asked the President of the Board of Trade what countries, including those within the British Empire, have dumping duties and what is the maximum allowed in each case; and what countries have powers by statute to control, regulate, or prohibit imports in the case of dumping?

Additional duties, known as anti-dumping duties, are levied on certain classes of goods in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and the United States of America. The maximum duty of this kind is, in general, the difference between the export price, or the actual selling price, and the market value in the country of export, which is defined differently in the legislation of the various countries. In Canada there is an over-riding maximum of 50 per cent. ad valorem. In certain other countries there is statutory power to impose anti-dumping duties which has, however, so far as I am aware, never been exercised. These countries include Newfoundland, Cuba, Japan, Poland, Roumania and Turkey, but I am not prepared to say that thin list is exhaustive.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information as to what import duties are at present levied by the Irish Free State and what preferential rates are allowed to other members of the British commonwealth of nations?

Yes, Sir. The information will be found on pages 5–17 of the Irish Free State Tariff List, a copy of which I am forwarding to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what proportion of the total quantity of imports into each of the British Dominions and Great Britain, respectively, is subject to tariff preference in favour of British or Empire goods?

The total value of goods of Empire origin subject to tariff preference imported into the undermentioned Dominions, expressed as a percentage of the total imports into those Dominions, for the latest year for which information has been published, is as follows:

	Per cent.
Canada (Year ended 31st March, 1929)	14
Commonwealth of Austrialia (Year ended 30th June, 1929)	40
New Zealand (Year 1929)	51

The effect on these percentages of tariff changes which have taken place after the date to which the figures refer cannot be estimated. Similar information has not been published respecting the Union of South Africa, the Irish Free State and Newfoundland. With regard to the United Kingdom, the value of goods consigned from British countries and subject to preferential rates of duty represented 2.8 per cent. of our total imports in 1929.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what trade or industrial organisations have been brought into co-operation with the Overseas Trade Development Council since that body was set up?

The Overseas Trade Development Council or its staff have been in touch with a large number of im- portant trade associations and commercial bodies, and the following eight have met the Council since its formation to discuss means of assisting export trade:The British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association.The Manchester Chamber of Commerce.The Sheffield Lighter Trades Manufacturers' Association.The Incorporated Federated Associations of Boot and Shoe Manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland.National Association of Scottish Woollen Manufacturers.The Federation of Curriers, Light Leather Tanners and Dressers.The Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations.The British Cotton Textile Asociation.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the positive tests of demontrating the comparative effects of poison gases on human beings and living animals at present being pursued at the chemical warfare research departments?

Examination of human beings who were gassed during the War and of animals subjected to experiment has shown essential similarities. From this it is deduced that protective and curative measures found effective in the case of animals will be applicable in the case of human beings. Tests, within the limits necessary to ensure that the volunteers come to no harm, are being carried out on the lines referred to in my answer of 25th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and Haddingtonshire (Mr. Sinkinson). For example, contaminated materials, which have been treated for the purpose of cleansing the material from contamination, are brought into contact first with animals and then with human beings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government have considered any steps for the control, regulation and prohibition of the manufacture of poison gases and the instruments required in their use?

This has not been considered by the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has reason to believe that the League of Nations have any proof that the obligations under the Peace Treaties to abstain from the manufacture and importation of poison gases are being honoured by the States concerned?

No evidence that these obligations are not being honoured has at any time been supplied to me by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to difficulties which have arisen recently at South Perrott owing to there being no public telephone available outside post office hours; and what arrangements are being made to ensure telephonic services being available at all hours at this and other country post offices?

