give effect to any of the recommendations of the special committee of persons, outside the Civil Service, appointed by his predecessor to inquire into ways and means whereby the inland telegraph service could be made more popular and profitable?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for East Toxteth (Mr. Mond) on 10th February last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount standing in the books of the Post Office at the present time as telephone subscribers' deposits; and whether these deposits are invested in any Government securities?

The amount standing in the books as subscribers' deposits is about £2,730,000. It forms in the first instance part of the general balances of the Post Office out of which, after providing the necessary working balance, payments are made to the Exchequer on account of Post Office revenue earned and in hand. Accounts for telephone call fees are rendered at a considerable interval after the services have been performed, and the amounts in question, although standing in the books as deposits, are balanced by the accrued liabilities of subscribers for which accounts have not yet been rendered. No question of investing the amounts therefore arises.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the number of highway accidents, resulting in serious personal injuries, that have occurred at Cartwright's Corner, Haslington, near Crewe, during recent months; and whether, in view of the increasing danger to pedestrian and vehicular traffic at this road junction, he will make representations to the Cheshire County Council suggesting that adequate warning devices or other improvements be made with a view to obviating the existing danger?

I am informed that the local police have knowledge of only one serious accident at this corner. My Department is, however, in communication with the county council with a view to the provision of additional warning signs or the carrying out of such improvement as may be necessary to obviate danger at this piont.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps his Department has taken, or is taking, to revive the negotiations for the production of another scheme for placing the Charing Cross railway station south of the river?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an answer which I gave on 21st May to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for North Battersea (Mr. Sanders), and of supplementary questions and answers that arose thereon.

asked the Lord Privy Seal which of the schemes submitted by the City of Rochester and the Borough of Chatham have now been approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee?

Since 1st June, 1929, the Unemployment Grants Committee have approved for grant the following schemes in respect of works for the relief of unemployment submitted by the Rochester City Council and the Chatham Town Council.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available figures of unemployment for the Borough of Colchester; what percentage these represent of registered workers; and if these figures and this percentage show a decline or otherwise on the corresponding period of last year?

At 12th May, 1930, there were 1,188 persons on the registers of the Colchester Employment Exchange or 10 per cent. of the insured population of that area, as compared will 754, or 6.3 per cent., at 13th May, 1929.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the difficulties experienced in his efforts to alleviate unemployment owing to the duties imposed on local authorities in promoting Bills by the Borough Funds Act, he proposes to introduce emergency legislation to overcome this difficulty?

I have been asked to reply. This matter is under consideration, but I cannot at present promise legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps he is taking to secure that every scholar has a daily ration of milk during school hours where desired?

This is primarily a matter for the local education authorities; but my right hon. Friend is co-operating with the National Milk Publicity Council in their endeavours to secure that arrangements for the supply of milk are made in as many schools as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether there are any means whereby young persons who have been sent to the Dominions under migration schemes may be assisted to return to their friend in this country if they fail to make good through any cause other than their own misconduct?

No arrangements are made by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for the return of assisted migrants to this country. Assistance to migrate is only given to migrants approved by the representatives in this country of the Dominions to which they are proceeding, who, of course, have regard to the likelihood that the migrant concerned will make a satisfactory settlement, and juvenile migrants are only assisted when they are proceeding under the care of recognised voluntary organisations or under special schemes for juveniles arranged by an oversea Government, in which case the organisation or Government concerned undertakes responsibility for the welfare of the migrant during the first few years after arrival.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has received a report of the inquiry conducted by Mr. A. M. Hayman, Labour member of the Railway Board, into the complaints made by employés of the Orissa and Rohilkhand Railway since its amalgamation with the East India Railway; and, if so, what action has been taken thereon?

I have no information, but will inquire.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will cause an inquiry to be made in India as to what employers have failed to recognise duly registered trade unions under the Trade Unions Act, 1926, so that the Government of India may be in a position to take appropriate action?

