asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any part of the Government or municipal debts of Russia have been acknowledged by Poland or Polish municipalities that were Russian prior to 1914; and, if so, what steps are being taken to arrive at a settlement thereof?

My right hon. Friend has no information regarding municipal debts, except in the case of Vilna, regarding which there is nothing to add to the answer which he gave on 26th May, to the question by the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom (Commander Southby). As regards the Russian Government debt, liability for a portion of that debt was acknowledged in principle by the Polish Government at the time of the formation of the Polish Republic; but my right hon. Friend is not aware of any further steps having been taken in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many individual claims have been registered in respect of properties or goods confiscated by the Soviet Government; if so, how many of the claimants have died since their claims were registered; and what prospect is there of a settlement being reached in time to benefit any of the survivors?

The hon. and gallant Member will find the answer to the first part of his question in the reply of 2nd April to my hon. Friend, the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Gill). My right hon. Friend has no information in regard to the second part, but the answer to the third part will be found in his reply of 18th June, to the hon. Member for Newcastle North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle).

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any appeals from the Swanscombe or Bexley Councils respecting the rent-charges still operating on the houses erected under the Addison and Chamberlain schemes; and whether he will co-operate with these councils in the effort to standardise rents in each area?

These councils have not made any representations to my right hon. Friend in regard to the rents of the houses referred to. Rents of houses provided under the Housing Act of 1919 are fixed in accordance with regulations made under that Act, but the determination of rents under the Housing Act of 1923 is entirely in the hands of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has investigated, in connection with the erection of tenement structures to accommodate slum dwellers who may be dis- possessed, the use of steel-frame buildings of the multiple storey type, a system of construction which is entirely distinct from the small steel houses which were unsuccessfully tried some time ago, and if he has any information showing whether such steel-frame buildings would be as economic as other types of construction; and whether the cost of construction, even in the case of steel-frame buildings of the multiple storey type, would be reduced if the present regulations in respect to wall thicknesses and floor loads were more in accordance with modern standards?

As regards the first part of the question, I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply given to the hon. Member on the 5th instant. As regards the second part, I can only say that my right hon. Friend is informed that the London County Council, who have obtained powers to waive the requirement of the London Building Acts in this respect, have used those powers to facilitate the submission of tenders for steel framed buildings, but the amount of those tenders has been substantially in excess of that of tenders for other methods of construction.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information of the shortage of houses at Northumberland and the numbers under construction; if his Department is aware of the reasons for the shortage and the cessation of new building; and if his Department is taking any steps to accelerate the provision of adequate housing accommodation in Northampton?

My right hon. Friend has not received any recent report as to the housing position at Northampton, to which town, it is presumed, my hon. Friend refers. Forty houses were being constructed by the town council on the 1st June and 180 houses in all were completed by the council and by private enterprise during the six months ended 31st March last. The council are also proposing to acquire a new site of 13 acres. My right hon. Friend is not aware that the position is one calling for intervention on his part, and he would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the provisions contained in Clause 22 of the Housing (No. 2) Bill for requiring the council periodically to review the housing situation and submit a programme.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the continued increase in the number of mosquitoes in this country; and what action is being taken to combat this menace to the national health?

My right hon. Friend is advised that the number of mosquitoes in this country fluctuates from year to year according to the climatic conditions, but does not show any general increase. In the present year some species (especially the sylvan species) are unusually prevalent. My Department, in collaboration with the British Museum (Natural History), has given attention to this matter for some years past, and a pamphlet on "British Mosquitoes and their Control" has been published which contains advice on the best methods of combating mosquito pests. My Department is also prepared on request to advise local authorities on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost to the State of the rebate of rates on agricultural land in Scotland since the year 1896?

The aggregate amount paid to local authorities in Scotland under the Agricultural Rates (Scotland) Acts, 1896 to 1923, in respect of reduction of rates on agricultural lands and heritages since the year 1896 till 15th May, 1930, is £8,815,215. To this should be added that part of the grant in respect of loss of rates in 1929–30 payable to local authorities under Section 75 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, which represents such loss on agricultural subjects and is estimated to amount to £950,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of new houses built in Scotland under the various Housing Acts between 1st January, 1921, and the last convenient date; and whether he has any statistics which will show the number of new houses required in Scotland at the present time for the purpose of housing the population?

The number of new houses built in Scotland with State subsidy under the various Housing Acts between 1st January, 1921, and 31st May, 1930, is as follows:

Act.	Number of houses.
The Housing Town Planning, etc. (Scotland) Act, 1919.
By Local Authorities	24,312
By Public Utility Societies	389
The Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919.
By Private Subsidy	2,216
The Housing, etc., Act, 1923.
By Local Authorities (General Schemes)	4,030
By Local Authorities (Slum Clearance Schemes)	11,568*
By Assisted Private Enterprise	18,012
By Public Utility Societies	80
The Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
By Local Authorities	43,931
By Assisted Private Enterprise	1,945
By Public Utility Societies	127
Demonstration Steel Houses	17
Government Steel Houses	2,552
Total	109,179
* Of this number 42 are reconstructed houses.