I am informed that the sub-postmistress of South Perrott deals with calls outside official hours whenever possible; and similar facilities are available at the great majority of rural post offices.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in connection with the occupation of Telephone House at Manchester, he is prepared to recommend to the Treasury the making of a grant to enable a dining club to be instituted for the convenience of the staff

I have offered to give the staff at Telephone House, Manchester, a loan, which has been accepted, to assist them in forming a refreshment club. In addition, the club will be provided with free accommodation, including maintenance 'and any necessary structural alterations.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that the unemployment benefit of Patrick Grealy, of 47, Vivian Street, Hafod, Swansea, was stopped on 18th July, 1930, on the ground that he had attained the age of 65 years; and, seeing that his application for an old age pension was turned down on the grounds that he was not 65 years of age until 15th October, 1930, will she make inquiries into this case?

I understand the July date has now been found to be the correct one. The question of payment of pension from that date is one for the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed in the West Ham area at the last convenient date, and similar information for approximately the same date in 1928 and 1929?

The following table gives the information desired:

Numbers of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges at Canning Town and Stratford at the undermentioned dates:
—		19th Nov., 1928.	18th Nov., 1929.	17th Nov. 1930.
Men	…	10,888	10,223	14,919
Boys	…	293	271	472
Women	…	1,095	1,197	2,560
Girls	…	253	213	287
Total	…	12,529	11,904	18,238

asked the Minister of Health the total amount of money of which industrialists and others in the administrative county of Lancashire have been relieved in rates due to the de-rating system?

The losses on account of rates in the administrative county of Lancashire as provisionally estimated, on the basis of the figures for the standard year, for the purposes of Part I of the Fourth Schedule to the Local Government Act, 1929, amount to £1,344,197 and the sums paid to the local authorities in the county over and above the sums required to make good the losses on account of rates and grants arising under the Act amount, as provisionally estimated, to an additional £218,262 apart from the mitigation of temporary loan liabilities provided for in Section 114 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health, as at the last convenient date, the infantile death rate in West Ham and to give similar information for approximately the same date in 1928 and 1929?

The figures asked for are as follow:

Infantile Mortality in West Ham County Borough per 1,000 Births.
1928:
1st Quarter	…	…	…	92
2nd Quarter	…	…	…	54
3rd Quarter	…	…	…	46
4th Quarter	…	…	…	61
Year	…	…	…	64
1929:
1st Quarter	…	…	…	126
2nd Quarter	…	…	…	55
3rd Quarter	…	…	…	42
4th Quarter	…	…	…	88
Year	…	…	…	74
1930:
1st Quarter	…	…	…	80
2nd quarter	…	…	…	59
3rd Quarter	…	…	…	47

NOTE.—The rates given for the several quarters should be regarded as approximate.

asked the Minister of Health the infant mortality rate in England and Wales for 1910, 1913, and each of the years 1920 to 1929?

The figures are as follow:

England and Wales
year.					Deaths of Infants under 1 year per 1,000 live births
1910	…	…	…	…	105
1913	…	…	…	…	108
1920	…	…	…	…	80
1921	…	…	…	…	83
1922	…	…	…	…	77
1923	…	…	…	…	69
1924	…	…	…	…	75
1925	…	…	…	…	75
1926	…	…	…	…	70
1927	…	…	…	…	70
1928	…	…	…	…	65
1929	…	…	…	…	74

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now concluded his negotiations with doctors in panel practice and the approved societies for a variation of the period during which an insured person may change his panel doctor; and, if so, will he state what arrangements have been arrived at?

On the question of principle, I have come to the conclusion that I ought to modify the relevant part of the Medical Benefit Regulations so as to require a longer period to elapse before effect is given to a notice by an insured person of his desire to transfer to another insurance doctor. Details of the procedure will be discussed with the representative bodies concerned as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that widows' pensions are being withheld, as the words the date of entry into insurance are being interpreted as the date of the last entry into insurance, whereas in Scotland widows' pensions are being paid on contributions calculated since the date of entry into insurance, according to the Act; and will he inquire into the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 27th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Banff (Major Wood) on the same subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the kidnapping of men at Singapore for work at the Chinese woodcutting enterprises; whether he has received any representation on the subject from the Dutch Government; and what steps he proposes to take to put an end to this practice?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. The frequent inspection of these enterprises by Dutch officers is believed to have checked any abuses which may formerly have existed.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the claim of the Samburu tribe in Kenya Colony to certain lands on the Neogi plateau has been substantiated and their rights to this land established?

