asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his representatives in foreign countries have been commissioned to investigate the dumping by those countries of goods in this country; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of setting such an inquiry on foot?

No general instructions have been issued to the overseas officers of this Department to investigate the question of the dumping of foreign goods in this country. I do not think that an inquiry on general lines would serve a useful purpose, but reports are asked for regarding any exceptional trade movements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any representations have been made to him within the last 12 months by British firms of the dumping of foreign goods in this country; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of the goods in respect of which these representations were made and the countries of origin?

Apart from complaints which have reached me respecting the sale in this country of German barley and oats, I have received no definite representations of the kind which the hon. Member appears to have in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of crude rubber, including milk of rubber, stating the total weight and value expressed in pounds sterling, imported into the United States of America from either the United Kingdom, the British Colonies, or Dominions for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The following statement shows, for the 12 months ended 30th April, 1930, the total weight and value (expressed in £ sterling) of crude rubber, including milk of rubber, imported into the United States from all countries, distinguishing the imports from the United Kingdom, British Malaya and Ceylon, the only British countries for which the particulars are shown in the official trade returns of the United States.

1st May, 1929, to 30th April, 1930.
—	Quantity.	Value.
	Thou. lbs.	Thou. £.
Total Imports	1,158,990	43,142
of which from—
United Kingdom	8,405	319
British Malaya	811,266	29,828
Ceylon	116,811	4,337

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will supply figures showing the value of the United Kingdom exports of manufactures per head of population for the year 1913, and also for the year 1929, re-valued on the basis of the price level of 1913?

Using the comparisons made from year to year of the changes in average values of exports, it is estimated that the domestic exports from the United Kingdom, of articles classed as wholly or mainly manufactured, to countries outside the British Isles in 1929, valued on the basis of the prices of 1913, amounted to £7 11s. per head of the population of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The exports from the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Ireland) in 1913 of goods of the same class amounted to £9 1s. 4d. per head of the population.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, for each of the years 1928 and 1929, what is the amount

Year.				Deposits.	Guarantees given by Members of Lloyd's.	Guarantees given by persons other than Members of Lloyd's.
				£	£
1923	…	…	…	2,633,125	11,496,643	Nil.
1929	…	…	…	3,007,558	12,434,170	Nil.

No alteration has been made during the years 1928 and 1929 in the forms of underwriting members' non-marine guarantee agreement, or in the trust deed approved by the Board of Trade under heads (B) and (C) 2 (

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Lloyd's underwriters during the years 1928 and 1929, respectively, have complied with the requirements laid down in Schedule 8, paragraphs B and C (1) (b) of the Assurance Companies Act as regards the furnishing to the Board of Trade of a statement Showing the extent and character of the business effected by them; and how many Lloyd's underwriters during the same period, in lieu of complying with paragraph B (1) (a) and (b), have elected to comply with paragraphs B and C (2) of the Schedule and supply the of deposits, if any, furnished in accordance with Schedule 8 B and C 2 (3) of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, by Lloyd's underwriters as security for the due fulfilment of their fire and accident insurance contracts; the amount of the security furnished in the form of guarantees; whether any of the guarantees which may be furnished as an alternative to a deposit are given by persons who are not members of Lloyd's Underwriters' Association; if so, to what extent; whether any alteration has been made in the terms of either the underwriters' agreement or trust deed during the years 1928 and 1929; and, if so, what is the alteration?

The amounts of deposits and guarantees for the years 1928 and 1929 furnished by Lloyd's underwriters in accordance with the Eighth Schedule (B) and (C) 2 (b), as security for the due fulfilment of their fire and accident insurance contracts, were as follow:Board of Trade with an auditor's certificate in lieu of a full statement showing the extent and character of the business transacted?

No Lloyd's underwriters during 1928 and 1929 complied with the requirements laid down in the Eighth Schedule, paragraphs (B) and (C) 1 (b).In lieu of complying with paragraphs (B) and (C) 1 (

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cases of malaria, dysentery, and tuberculosis reported amongst British seamen annually in the mercantile marine in the years 1925 to the present date; and how many have proved fatal?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Lawrie).

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many ships of 500 tons and upwards registered as British ships have been transferred to a foreign register during the 12 months, June, 1929, to June, 1930, and by how many ships has the British register been reduced in the same period?

213 British vessels of 500 tons gross and upwards were reported to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930, as having bad their registers closed on sale of the vessels to persons not qualified to own a British ship. No information is available as to how many of these vessels were subsequently registered under a foreign flag, or how many were broken up. During the period in question, there was a net increase of 168 in the total number of vessels on the British register.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the committee regarding the Mid-Scotland Canal may be expected?

I received this report yesterday.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the worn condition of the experimental road surface in New Bridge Street, E.C.; and whether he is now in a position to state the value of this class of rubber surface from the point of view of durability in relation to cost and in respect to its effectiveness as a preventive of skidding?

This paving is under the constant observation of my technical officers; but I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 24th March last.

asked the Home Secretary the number of street accidents to children in London (Metropolitan Police District and City of London) for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The figures for the 12 months to 31st March last are: killed, 297; and injured, 10,944.

asked the President of the Board of Education what would be the annual cost of giving a maintenance grant of 5s. per week for all school Children from the age of 13 to 15, assuming the school-leaving age to be raised to 15 years?

The annual cost of giving a maintanence grant of 5s. a week for all children in public elementary schools between the ages of 13 and 15 would amount to about £12,000,000 in the first full year after the raising of the leaving age to 15.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost of family allowances on the basis of the present population, and of an allowance of 5s. a week for the first child and 3s. for each other child on the assumption, respectively, that the school age remains as at present, and is raised to 15?

