asked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to the closing of the Dhariwal woollen mills as a result of the Congress boycott, by which some 3,000 Indian families have been reduced to the verge of starvation; and what steps he proposes to take to enforce obedience to the law?

I have seen Press reports of this matter. As regards the second part of the question, I am satisfied that local governments in India are fully alive to their responsibility for the enforcement of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the maximum capacity of accommodation in the Meerut district gaol; what was the average number of inmates in the gaol before the opening of the civil disobedience campaign; the number of prisoners confined in the gaol on 29th August last, and how many of these prisoners are Satyagrahis?

I will make inquiries on these points, and so soon as I receive the information will communicate it to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government to pursue a common native policy throughout our Dominions and Colonies in Africa; and whether in future he is prepared to consult with South Africa before issuing statements on native policy which may affect and disturb conditions already existing in that Dominion and elsewhere?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The various Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories in Africa for which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have the final responsibility differ widely one from another, but His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom desire that, so far as local circumstances permit, a common policy in native affairs should be followed. It is further the desire of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to have the advantage of the fullest possible consultation with the Governments of the several Dominions on all matters of common concern; it being understood that each part of the British Commonwealth must necessarily determine within the territories for which it is responsible the policy which is in its judgment best suited to the circumstances of each case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can indicate the principle which is being followed in the East African group of territories as to the location of the directors of the agricultural departments; why, in the case of Tanganyika, the headquarters have been transferred from the seat of Government to an inland experimental station, and in the case of Uganda from the commercial and agricultural capital to the seat of Government; whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Uganda at the decision to transfer the headquarters of the agricultural department from Kampala to Entebbe; and whether, in view of the strength of feeling manifested by cables and letters addressed to the Colonial Office, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Joint East African Board, by the leading trade organisations in Uganda, the Secretary of State for the Colonies will consider revising his. decision?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The question of the location of the headquarters of agricultural departments in the East African Dependencies has to be decided in accordance with local conditions. In the case of the Tanganyika Territory, the headquarters of the department has been moved to Morogoro, which is conveniently situated in an important agricultural area where one of the principal agricultural experimental stations is established. In the case of Uganda, no locality possessing similar advantages is available, and the choice lies between Kampala as the chief commercial centre and Entebbe as the seat of Government. The relative advantages of Kampala and Entebbe were carefully considered, in consultation with the Governor of Uganda, and full account was taken of the arguments which were put forward both in Uganda and by interested bodies in this country against removal of the headquarters of the department from Kampala. My Noble Friend (the Secretary of State for the Colonies) came to the conclusion, on a review of all the circumstances, that the balance of advantage lay in the headquarters being at Entebbe, and he decided accordingly; and he regrets that he cannot hold out any prospect of the decision being revised.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average number of men employed in the Royal Naval Dockyard, Chatham, during each of the four months ended 31st October, 1928, and each of the four months ended 31st October, 1930, respectively?

The average number of workpeople employed in all departments at Chatham Dockyard during each of the four months ended 31st October, 1928, was 8,105, 8,064, 8,109, and 8,332 respectively, and during each of the four months ended 31st October, 1930, 8,589, 8,408, 8,389, and 8,509, respectively.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the amount of wages paid in the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham during each of the four months ended 31st October, 1928, and each of the four months ended 31st October, 1930, respectively?

The amount of wages paid at Chatham Dockyard to men borne under Vote 8 during the months mentioned is as follows:

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether there will be any cost to the Exchequer arising out of the alterations needed to put right some of the defects in design of the new British Embassy at Washington?

I must refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, (1) the total amount expended by the Empire Marketing Board each year since 1926; and the main avenues of expenditure in round figures of say tens of thousands;(2) the total sum expended by the Empire Marketing Board in bill posting each year since 1926, apart from the cost of printing the pictures and posters?

The following statement gives the figures for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of children in elementary schools in receipt of maintenance allowances from the Carnarvonshire local education authority on the last day for which figures are available; and the cost to public funds of these allowances?

On 30th September last there were 161 children in elementary schools in Carnarvonshire who were receiving maintenance allowances. The cost to public funds was for the half-year ending on the same date.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are any proposals for the inclusion of nursery schools in the educational programmes of the counties of Brecon and Radnor?

No proposals for the establishment of nursery schools are included in the educational programmes for the counties of Brecon or Radnor.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will amend the regulations governing the sale and distribution of literature in the Royal Parks, so as to permit the sale or distribution of political literature?