If my hon. Friend will consult me as to the precise information he desires, I will give it if it is obtainable.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of persons who have been arrested and detained under the Bengal Ordinance since the recent revival of the Ordinance?

The number detained is 119. Of eight others also arrested five have been released and three convicted of specific offences.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any final decision has been arrived at in regard to the proposal of the Government of India to set up a central bureau of information on irrigation?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to page 10 of Part 1 of the Report of Progress made in giving effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India, a copy of which is being placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for India what action has been taken by the Government of India following the submission of the report, accompanied by revised draft rules, of the two officers appointed by the Government of India to investigate the conditions prevailing on passenger ships in India?

The Government of India have published rules of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increased revenue would be obtained by reducing the allowance of 6 per cent., in assessing for purposes of Beer Duty the number of standard barrels to be charged, to 2 per cent.?

On the assumption that the reduction of the allowance in question would mean an automatic increase of 4 per cent. in the quantity of beer at standard gravity on which duty is collected, the increase of revenue would amount to about £3,000,000, but I must not be taken as committing myself to that assumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the gross amount of Corporation Profits Tax and Excess Profits Duty in assessment but still unpaid as at the last convenient date?

The gross amount of Corporation Profits Tax in assessment but unpaid at 31st March, 1930, was approximately £3,340,000, and the gross amount of Excess Profits Duty in assessment but unpaid at that date about £50,000,000. These figures cannot be taken as representing the amount of these duties remaining to be collected, which will, particularly in the case of Excess Profits Duty, fall far short of the duty in assessment by reason of reductions and discharges due to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with regard to the demand put forward by the Chinese Government that the limit of Chinese territorial waters shall be 12 miles instead of three miles, he will say what steps he is taking?

His Majesty's Government have received an unofficial report that the National Government of the Republic of China is claiming a 12-mile limit of territorial waters for revenue purposes. His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been instructed to ascertain whether this report is correct.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that a contract has been made by the Chinese Government on behalf of the Peking-Mukden Railway with a Dutch firm for the construction of Halutac Harbour, payment for which involves funds which belong to British creditors, and that one British firm alone has a debt outstanding against this railway of £630,000; and, seeing that the railway company in question now has surplus revenue which should be devoted to the redemption of past debts instead of for new projects, has he taken any steps to safeguard the interests of British manufacturers?

I am aware of the conclusion of this contract. Strong representations have been made to the Chinese authorities to safeguard the interests of British creditors having prior claims on the revenues of the Peking-Mukden Railway, and the matter will not not be lost sight of.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if there is in existence any international treaty with reference to the ultimate disposal of the Portuguese colonies?

His Majesty's Government are parties to no treaty referring to the ultimate disposal of the Portuguese colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the International Railway Force in the Saar organised under the League of Nations for the protection of the French communications to the Army of Occupation in the Rhineland, will be withdrawn on 30th June now that its raison d'etre has ceased?

I have not yet received any information regarding the withdrawal of the International Railway Force from the Saar, but I am making inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications under the new Pensions Act have been made by widows whose husbands were small shopkeepers, blacksmiths, etc.; how many such husbands were at one time insured under National Health Insurance or in insurable employment if death occurred before 1912; and how many were refused on the ground that the husbands were not in insurable employment within three years of their death?

The information asked for is not available, and could only be obtained by a special scrutiny of every application for a widow's pension made under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1929.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of die Departmental Committee on the superannuation of municipal and other local officers and employés; and, if so, when?

Yes, Sir. I am not, however, at present in a position to reply specifically to the last part of the question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the office accommodation and storeroom facilities provided for His Majesty's inspector of taxes and staff at Soho, 1st District, 61–63, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.1, are inadequate and unsatisfactory; and whether it is proposed to secure alternative accommodation?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. Certain proposals for the improvement of the existing premises until such time as rehousing can be effected are, in the meantime, being discussed with the Inland Revenue Department.