asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a further protest from the Hull Chamber of Commerce and Shipping against the continued flag discrimination in Portugal; if he is aware that a rebate on the high duty on edible oils is granted when shipped in Portuguese bottoms, but that as no Portuguese vessels sail from Hull to Oporto and Lisbon this flag discrimination adversely affects an important local industry in Hull, in addition to injuring the shipping of the port; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I have received from the Hull Chamber of Commerce and Shipping a protest on the subject of flag discrimination in Portugal, and my attention has been called to the circumstances to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. I can assure him that we are losing no opportunity of impressing upon the Portuguese Government the desirability of abandoning the practice in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of companies registered at the Joint Stock Companies Registry, distinguishing between private companies, as defined by the Companies Act, 1929, and public companies, within the meaning of the phrase "private company," as sought to be interpreted by Clause 33 of the Finance Bill, and how the number of such companies compares with the total number of companies, showing private and public companies separately, registered at the Joint Stock Companies Registry?

The figure which, I understand, the hon. and gallant Member specially desires to have, would require a separate investigation to be made of the constitution of each public company on the register, in order to ascertain whether it falls within the scope of the Clause in question, and in view of the enormous amount of labour which would be involved, I regret that I cannot undertake to have the inquiry made. The total number of companies on the register at the beginning of this year was 110,099, of which 91,813 were private companies within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1929.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if any workers in the employ of the Forestry Commission in Herefordshire have been discharged since the wages of the forest workers were raised?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the terms under which workmen in the employ of the Forestry Commission are paid for piecework?

The Commissioners endeavour to fix a rate that will enable the men to earn 25 per cent. above the day work rate.

asked the Minister of Health whether be has any proposals under consideration with a view to removing the present difficulties arising from the tied-cottage system in certain agricultural counties?

This matter will be considered in connection with any legislation amending the Rent Restriction Acts, but, as I have already intimated, it will not be practicable to introduce further legislation for this purpose in the near future.

asked the Minister of Health the latest information he has showing since 31st December, 1929, the average cost each month of non-parlour and parlour houses in contracts let by and in approved direct labour schemes of local authorities in England and Wales?

The following statement gives the desired particulars for each month from January to May, 1930, inclusive:

asked the Lord Advocate if his attention has been called to the effects in Scotland of the repeal of the Accumulations Act, 1800, by the Law of Property Act, 1925, which refers to England and Wales only; and if it is the intention of the Government to take any action in the matter whether by a declaratory Bill or otherwise?

The question whether the Accumulations Act, 1800, so far as relating to Scotland, has been repealed by the Law of Property Act, 1925, is a question which it is hoped will be matter of decision by the Appeal Court in Scotland at an early date. In any event, the subject is receiving attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the delays in the Sheriff Court of Lanarkshire in regard to hearings of workmen's compensation arbitrations; if he is aware that at Hamilton hearings cannot now take place before four months; and whether he proposes to take any remedial steps to relieve the congestion in the Court?

I am making inquiry into the matter, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to state the amount of money expended on the roads of the mainland and Lewis portions, respectively, of the county of Ross and Cromarty for the year ended 15th May, 1930; and, if so, will be give the figures?

The desired information will not be available for some weeks yet, but I shall send the particulars to the hon. Member as soon as they have been compiled.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of signs that have been erected in the Metropolitan area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date which indicate to pedestrians the most suitable crossing places in important thoroughfares?

The information desired by the hon. Member is not readily available, but particulars are being obtained and will be sent to him later.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that an inquest, held on 17th June, showed that Joseph Barbour Boyes was killed at Eaton Square by a motor car mounting the pavement; and whether, as this shows the danger to pedestrians from low kerbs, he will in future approve only such plans of new roads and alterations as show the kerbs to pavements and footpaths six inches high above the roadway?

The inquest held on 17th June regarding the death of Joseph Barbour Boyes was attended by one of my technical officers, and I understand that the accident was directly attributable to a defect in the steering-gear.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the bridge that is now broken down at Selby has been for many years inconvenient and unsuitable for modern traffic, both on the road and on the waterway; that reconstruction or replacement by another bridge has been the subject of discussion among the authorities concerned for many years; and that it is owing to their failure to come to an agreement on the matter that no scheme for a new bridge has been put forward: and whether, in view of the number of unemployed in Selby, he will help these authorities by securing for them a substantial grant for the double purpose of restoring the communication along an important road by the building of a new and efficient bridge and at the same time relieving the unemployment in that district?

I am aware of the position with regard to Selby Bridge. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry has received a deputation from the two county councils concerned this week, and various alternative schemes for dealing with the situation were discussed. The matter is being urgently considered by the councils with a view to arriving at a decision as to the scheme to be adopted. They have been assuerd of the fullest co-operation of my Department and informed that I should be ready to consider an application for financial assistance in respect of an agreed and approved scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport the finished minimum width of the carriageway and footpaths in Horse-ferry Road between the buildings now erected or being erected opposite Lambeth Bridge; whether he has obtained from the London Traffic Advisory Committee a report as to the improvements that will be necessary in Horseferry Road, Rochester Row, Marsham Street, Strutton Ground, and other roads in Westminster, to provide for the traffic that will flow into them on the opening of Lambeth Bridge; and, if not, whether he will obtain such report and invite the committee to negotiate with the responsible authorities the carrying out of these works in advance of the opening of the bridge?

The width of the carriageway and footpaths in Horseferry Road between the buildings opposite Lambeth Bridge is 60 feet. The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee reported on the improvements in this locality which were desirable in the interests of traffic, and on their recommendation a roundabout lay-out has been provided at the junction of Lambeth Bridge, Horseferry Road and Grosvenor Road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the comparatively light traffic on that section of the Bath Road which lies in Wiltshire and the need for economy in public expenditure, both national and local, he will confer with the Wiltshire County Council with a view to cancelling the expenditure of £360,000 on the reconstruction of that road?