As regards the estimated number of new houses still required for the purpose of housing the working class population of Scotland, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statistics contained on page 1 of the Annual Report of the Department of Health for Scotland for the year 1929 showing an estimated shortage of 100,000 houses as at the 31st December last.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the building industry recorded as unemployed in Great. Britain at the last convenient date; and the same information for approximately the same date in 1928 and 1929?

At 26th May, 1930, the number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the building industry, recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 101,066, as compared with 69,852 at 27th May, 1929, and with 72,283 at 21st May, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour what schemes to provide work have been put forward from the borough of Northampton and on what date; what is the present position of the schemes; when is approval likely to be given; and when will work actually commence?

Schemes estimated to cost approximately £156,000 were approved for grant between 1922 and 1926. Since 1st June, 1929, the Unemployment Grants Committee have received two formal applications from the Northampton Town Council for grant in aid of schemes of work promoted for the relief of unemployment. One application in respect of the proposed extension of main sewerage works, estimated to cost £181,830 was made on 13th January, 1930, but full particulars were not received by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health until the last week in May. A local inquiry was promised by my right hon. Friend on 30th May and has been fixed for 27th June. The other application, in respect of road reconstruction, was made on 27th March, 1930, and has been approved for grant. A condition of grant is that the work shall be actively commenced by 28th July, 1930. In addition to the above a scheme for a new road was submitted by the council to the Ministry of Transport, but I understand this has not obtained the concurrence of the Northampton County Council in whose area the greater part of the route will lie.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the relative cost of transport by railway of coal and iron ore in France, Belgium and Germany, respectively, as compared with Great Britain?

The available data relating to the charges for transport of coal and iron ore by rail in the countries named in the question are compiled on different bases from those adopted in this country, and the rates charged do not cover identical services and accommodation. I am unable, therefore, to give the comparative figures which the hon. Member desires.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will, during the necessarily lengthy discussions by the local authorities concerned in producing a scheme for the reconstruction or replacement of the broken bridge at Selby, press that more adequate steps be taken to meet the hardship involved to over 2,000 persons in Selby whose only means of daily access to their work in the mills across the river now is one small and overcrowded boat?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on 5th June to a similar question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Howdenshire Division (Major Carver). I may add that on 17th June a deputation from the local authorities concerned was received by the Parliamentary Secretary of my Department, when every aspect of the problem was discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the first cadet battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps, has the unique privilege of carrying war honours, namely, South Africa, 1900–2, on its accoutrements; whether it is proposed to withdraw this privilege from the battalion; and whether he can see his way to permit this battalion to continue to enjoy its privilege?

This question is at present under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to state the decision on it.

asked the Secretary of State for War the amount of savings in wages effected at the Woolwich Arsenal through the recent institution by Government of short time?

The total wages paid during the eight weeks of short time fell short by about £15,000 of the approximate total wages which it is estimated would have been earned if full time had been worked.

asked the Secretary of State for War the amount of savings in wages effected at Enfield to date by the abolition of piecework; and when piecework will be reintroduced?

The reduction in wages consequent on the suspension of piecework is estimated at £4,000. I regret that I am not yet in a position to state when piecework will be reintroduced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Board of Trade to bring the recommendation of the court in the case of the steamship "Molesey" that a light load-line should be introduced before the International Load Line Conference at present sitting in London?

No, Sir.

asked the Post-master-General whether it is proposed to extend the telephone to the post office of the village of Shrawardine, near Shrewsbury; and, if so, whether he can give some indication as to when the work is likely to be carried out?

The provision of a telephone call office at the Shrawardine post office has been authorised, and it is anticipated that the work will be completed shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the parcel post rates for an 11-pounds parcel from this country to France and Germany, respectively, to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Ceylon, Malaya, British West Africa and British East Africa?

The information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is shown in the following table:

RATES for a Parcel weighing 11 lbs. from Great Britain, France and Germany for certain destinations.
Destination.	Origin.
	Great Britain.		France.		Germany.
	s.	d.	Fcs.	Cts.	Rm.	Pf.
Canada	6	0	19	25	3	10
			41	75	6	90
Australia	6	4	31	0	5	30
			32	0	7	0
			42	50	7	20
New Zealand	5	6	38	75	6	40
	(Small parcels).		(Small parcels).		(Small parcels).
	7	6	50	25	8	25
	(Large parcels).		(Large parcels).		(Large parcels).
	6	3	47	0	9	80
South Africa	8	3	53	75	5	30
					8	80
India	5	3	19	75	3	65
	6	0	24	25	4	0
			25	50	6	20
			37	25
Ceylon	5	3	18	25	3	25
			19	25	6	0
			37	25	6	20
Malay States	4	6	23	0	4	0
			24	0	5	45
			32	75
British West Africa:—
Gambia	4	9	34	25	5	70
Gold Coast	4	9	34	25	3	40
					5	70
Nigeria	4	9	34	25	5	70
Sierra Leone	4	0	34	25	5	70
Kenya and Uganda.	6	3	25	50	4	50
			29	50	4	75
			43	25	7	15
Tanganyika Territory:—
All places	6	3	25	50	4	50
			43	25
Lake Victoria Area only.	8	6	56	75	6	35
					8	40
					9	30
Places other than Lake Victoria area.	—		—		4	75
					6	20
					7	15
					8	20

