asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any wheat receiving a subsidy, directly or indirectly, was imported into Great Britain during the last five years; and, if so, from what country such wheat was imported and how much came from each country, and the extent and nature of such subsidy?

I have been asked to reply. Arrangements exist in a number of Continental countries designed to encourage the export of wheat, and a certain amount of wheat which has received the benefit of those arrangements has been imported into this country during the period in question. It is not possible to say how much wheat imported from any particular country has received benefit from these schemes, nor to say to what extent such schemes result in a subsidy. The following is a short summary of certain of the schemes which have been in operation during the period in question:Germany.—The import bond system was re-introduced in 1925. On the export of wheat the exporter obtains a bond valid for the payment of import duties on certain goods. The value of the bond has varied from time to time, but does not exceed the import duty on a quantity of wheat equivalent to the amount exported.France.—There is a system under which exporters of wheat may obtain from a special fund a payment of a sum which may not in any case exceed the import duty on a corresponding amount of wheat. The system was introduced in December last, and is in force up to 31st July, 1930.Austria.—There is an import bond system generally similar to that in force in Germany. Imports of wheat from Austria are negligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the countries which have ratified the Convention for the Abolition of Prohibitions and Restrictions on Imports and Exports, distinguishing between conditional and unconditional ratifications and giving, in the former case, the nature of the conditions?

The answer is as follows:STATEMENT of the Ratifications of the International Convention for the Abolition of Prohibitions and Restrictions on Imports and Exports showing the extent to which these were made conditional on ratification by other countries.A.—Conditional Ratifications.Ratification conditional on ratification by the named countries.Austria: Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia.Belgium: Germany, France, Great Britain, Poland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia.Denmark: Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia.France: Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia.Germany: Austria, the United States of America, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Japan.Hungary: Austria, Italy, Poland, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of those foreign countries to which, within the last year, the British Government have made any representations in respect of tariff increases adverse to our trade, together with the nature of the representations and the results in each case?

During the last year the only foreign countries to make extensive tariff revisions in an upward direction have been Egypt and the United States of America. In the case of Egypt informal representations were made with regard to the proposed new duties on certain kinds of goods, and our views were, to some extent, met in the tariff which was actually enforced in February last. In the case of the United States, the views of British exporters were brought informally to the notice of the United States Government as has been explained to the House on several occasions. Representations, either formal or informal, have also been addressed to various other Governments with regard to increases or proposed increases of duty on specific articles. Where so many factors are involved, it is impossible to say to what extent modifications of new duties are due to representations made by His Majesty's Government, and the publication of the complete list of cases, such as is suggested in the question, would, therefore, in the absence of a wide knowledge of the circumstances of each case, be of little value, while its compilation would involve an inordinate amount of labour.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any of the Colonies refrain from imposing tariffs on imports; and whether any give preferential treatment to imports from Great Britain or other parts of the British Empire?

No import duties on articles other than alcoholic liquor and tobacco are charged in Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, or on articles other than alcoholic liquor, tobacco and motor spirits in Gibraltar. Import duties on goods of Empire origin are charged at a preferential rate in the folowing Colonies:

Bahamas.	Gibraltar.
Barbados.	Jamaica.
Bermuda.	Leeward Islands.
British Guiana.	Mauritius.
British Honduras.	Trinidad and Tobago.
Cyprus.
Fiji.	Windward Islands.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that James Cremer, of 19, Maiden Road, Stratford, applied for his pension under the contributory scheme in February last, has produced the necessary evidence of his age, but up to the present has not received intimation of the Ministry's decision; and will he expedite the necessary inquiries?

An old age pension has been awarded to Mr. Cremer with effect from 6th February, 1930, the first pay day following his 65th birthday. The necessary papers to enable him to secure payment of the pension, and of the arrears due, were issued on the 1st instant. The delay in settling the case was due to difficulty in determining Mr. Cremer's age, his birth not having been registered.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed and under construction each month, respectively, since June, 1929, up to the last convenient date under the respective Housing Acts, including assisted private enterprise; the number of houses completed and under construction, respectively, for the same period by private enterprise without State assistance; and similar particulars for the same period up to June, 1928, and up to June, 1929?