I have given this matter very careful consideration, and I am convinced that it is in the best interests of users of the parks generally not to alter these regulations.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will give a return of the number of fatal and non-fatal motor accidents which have occurred in the royal parks for the years 1927, 1928, 1929, and for the 10 months up to 31st October, 1930, with particulars as to the number of such accidents which are stated to be due to excessive speed whether steps are taken

asked the First Commissioner of Works the cost of Government hospitality and entertainment during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, and up to date in 1930?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour in how many industries there are organised arrangements whereby workers are enabled alternately to earn wages and to draw benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts; what these industries are; and what are the numbers of men and women workers, respectively, included in such arrangements?

I regret that statistics are not available which would give the to require the drivers of motor vehicles to observe the existing speed limit; and whether he can give a return of the number of prosecutions of the drivers of motor vehicles for driving to the danger of the public and exceeding the speed limit in the royal parks during the above periods?

The statistical information is appended. It is not possible to say how many of the accidents are due to excessive speed, but every effort is being made to enforce the speed limit of 20 miles an hour now imposed by the Parks Regulations.information desired. The industrial analyses of insured persons recorded as unemployed published each month in the Ministry of Labour Gazette give separate figures for persons temporarily stopped from the service of their employers, but while these figures include persons working on systems of organised short time or intermittent employment and unemployment, separate figures for this latter class are not available. I should add that the numbers "temporarily stopped" do not include persons on systematic short time who were at work on the day on which the count of the register is taken.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons registered at the Employment Exchanges at Gillingham and Chatham, Kent, for the last week for which figures are available as compared with the corresponding weeks in 1928 and 1929, respectively, as well as with the first, week of June, 1929?

The following table shows the numbers on the registers at the Chatham (including Gillingham) Employment Exchange at the dates in question.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of insured persons, classified in trade groups, recorded as unemployed, belonging to the building industry in Great Britain on the last convenient date; and similar information at approximately the same date in 1928 and 1929?

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons classified as belonging to various occupations in the building industry who were recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 22nd September, 1930, 23rd September, 1929, and 24th September, 1928, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give an estimate, at the present level of building prices, of the cost per house to be borne by the local authorities under the Housing Act, 1930?

Where the charge to be borne by the local authority is £3 15s. per house for 40 years it is estimated to represent on average about 16 per cent. of the total cost of the house.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many ex-service men who made an application for pension after the expiration of the seven years' limit, on the ground that they were suffering from the effects of gas poisoning contracted on service, have been successful in their application?

The information required is, I fear, not available, for the reasons which I gave in my answer to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Colonel England) on 3rd March last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health what increase, if any, there has been in the number of casual paupers seeking relief at the Poor Law institutions in England and Wales since the day the present Government took office?

The number of casuals in receipt of relief in England and Wales on the night of 17th October, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,372 and on the night of 7th June, 1929, was 12,045, but during a year there are considerable variations in the number of casuals in receipt of relief, and I do not think that it is possible to draw any deductions from a particular selection of figures, especially figures that relate to different seasons of the year.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of relief from the public assistance committees, along with the amount paid, in the first week of March, 1930, and in the first week of each of the following months?

asked the Minister of Labour the present position with regard to the negotiations for an agreed measure giving statutory powers to the decisions of joint industrial councils under. certain conditions?

The Government have not participated in such negotiations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount paid in royalty fees by the Admiralty and the Stationery Office to foreign Governments and foreign publishers for the rights of copying foreign hydrographic charts since 1927?

No such stuns have been paid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government propose to introduce legislation transferring the power to issue Treasury notes from the Bank of England to the Treasury?

No, Sir.

The following statement gives the desired information for England and Wales so far as it is available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of the Government has been caled to the fact that the general circumstances of employment of temporary clerks in the Ministry of Labour has changed in the last 12 to 18 months owing to the accretion of new recruits; whether, as a result, he is aware that, whereas 18 months ago most temporary clerks were either on the maximum or well up the scale, there are to-day many thousands only drawing the minimum of the scale, which, in many cases, is under 47s. for the man and under 35s. for the woman; and whether, in view of these facts, he will consider the desirability of increasing the rates of pay?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 6th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he expects to receive the report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 6th November, to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hare-Belisha).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of names of ex-service temporary clerks recorded by the Joint Substitution Board as waiting for new appointments in the Civil Service?

The number is 36 over the whole of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any ex-service temporary clerks in his Department are under warning or notice of discharge; and, if so, whether he can assure the House that places will be found for them elsewhere in the Civil Service before their period of service in the Ministry of Pensions comes to an end?