The estimated cost of allowances on this scale for all children, whether attending public elementary schools or not, under the ages stated is £107,000,000 per annum and £115,000,000 per annum, respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the event of Civil Service pensioners dying between the periods during which they would normally draw their pensions, the outstanding amount is paid to the legal personal representative or is retained by the Treasury?

In such a case the outstanding amount is paid to the legal personal representative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will remove the British Legation from Peking to Nanking, so as to improve the contact between the British representative and the Nanking Government?

There are serious physical and other difficulties in the way of removing His Majesty's Legation as a whole from Peking to Nanking. Steps have, however, been taken to lease such premises as are available at Nanking, and to establish a branch of the Legation there. The question whether any further arrangements can be made to improve the contact between the British representative and the Nanking Government is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs which of the Dominions have appointed diplomatic representatives; and to what countries are the representatives accredited?

Canadian, Union of South Africa, and Irish Free State Legations have been established in foreign countries as follows:Canadian Legations: United States of America, France, Japan.Union of South Africa Legations: United States of America, Italy, the Netherlands.Irish Free State Legations: United States of America, France, Germany, the Vatican.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of cases in which, during the last 12 months, he has instituted proceedings for possession and ejectment and the number of cases in which orders for the same have been made; and whether he has in any cases secured alternative housing accommodation for the soldiers and other persons so affected?

The number of cases during the past 12 months in which the War Department has taken proceedings for possession or eviction is 49, and orders were granted by the Court in 29 cases. In the remaining 20 cases, the defendants vacated their accommodation before the hearing of the case. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for India the present position in regard to the steps taken by the Government of India to represent in South Africa the views of the Indian community there concerning the Transvaal Asiatic Tenancy Bill?

The Bill is the outcome of the report of a Select Committee of the Parliament of the Union of South Africa before which evidence was given by the Agent of the Government of India. I have no doubt that the Government of India will make any representations which they may think necessary before the Second Reading of the Bill, which has been deferred till the next Session, in 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for India the expected number of representatives at the round-table conference on the Simon Report and the interests which it is proposed will be represented?

I am not able at present to give any precise figure.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of British officers and/or other ranks serving in India who were granted the privilege of indulgence passages from India on trooping ships during the last trooping season?

The number of indulgence passages granted by the Indian authorities homewards during the 1929–30 trooping season was as follows:

• 1st class: 6 officers, 4 wives, 2 children.
• 2nd class: 1 wife, 2 children.
• 3rd class: 6 other ranks, 13 wives, 13 children.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there are any counties in England and Wales that have not made application for registration under the egg-grading scheme; and, if so, will he give particulars?

There are 13 counties, namely, Durham, Northumberland, Rutland, Stafford, Westmorland, Monmouth, Carnarvon, Flint, Montgomery, Radnor,

—					English Wheat "Gazette Average."		Imported wheat prices.				Average declared value (c.i.f.) of all wheat imported into the United Kingdom.
							Argentine (Rosafé) spot Liverpool.		Australian spot Liverpool.
					Per quarter of 480 lbs.
					s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
1925.	July-September		…	…	49	10	59	7	57	11	58	4
	October-December		…	…	48	8	55	7	58	11	53	2¾
1926.	January-March		…	…	50	10	56	0	57	9½	57	5¾
	April-June	…	…	…	56	2	55	1	61	6	55	8½
	July-September		…	…	55	0	—		59	11	55	3½
	October-December		…	…	51	1	—		58	7	55	4
1927.	January-March		…	…	50	6	56	5	57	3½	53	6
	April-June	…	…	…	52	0	55	2½	—		52	11¼
	July-September		…	…	51	2	54	9½	55	3½	53	9
	October-December		…	…	43	4	51	6	51	6	50	11
1928.	January-March		…	…	41	10	50	5	54	3½	48	10¾
	April-June	…	…	…	46	5	51	7	56	3½	50	8½
	July-September	…	…	…	42	9	44	5	48	8½	47	9½
	October-December		…	…	41	6	44	10	49	7	43	4
1929.	January-March		…	…	41	7	44	7	49	2½	43	8
	April-June	…	…	…	41	11	40	0	45	5	42	11¼
	July-September		…	…	45	11	47	6	51	9½	45	5¾
	October-December		…	…	40	5	43	11	48	0	45	0½
1930.	January-March		…	…	37	11	40	2½	43	7¼	43	11¼
	April-June	…	…	…	37	2	38	2½	42	9½	38	5¾
Note.—The prices and average value have been converted to shillings and pence per quarter of 480 lbs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average price in Great Britain of the quarter of wheat for each three months from the 1st July, 1925, to date?

The following table shows the average price per quarter of 480 lbs. of home-grown wheat and of certain descriptions of imported wheat, together with the average declared value of all wheat imported into the United Kingdom, in each three months from 1st July, 1925, to 30th June, 1930, so far as the particulars are available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information in his Department of the number of men who have been refused employment in the collieries in Lanarkshire on account of their having been in receipt of compensation for nystagmus; and, if such information is not now available, whether he can issue regulations to ensure that such records are kept at each colliery, so that they can be supplied to his Department on demand?

I have not the information referred to. Nor have I the power to require such information to be kept and supplied to me. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 10th July by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and add that I shall be glad to co-operate in the matter in any way that I can.

asked the Secretary for Mines the present output of coal per week, giving the comparable figure for the year 1928?

The average weekly output of coal (omitting week affected by holidays) during June, 1930, was 4,588,200 tons. The corresponding figure for 1928 was 4,555,500 tons.