I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of a statement which I sent to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) in reply to a similar question asked by him last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received representations from the Dundee Town Council requesting the Government to continue until 1st October, 1933, the present grant for assisting the provision of houses by private enterprise under the Housing Act, 1923; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, I would refer my hon. Friend to Clause 41 of the Housing (No. 2) Bill, as amended by Standing Committee A, which provides, among other things, that the existing rates of contribution by the State in respect of private enterprise houses shall not be subject to review until 1933. Clause 61 (3) of the Bill makes this provision applicable to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many vacancies will require to be filled up on the Permanent Court of International Justice at the League of Nations Assembly in September; and what nominations have so far been received?

Mr. Charles Evans Hughes recently resigned his post as Judge of the Court, and his resignation was accepted by the Council in May last, subject to the approval of the Assembly. It is to be expected, therefore, that in September a successor will have to be appointed in Mr. Hughes place for the remainder of his term of office, i.e., until 31st December next. At that date the term of all the Judges expires, and their successors will, therefore, have also to be elected during the September session of the Assembly. I have not yet received any official list of nominations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to irregularities in the mail service to Ascension Island, and particularly to the over-carrying of letters which has occasioned delay and inconvenience to the addressees; and whether he will take steps to secure a more regular and reliable service?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but if the hon. and gallant Member will give me further particulars I shall be pleased to have inquiry made.

asked the Pastmaster-General the number of prosecutions for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date taken against persons operating wireless receiving apparatus without licences; the number of convictions obtained; the total amount of fines recovered, including costs: and whether the difference between the costs of the prosecutions and the amounts recovered in fines is borne out of the proportion of the revenue received by the Post Office derived from broadcasting licences?

The number of prosecutions undertaken by the Post Office during the 12 months ended 31st May, 1930, for the use of wireless receiving apparatus without a licence was 1,029. Convictions were obtained in 1,024 cases, the remaining five cases being dismissed for various reasons. The total amount of the fines and costs imposed by the Courts was £1,193 19s. 7d. The Post Office expenses in connection with these prosecutions, less the sums awarded by the Courts as costs, are borne out of the Post Office share of the revenue from wireless licences. The fines are not received by the Post Office, but are paid over to the Exchequer.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the poor paper used in the Telephone Directory and the indifferent binding of the pages; and whether he will investigate the matter and ensure an improvement in the next issue of these volumes?

I have been asked to reply. I am afraid that I cannot agree with the hon. Member. The paper used in the Telephone Directory is not of inferior quality, and has been found after investigation to be the most serviceable paper for a book of this character. The substitution of a paper of better quality would involve a greater increase in the cost of production of the Directory than would be justified. The binding of the Directory has proved to be satisfactory for the normal wear and tear of a book which is replaced at the end of every six months. For subscribers who have to subject the Directory to exceptionally heavy use, copies sewn in cloth boards are available at the price of one shilling a copy. The method of binding employed for the ordinary copies of the Directory is similar to that employed in other countries wherever the volume is comparable in size, and is the only practicable method of producing to time the 525,000 copies required. I may say that the possibility of improving the production of the volumes is the subject of constant consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the figures of unemployed men, women, and young persons in the counties of East Lothian and Berwickshire, respectively, at the end of June, 1930?

I have been asked to reply. At 30th June, 1930, the numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the counties of East Lothian and Berwickshire were as follow:

	East Lothian.	Berwickshire.
Men	193	86
Women	30	111
Juveniles	4	4
Total	227	201

asked the Minister of Labour the number of single women at the present time in receipt of unemployment benefit?

The latest date for which figures are available is 24th March, 1930, when there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges 196,550 girls and single women who were claimants for unemployment benefit. I am unable to give the number actually in receipt of benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government took any steps to have the contract for the building of a liner recently made by the Cunard Company placed with a Clyde shipbuilding yard; and, if so, whether the Government were then aware that negotiations for the contract were in progress with a firm of Tyne shipbuilders?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that the series of pamphlets on the Choice of a Career, which are issued under the auspices of her Department, ignore the opportunities afforded by industry; and whether it is her intention to supplement those already published by a series dealing with industrial careers?