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the widespread local opposition to the proposed widening of the Bath Road through the county of Wiltshire as being unnecessary for present or prospective traffic; and whether he will invite the county council to submit a modified scheme for by-passes, corner cutting, and other minor improvements where necessary?

I Lave recently made a personal inspection of the Bath Road (Route A. 4) in Wiltshire, and will answer the right hon. and gallant Member's question in some detail. My answer will at the same time cover the following question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for the Devizes Division (Mr. Hurd). This road forms part of the principal route from London to the west of England. The total length to be dealt with in Wiltshire is 30 miles. The width of the existing carriageway between verges is from 18 feet to 21 feet, and is only sufficient for two lines of traffic. The new road will have a carriageway of 30 feet throughout. The existing work will be utilised as far as possible; but new haunches are necessary and will be surfaced to meet the existing carriageway. A footpath will be provided along the whole length of the road, except through Savernake Forest, where the road will not even be kerbed. The average volume of traffic on the section of the road in Wiltshire is at present estimated to be 3,000 tons per day as against 900 tons per day in 1922. Traffic will increase still further, and it is considered that the present strength and width of the road would be found inadequate within five years, and that considerable works of widening and strengthening (at a cost possibly in excess of that now proposed) would be then inevitable. As regards the appearance of the road, it is the intention of the county council to preserve its amenities to the fullest possible extent. There has been a great deal of misconception on this point. For instance, over a stretch of seven miles, including the forest, only 21 trees need be felled and a larger number of new trees will be planted. The slopes of all cuttings and embankments will be covered with turf. Existing hedges will be interfered with in very few places; but where this is unavoidable, a new quick hedge will be planted. I was impressed by the care Which is being taken by the county council to avoid impairing the beauty of this famous road, and I have no doubt that their efforts will be successful. I am satisfied that the widening and strengthening of the road constitutes a prudent and economic piece of expenditure.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received a letter from the National Joint Industrial Council for the quarrying industry urging the substitution of British in place of Norwegian kerb-sets used in road construction; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received various representations of the character mentioned with which I am in sympathy. As showing the policy of my Department, I am supplying my hon. Friend with a copy of a circular letter issued on 20th February, 1930, to all highway authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland regarding the use of British materials for works assisted by grants from the Road Fund. I regret, however, that in certain recent cases local authorities desiring to use British granite have had difficulty in obtaining tenders or in securing adequate deliveries. It seems to me highly desirable that these obstacles to the wider use of British materials should be removed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give a list of the schemes of road construction and improvement additional to present programmes which can be usefully carried out, including schemes which the local authorities themselves would not be likely to propose?

I do not think that a useful purpose would be served by issuing a list of possible schemes even if I were in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour if the terms of reference of the new committee on the decasualisation of labour at the ports include consultation with associations of employers and employed for the purposes of Section 5 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims disallowed at the Leith (Quality Street) Exchange on the ground that applicants were not normally in insurable employment in the following periods: 1st January to 1st June, 1927, 1st January to 1st June, 1928, 1st January to 1st June, 1929, and 1st January to 1st June, 1930?

I am having this information prepared so far as it is available, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will inquire into the possibility of allowing unemployed persons and casual workers employed on their own account to stamp their unemployment insurance cards in order to qualify and keep themselves in benefit on similar lines to those of retaining benefit under the National Health Insurance Scheme?

What my hon. Friend suggests is not permissible under the existing law, as he is no doubt aware, and has been thought hitherto to be inconsistent with the principles on which the Unemployment Insurance Scheme is framed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have actually been transferred in connection with the schemes promoted by the different authorities of the country for the relief of unemployment since 1st June, 1929?

The information desired is not available, but I am inquiring whether arrangements can be made to obtain it. Of the 55,000 men directly employed at the end of April on schemes assisted by grants from the Unemployment Grants Committee, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Agriculture, 5,336 were men transferred from depressed areas.

asked the Postmaster-General the date on which it is intended to recommence the daily delivery of mails on the mainland of Orkney?

I regret that it is not yet possible to fix a date for the commencement of the daily delivery, which involves numerous changes in services and staff. The hon. Member may rest assured that no avoidable delay will occur.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone kiosks at present in use in England and Wales and the number of these kiosks from which trunk calls are available?

At the 31st March Last there were 7,205 kiosks in use in England and Wales. The majority are fitted with boxes which take silver coins as well as pence, and from these full trunk facilities are available. In other cases limited trunk facilities are given.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any information as to whether the German Government has decided to grant requests for the extension of the subsidy on exported oats; and, if not, when this subsidy ceases to operate?

The issue by the German Government of import bonds for oats was suspended as from 4th June. So far as I am aware, there is no likeli hood of withdrawal of this suspension for the present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the proposed scheme for applying the National Mark to English-grown canned fruits, peas, and beans will affect Empire produce; and whether there is any other marking scheme which covers the latter?

The National Mark scheme for canned fruits and vegetables applies only to produce grown and canned in England and Wales, its object being to stimulate demand and widen the market for these home products. I cannot say what effect, if any, the scheme will have on canned produce from other parts of the Empire which, so far as I am aware, is not the subject of any marking scheme administered in this country.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that large quantities of soil have been piled round some of the trees in Regent's Park to the south-west of St. Dunstan's in a manner likely to affect their vitality; and, if so, how long he proposes to allow the soil to remain there?

I am aware that soil has been temporarily piled in this position, but it is now being levelled, and I am satisfied that no injury will result to the trees.