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he proposes to take steps in due course to amend Sections 112 and 123 of the Companies Act, 1929, in view of the fact that six months' working have proved that it is not possible to give full effect to the requirements of those Sections owing to difficulties of administration;(2) whether, with regard to the duty of his Department to see that Sections 112 and 123 of the Companies Act, 1929, are observed, he will say to which branch or branches of the Board of Trade these duties fall; and will he also state the average number of staff, since November, 1929, engaged upon the duties connected with those two Sections and whether he proposes to reorganise that particular portion of his staff so as to deal with the difficulties of administering Sections 112 and 123 disclosed only since the Act came into operation in November last?

Of the two Sections of the Companies Act, 1929, which are mentioned, one is not new, and neither of them provides any special machinery for securing that compliance or non-compliance with their provisions shall be reported to the Board of Trade. There is, therefore, no administration of these Sections in the ordinary sense of the word, and there is no special branch for dealing with them. The duty of seeing that general meetings are held at the proper time and the prescribed accounts submitted is a matter primarily for the shareholders. If, however, cases of noncompliance are brought by shareholders or others to the notice of the Board of Trade, and the circumstances justify it, such official action as is necessary is taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to mitigate the damage which will be done to the lace industry by the withdrawal of the Safeguarding Duty, he will consider the possibility of introducing a marking Order for lace in order that the public may be enabled by buying British-made lace to assist the industry during the impending crisis?

This could only be done in pursuance of an application for such an Order from the interested parties made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, and no such application has been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of steel, iron, and pig iron made in Great Britain for the years 1913, 1923, and 1928, respectively?

The following table shows the quantities of pig iron and of steel ingots and castings made in Great Britain in the years specified. I shall be happy to furnish whatever information may be available regarding the other "iron" referred to in the question, if my hon. Friend will be good enough to specify more precisely what he has in mind.

Made in			Pig Iron.	Steel Ingots and Castings.
			Tons.	Tons.
1913	…	…	10,260,300	7,663,900
1923	…	…	7,440,500	8,481,800
1928	…	…	6,610,100	8,519,700

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity of flour imported from France during the years 1927, 1928, and 1929, and during the first four months of 1930; and whether the export of this product was subsidised by the French Government?

As stated in the issues of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for December, 1929, and April, 1930, the total quantity of wheat meal and flour imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, registered as consigned from France during the years 1927, 1928 and 1929 and the first four months of 1930, was as follows:—

	Hundredweights.
1927	69,705
1928	108,169
1929	577,593
1930 (January to April)	499,878

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total net emigration of British subjects from Great Britain during the 10 years preceding the War, and during the last 10 years for which figures are available?

The number of British subjects who were recorded as leaving permanent residence in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to take up permanent residence in non-European countries during the 10 years 1920 to 1929 exceeded the number who were recorded as leaving permanent residence in such countries to take up permanent residence in Great Britain by 1,049,465. Similar information in respect of the 10 years preceding the War is not available, as particulars of migrants (i.e., persons changing their permanent residence), as distinct from persons travelling for business, or for pleasure, were not recorded in the passenger returns prior to 1st April, 1912. The only measure available of the net emigration to non-European countries in the pre-War and post-War periods is that afforded by the balances outward of British subjects from the British Isles as a whole (i.e., excess of outward over inward passengers). This excess outward to non-European countries amounted to 1,932,831 in the pre-War decennium and to 1,260,358 in the post-War decennium.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether it is his intention to make public the results of the butter survey carried out by the Empire Marketing Board; and whether that survey throws any light on the manner in which last year's imports of foreign butter, of the estimated value of £32,000,000, were retailed to the British consumer?

A report based on the survey of the retail marketing of butter, recently conducted by the Empire Marketing Board, is in preparation and will be published as soon as it is complete.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the nature of the arrangements that have been made to prevent the overlapping of the work of the Empire Marketing Board and that of the newly-formed Colonial Development Advisory Committee; how the work has been divided up; and what particular subjects are being dealt with wholly by each body?

The answer to the hon. Member's question will be found in the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on 24th February last, in presenting the Supplementary Estimate for the expenses of the Colonial Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the publication of the McMahon correspondence?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply given on 18th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any estimates have been submitted showing the probable cost of the new Zambesi bridge; and, if such estimates are approved, will the total cost be borne by the British taxpayer?

Full particulars are given in the first report of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee presented last April.