The series of pamphlets on Choice of Career, to which the hon. Member refers, have been designed mainly to furnish information not otherwise readily available to boys and girls of secondary school education on professions and non-industrial careers. A pamphlet on engineering is in preparation, and I will consider whether any other industries can usefully be included in the series.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how many foreigners and how many British-Indian subjects, respectively, are engaged in public service in Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda, and Nyasaland;(2) how many European-British subjects are employed in Government service in Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda, and Nyasaland, respectively; and whether the number is increasing or decreasing?

Apart from a certain number of Goans, I am not aware of any foreigners in the public service of the Governments mentioned. The numbers of British subjects of European descent employed by the respective Governments are, according to the latest information available:

Kenya	2,171
Tanganyika	1,231
Uganda	542
Nyasaland	241

Their number is increasing. The numbers of Asiatics, the great majority of whom are British subjects or British protected persons, in the service of the Governments concerned are, according to the latest returns:

Kenya	3,059
Tanganyika	1,209
Uganda	637
Nyasaland	20

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the cost of improving and putting in bridges and causeways on the important inter-colonial road from Livingstone, on the Zambesi, to the Nile port at Juba will be eligible for a grant or loan from the Colonial Development Fund?

I am advised that there is nothing in the Colonial Development Act to debar the Governments of the East African territories concerned from submitting this project, to the Advisory Committee on whose recommendation grants and loans may be made from the Colonial Development Fund.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether advantage will be taken of the presence in London of representatives of Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Kenya, Uganda, and the Sudan to make financial and working arrangements to put into condition, so that it will support motor traffic throughout the year, the Livingstone-Broken Hill-Iringa - Dodoma - Nairobi-Mbale-Kitgum-Juba road which forms part of the great Imperial highway from the Cape to Cairo?

Arrangements were not made for the discussion of such a matter at the Colonial Office Conference, and as it is one upon which the advice of the local Public Works Departments is necessarily required, my Noble Friend does not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to discuss the matter here with the representatives of the East African Governments concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the result of his inquiries into the representations made by the Federation of Jewish Labour in regard to the evidence tendered by the chief immigration officer to the Palestine Inquiry Commission?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of those Colonies where there are any openings at present for British emigrants; and whether, in these cases, he has taken any steps to stimulate emigration from this country?

Owing mainly to climatic reasons, there are few openings in the Colonies, as distinguished from the Dominions, for settlers from this country who are not in possession of considerable capital. There are not at present in operation any schemes of assisted migration to the Colonies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonies are represented on the Empire Marketing Board and its committees; and, if so, by whom?

As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies I am a member of the Empire Marketing Board, and I am also Chairman of its Research Grants Committee. In addition, the Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandated Territories are represented on the Board by Sir Edward Davson, Baronet, who is also Chairman of the Colonial Grants Sub-Committee and a member of the Research Grants Committee and of the Fruits Committee.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can take measures to expedite the carrying out of tests at Portsmouth of materials required for naval purposes?

Tests of material required for the naval service are carried out as expeditiously as possible. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the time taken in any specific case must be dependent on the amount of experimental work in hand and its relative importance.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended to reduce the numbers of sub-lieutenants or acting sub-lientenants now serving in His Majesty's Navy by retirement or discharge?

It is not thought that any such steps will be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in what foreign countries the Dominions of South Africa and Canada have their own diplomatic representatives; has he any information of further similar appointments which are contemplated in the near future; and will he give particulars?

Canadian Legations are established at Washington, Paris and Tokyo, and Union of South Africa Legations at Washington, Rome and The Hague. I have no information as to any further similar appointments which may be contemplated in the future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that in certain cases officials of the Air Ministry have approached private landowners and offered, under threat of the use of compulsory powers, terms of payment for land to be used as a practice ground for dropping live bombs, before discovering what the effect of such use of land would have on local industries and amenities; and whether he will undertake not to sanction the use of compulsory powers without a previous inquiry into local conditions?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second in the affirmative. Compulsory powers are employed only as a last resort when it has proved impossible to acquire land by voluntary arrangement, and I am advised that a threat to use them would not be, and has not been, held out in such circumstances as those refer red to by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India propose to issue instructions to provincial Governments with a view to their exercising their power of reviewing the classification of prisoners at present in Indian gaols, in order to secure the removal of political prisoners now in Class C to Classes B and A?