Owing to redundancy, 14 temporary ex-service clerks have recently been placed under notice of discharge. Of this number, seven have already been assigned to vacancies in other Departments. The Joint Substitution Board will make every endeavour to find alternative employment for the remainder before their notices expire.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any ex-service temporary clerks in the Passport Office are under warning or notice of discharge; and, if so, whether he can assure the House that places will be found for them elsewhere in the service before their period of notice expires?

I regret that, owing to a diminution in the work of the Passport Office, four temporary clerks are now under notice. I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that two of these have already been assigned to posts in other Departments. Every endeavour is being made by the Joint Substitution Board to find further employment for the other two.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of industrial civil servants in the year 1913–14?

The number of industrial civil servants for the year in question was 104,000 approximately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a large Dumber of British seamen have been deprived of their right to compensation in respect of effects lost through enemy action during the Great War, while serving in British ships, by reason of their claims not having been filed before June, 1924; and whether he will consider extending the said date to enable such claims to be filed?

The final date originally fixed for the presentation of claims in respect of damage by enemy action was February, 1922. The extended date of 1st June, 1924, was advertised with the widest possible publicity, and I fear that it is impossible to depart from the decision of successive Governments that claims received after this extended date cannot be considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the fact that a number of alien seamen who lost their effects through enemy action during the Great War while serving in British ships have not received any compensation in respect of such loss; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The grants made from moneys voted by Parliament in respect of damage by enemy action were expressly limited to British nationals, and claims by alien seamen were therefore rejected. The grant of compensation to such seamen is a matter for their own Governments, and I do not consider that any action in the matter is called for on the part of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as the figures up to 31st May last show that there are issued 331,906 licences for goods road-motor vehicles, being an increase of 61,305 since 1927, he can state how many of these vehicles have a capacity of three tons and over and how many are 30-cwt. trucks?

A subdivision into weight categories of vehicles with licences current in May last is not available. From the "Census of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles, 1929," published by the Ministry of Transport, details of the numbers at the various taxation steps can be obtained in respect of vehicles with licences current during any part of the quarter ended 30th September last. For the purpose of the comparison desired by the hon. and gallant Member, it is necessary to exclude from the total quoted by him and from the corresponding total in the census return for 1929 the two groups designated as "agricultural vans and lorries" and "electrically-propelled vehicles" as the classification of these groups for taxation purposes does not include the three tons and the 30 cwts. steps respectively. With the deduction of these two comparatively small groups of vehicles the number of goods motor vehicles with current licences in September, 1929, was 325,947 and 328,382 in May, 1930. Of the 325,947 vehicles included in the census of September, 1929, 61,212 were goods vehicles of three tons or more in weight unladen and 63,278 were between one ton and 30 cwts. On the same basis the number of goods vehicles with current licences in September, 1927, was 281,542, of which 58,844 were three tons or more in weight unladen. No figure can be given for the number between one ton and 30 cwt., as the 30 cwt. step for purposes of taxation was not introduced until 1929.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of steam-driven vans and lorries used for general haulage which held current licences during the end of the September quarter, 1930?

The information desired by my hon. Friend is not yet available, but is being obtained, and will be published in the Census of Mechanically-Propelled Road Vehicles for 1930.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of motor vehicle licences, annual or quarterly, that have been issued during the 12 months ended on the last convenient date?

The number of motor vehicle licences (excluding tramcar and trade licences) issued during the 12 months ended 31st August, 1930, was:

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet considered the terms of reference of the committee which it is proposed to set up to consider the hours and sittings of the House?

Yes, Sir. It is proposed in the course of the next few days to move that a Select Committee of this House be appointed to consider the procedure of this House in regard to the conduct of Public Business and to suggest any changes that may seem desirable therein.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether it is part of the work of his Department to report on the conditions of pay and employment of overseas British subjects employed by British organisations trading overseas; and, if not, whether, in view of the importance of securing the best talent available for the stimulation of our trade, he will consider the desirability of instructing his representatives to undertake such investigation for the guidance of home undertakings?

My Department does not expect to receive regular reports of the character indicated. A general investigation would not, in my judgment, be justified by its utility. I am fully alive to the desirability of securing the best talent for British organisations trading overseas, and the advice given by my Department, both general and specific, is constantly directed to this end.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which nations in Europe at the present time provide state subsidisation for any of the goods they export; what exports are subsidised by each country concerned; and what is the rate of subsidy or the amount of the export bounty in each case?

