asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received the views of the Government of India in regard to the proposal to revive the competitive examinations for admission to the Indian medical service?

Not yet, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to introduce the necessary legislation for the setting up of an all-India medical council during the next session of the Indian legislative assembly?

I have ascertained that it is not the intention of the Government of India to introduce legislation on the subject during the next Assembly Session, as that Session will be a very short one. It would not be possible to complete the different stages through which such a legislative measure is expected to pass before the dissolution of the Assembly. The Government of India, however, have convened a conference which Ministers in charge of medical administration, heads of medical departments and representatives of medical faculties of Universities have been invited to attend in order that the principles of the Imposed legislation may be settled. The agreement of Provincial Governments and the Universities would then be invited. This conference, which will meet on 23rd June, is expected to discuss all matters arising out of the temporary suspension of the recognition of Indian medical degrees by the General Medical Council.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can make a statement in regard to the result of the recent conference called by the Government of India to discuss methods of dealing with the high consumption of opium in certain areas in British India?

I have not yet received a report on the results of this conference.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any changes have recently been made in the status of the Chief Native Commissioner in Kenya Colony; and, if so, what is the nature of these changes?

In March, 1929, the late Government approved proposals for the reorganisation of the Provincial Administration in Kenya. Previously, districts in which there are no native reserves had been administered as separate units outside the provincial organisation by Resident Commissioners under the direct supervision of the Colonial Secretary, while native reserves and a few districts which embraced both native reserves and non-native development were grouped in Provinces under Senior Commissioners immediately responsible to the Chief Native Commissioner. With the establishment of district councils under the Local Government (District Councils) Ordinance, 1928, in non-native areas, and the development of native councils operating under the Native Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 1924, it was considered desirable to focus at local Points the interests of native and nonnative development, and to provide a local liaison between them. It was, therefore, decided to maintain, where geographically possible, separate native and non-native districts, but to form into Provinces groups of these districts which have closely connected interests.This decision involved an alteration in the then existing system of administration. Under that system, Senior Commissioners in forwarding communications from district officers addressed the Chief Native Commissioner, by whom those communications which affected settled areas were forwarded to the Colonial Secretary; the Chief Native Commissioner thus occupying, as regards matters of purely native administration, a posi- tion in relation to the Colonial Secretary of more independence than that of other heads of Departments. It was reported that a consistent application of this procedure had been found impracticable for administrative reasons, and it was decided to restore to the Colonial Secretary his ordinary status as Chief Executive Officer under the Governor. It is understood that as a result of this decision, Senior Commissioners now communicate direct with the Colonial Secretary on all matters concerning the administration of their Provinces, whether affecting settled or native areas, and the Colonial Secretary refers to the Commissioner for Local Government, Lands and Settlement, who is, in effect, Secretary for non-Native Affairs, or to the Chief Native Commissioner, who is, in effect, Secretary for Native Affairs, or to both, as circumstances require. The Chief Native Commissioner communicates with the Governor through the Colonial Secretary in the same way as other heads of Departments, and the normal procedure followed when the Governor desires personal discussion with the head of a Department similarly applies in his case. The Chief Native Commissioner retains his seat in the Executive Council and in the Legislative Council, and the only alteration in the status of the post is that involved in the arrangement set out above.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give particulars of the proposals of the Legislative Council of Kenya Colony for the granting of credit facilities to agriculturists; whether native producers are included in the purview of such proposals; whether the local boards now being set up include representatives of native interests; and, if not, whether he will take steps to secure that such producers should be included and their interests represented?

A sum of £100,000 has been appropriated from the surplus balances of the Colony for the purpose of providing short-term agricultural credits under strict conditions, including a rate of interest which will not interfere with bank advances where the banks are willing to lend. There will be no racial discrimination in the consideration of applications for such advances. The chairmen of the local boards set up to examine applications will be senior administrative officers who may be relied upon to give sympathetic consideration to any representations made by native interests, and if in any district further special provision should be found necessary to meet native requirements, the constitution of the boards will permit of additions for this purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can give a statement showing the results of the Empire Settlement Act; what amount of money has been expended, respectively, by the British Government and the several Colonies on this emigration; how many emigrants have left British shores under the Act; and how many have been permanently settled in the Dominions or Colonies as independent landholders and as industrial or land workers, respectively?

The total expenditure by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom under the Empire Settlement Act to 31st March, 1930, was £5,860,644. Detailed information is not available as to the amount of the expenditure incurred by His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions, but my hon. Friend will be aware that under the terms of the Act, any expenditure by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom must be incurred in respect of agreed schemes and must be at least equated by the other party to those schemes. The number of intending settlers who left these shores under the Act to 31st March, 1930, was 374,630, comprising 125,176 men, 105,779 women, 53,591 male juveniles and 18,705 female juveniles between the ages of 12 and 18 years, and 71,379 children under 12 years of age. 7,940 settlers proceeded under land settlement schemes and were placed direct on farms as independent landholders. 174,390 proceeded to take up work as wage-earners either on the land or in industry. The balance of 192,300 was composed of wives and children under working age.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now say when a Bill to repeal the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Act, or to amend it, will be introduced?

I am not in a position to add anything to the replies already given on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any communications have been received from the French Government inquiring as to the attitude to be adopted by His Majesty's Government towards the proposed European Economic Union; and what has been the nature of the replies?

No communications have been received with the exception of the memorandum, dated 1st May, in which the proposals of the French Government for establishing a system of European Federal Union were set out and the observations of His Majesty's Government were invited. The reply which is to be returned is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what nations have now claimed to have established territorial rights over waters beyond the three-mile limit of their coasts; what nations have expressed their intention of taking similar action during the past five years; and whether he will take the necessary steps to have this matter brought before the League of Nations at the earliest convenient opportunity?

The various questions arising in connection with territorial waters were exhaustively considered by a conference which met at The Hague in the spring of this year, under the auspices of the League of Nations. Before the conference took place the Governments concerned were asked to furnish their views on the questions to be discussed, and their replies are given on pages 22 and 23 of League of Nations publication, C. 74, M. 39, 1929 V, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any men and, if so, how many have been transferred from depressed areas to Devonport and Plymouth since the 1st November last?

In the period mentioned no men have been transferred to the area of the Devonport Employment Exchange. Five men have been transferred to that of the Plymouth Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed on the register of the Sorby Street Exchange, Parkhead, Glasgow, on 3rd June, 1929, and at the latest available date; and how many have been added as the result of administrative changes?

On 3rd June, 1929, there were 4,943 persons on the register of the Parkhead Employment Exchange as compared with 7,612 at 2nd June, 1930. I regret that I am unable to give in respect of individual Exchanges the numbers who have been added as the result of recent legislative and administrative changes.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons registered as unemployed in Great Britain for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date classified as belonging to the entertainment and sports industry?

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the entertainment and sports industry recorded as unemployed in Great Britain in March, April and May, 1930. Figures for each of the preceding nine months were given in my reply to the hon. Member's question of 20th March, 1930.