Under the revised jail rules the main qualification for admission to the A or B class is that the prisoner has not been convicted of gross or violent crime, and by social status, education and habit of life has been accustomed to a superior mode of living. Prisoners are classified by the local authorities in accordance with those rules.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Police-constable Woodnutt, who was summoned on 5th July at Willesden for taking his son away from school at the age of 14, prior to the completion of the summer term; and whether, in view of the friction caused by the present Regulation, he will consider the desirability of advising education authorities to allow schoolmasters to exercise their discretion when permission is asked for the withdrawal of a scholar aged 14 prior to the end of a term?

My attention has not been drawn to this case. The matter is not governed by Regulation, but by Statute (Section 138 (1) of the Education Act, 1921), and I have no authority to take the action suggested in the latter part of the question.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount distributed from, or guaranteed by, the Road Fund during the present year, the balance which remains untouched, and the extent to which, if any, the revenue of next year has been mortgaged in advance?

During the first quarter of the present financial year the amount paid in grants from the Road Fund was £4,699,000. Grants made amounted to £10,647,000. I should, however, explain that grants made during any given period of a financial year are not related to the payments made during the same period, nor does the aggregate amount granted fall to be met in full from the revenue of the year. Commitments have been incurred exceeding the whole of the estimated revenues of the fund for this and the following year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department has come to any conclusion with regard to the experimental loop-way section on the Colnbrook by-pass road; and whether he is in a position to state when the main section of this road will be permanently reopened to traffic?

The test sections of the experimental loop-way are kept under continuous observation, but definite conclusions cannot be reached unless the sections are subjected to traffic for an extended period. The main road is open whenever special traffic conditions, as in Ascot week, render this course desirable, but it cannot be reopened permanently whilst experimental work is in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport why omnibus service 525 has been withdrawn; if the London General Omnibus Company are going to reintroduce it; and, if not, is he prepared in the interests of the travelling public to allow another firm to do so?

I understand that the company did not consider omnibus service 525 necessary in view of the other omnibus and tramway services which run over the various sections of the route. Before considering any application by an operator to re-establish the service, I should consult the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered proposals for the extension of the electric railway from Ealing to Southall in order to give employment in the latter district; and whether he has taken any steps in the matter?

No proposals of this nature have been considered by my Department, and any such schemes would be primarily a matter for the railway companies concerned.

asked the Home Secretary the number of new factories which have come under the factory inspectorate in the North in the last five years; and the number of

NUMBER OF REGISTERED FACTORIES in North Midland, North Eastern, East Lancashire, North Western and Scotland Divisions at end of 1924 and 1929.
Division.							Number of Registered Factories.
							At end of 1924.	At end of 1929.	Increase.
North Midland (a)			…	…	…	…	11,498	11,617	119
North Eastern (b)			…	…	…	…	15,021	15,428	407
East Lancashire (c)			…	…	…	…	14,616	14,800	184
North Western (d)			…	…	…	…	9,165	9,699	534
Scotland	…	…	…	…	…	…	15,214	16,953	1,739
(a) Sheffield, Rotherham, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax and Derby Districts.
(b) Leeds South, Leeds North, Bradford, Keighley, Hull, Middlesbrough, Gateshead and Newcastle districts.
(c) Manchester West, Manchester East, Stockport, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton, Blackburn and Burnley districts.
(d) West Cheshire, Warrington, Liverpool North, Liverpool South, Wigan, Preston and Barrow districts.

I am afraid that it would not be possible without great labour to furnish a return showing the number of new works which have come at one time or another under inspection during the last five years, and the number closed; but I append a table prepared on the same lines as the table already furnished for the Midlands and South showing the increase of factories in the northern divisions during the period in question.