I regret that full information on this matter is not available. I am, however, sending the hon. Member a copy of a League of Nations Document (C.E.1. 42) prepared in connection with the World Economic Conference which contains some information on the subject. I understand that the Economic Organisation of the League is at present engaged in the task of bringing the document up to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ask His Majesty's Ambassador in Paris to supply him with a report on the working of the new electric installation by which the members of the French Chamber vote from their seats?

I am asking His Majesty's Ambassador in Paris for a report on this subject, and will communicate it to the hon. and gallant Member in due course.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation making it a punishable offence for electors to abstain from recording their votes at parliamentary, county council, and municipal elections without good cause?

I do not think such legislation is practicable or desirable.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is his intention to introduce, during the present Session of Parliament, legislation making the hunting of the wild stag with hounds illegal?

I am afraid that it is not possible for His Majesty's Government to take up this subject at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary if he can make any statement as to the progress and the proposals that have been made at the preliminary opium conference which recently opened in London?

I am informed that considerable progress has been made with the consideration of the matters referred to the preliminary conference, and that it is hoped to submit a report in the course of a few days.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements are at present in force for the despatch of letters by air mail to Australia and the reason why a change was made decreasing the facilities?

Letters can be despatched from London on Thursday evening for transmission by ordinary route to Fremantle and thence by air in the interior of Australia, offering a saving in time of from one to four days, according to destination. If the hon. Member will give me further particulars regarding the second part of his question, I will have inquiry made and write to him on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of members upon the various agricultural committees in Great Britain appointed by the county councils and the Ministry of Agriculture, and the number of workers' representatives appointed by him to these committees.

The total number members of agricultural committees in England and Wales is 2,557, of whom 1,722, including 80 workers' representatives, have been appointed by the county councils, and 835, including 155 workers' representatives, have been appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. There are no agricultural committees in Scotland. As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Frome (Mr. Gould), I hope to be able to increase the number of the workers' representatives when the opportunity occurs in April next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the Northumberland County Council has recently rescinded the decision to pay subsistence allowances to workers' representatives upon the Northumberland agricultural committee, which will prohibit the workers' representatives attending, he will say why he has endorsed this action?

Formerly the payment out of county funds of both travelling and subsistence expenses by the committee to its agricultural labour members was entirely at the option of the committee. In March last, the county council informed the Ministry that it was proposed to revise the county agricultural committee scheme so as to provide for the payment of travelling expenses only, but to make such payment compulsory upon the committee on application being made by any of its members. The Ministry pressed the council to reconsider their proposal not to pay subsistence allowance, but without success. The amendment to make payment of travelling expenses obligatory was therefore approved. Under the present law I have no power to require the payment of subsistence allowances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he intends to introduce a Bill to amend the Land Drainage Act, 1930, before Christmas?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture 'how many authorities have pointed out that the geographical boundaries of catchment areas as finally delimited are unworkable from the point of view of rating?

A number of authorities have referred to difficulties which may arise in regard to the provisions of the Act to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. There has, however, been no suggestion, so far as I can trace, that they are unworkable, nor could I agree that this is so, although compliance with the Act will necessarily involve the authorities concerned in a considerable amount of detailed work in the ascertainment of their rateable values.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average contract wholesale and the average city retail price of milk governing the winter months of 1929 and 1930?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Agricultural Market Report for 19th September last, which contains an article giving, so far as is available, the information he requires.

asked the Minister of Agriulture, with reference to the farming operations carried on under his Department during the last 10 years at such places as Patrington, South Lincolnshire, etc., if he will state in respect of each place the acreage taken over by the Ministry; the dates when farming operations were commenced and ceased; the total cost of each scheme; and the profit or loss involved on the working of each scheme to the present time?

Full information concerning the finance of each of the farm settlements established under the Small Holdings (Colonies) Acts, some of which were carried on as farms, is contained in the volumes of Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets which have been issued annually since 1920, by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and presented to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the financial result of the holding of land for agricultural purposes controlled or managed by his Department during the last 10 years; and the average profit or loss per acre of land so held, controlled, or managed?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to-day to a question on the same subject by the hon. and gallant Member for the Richmond Division of Yorkshire (Captain Dugdale).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance of the Government making a definite decision as to help they can give, he is able to state the steps he is taking towards reaching a settlement on the sugar-beet issue between the factories and the farmers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Thursday last to a question by the hon. Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Butler) on this subject.