The reference in the question is, presumably, to land on the Loroki plateau, to which at present the Samburu have provisional access. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 26th November to a question on the same subject asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Horrabin), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. John Hertz and his party, who, on arrival at Kingston, Jamaica, on 25th March last, experienced inconvenience and discourtesy on landing from their aeroplane; and whether he will take steps to inquire into the circumstances of the case?

Yes, Sir. But the Acting-Governor has made careful inquiry into the circumstances, and has reported that no discourtesy was shown to Mr. John Hertz and his party on landing from their seaplane at Kingston, and that the inevitable inconvenience due to quarantine and Customs procedure was minimised as far as it was practicable to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for India, in regard to the measures being taken in India to avert the spread of leprosy, if he will give information showing in which provinces leprosy survey parties have been set up and village clinics opened with the support of the Government?

Leprosy surveys have been carried out in Bihar and Orissa, the Central Provinces, Madras and in parts of Bengal, and leprosy clinics have been established by the local authorities in the areas covered by these surveys. In addition, numerous clinics have been opened in other parts of India by doctors trained in leprosy treatment during the last few years.

asked the Secretary of State for India the reasons why the Government of India are unwilling to grant to Imperial Airways, Limited, the facilities desired in connection with the air route to Australia?

The Government of India are co-operating with Imperial Airways, Limited, but prefer to keep the service across India in their own hands.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any education authorities have carried out experiments in the regular provision for their school children of nourishment other than whole milk, and with what results?

A few local education authorities have provided dried milk in various forms, but it is the Board's experience that the provision of fresh milk is preferable. In addition to the provision of milk, ordinary meals are, of course, provided by a considerable number of authorities, while in certain cases supplementary nourishment is given in the form of cod liver oil.

asked the President of the Board of Education which education authorities are now taking advantage of their powers to supply milk to school children in their districts?

Following is a list of the 64 education authorities which are providing milk for school children. This does not include those areas in which milk is provided on a self-supporting basis under a scheme of the National Milk Publicity Council without financial assistance from the local authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce, concurrently with the Education Bill now before Parliament, a supplementary Bill to provide for State grants to non-provided schools to meet the extra expenditure such schools will have to incur in increased accommodation which will be necessitated by the Education Bill?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in regard to non-provided schools, in my speech on the Second Reading of the Education Bill now before the House.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he proposes to arrange for increased grants in aid to be made so as to enable local education authorities in rural areas to give better facilities for education and again start continuation classes, which have been dropped in certain rural areas on the alleged ground of economy, and which it is suggested they cannot now do, and will not be able to do, without greatly increasing the rates out of all proportion to the increase in rates which may occur in urban areas?

I am not aware that the system under which grants are at present paid operates to the disadvantage of rural areas, or that changes are necessary in order to enable them to provide continuation classes or other educational facilities.

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who are the parties jointly interested along with the Church of England in the Bishop of London's Paddington estate, and whether these parties are in any way representative of the Church or ordinary private investors?

This estate belongs to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners subject formerly to a perpetually renewable lease, now under the recent Real Property Statute's converted into a lease for 2,000 years. The lessees are trustees for private individuals.

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners what steps are being taken to preserve buildings of historical or architectural interest under the Commissioners' control; and what buildings have been scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act daring the last three years?

The buildings of historical or architectural interest under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' control are such as are on estates owned by the Commissioners. As owners the Commissioners take reasonable care for their preservation. Buildings, etc., on the Commissioners' Estates scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act during the last three years have been Cawood Castle, Yorkshire.Certain Barrows (near Wells), Somerset.Roman Station (Vinovia), Binchester, Durham.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information to show that any country which has adopted a wheat quota system has since abandoned it, which of the countries operating the quota has a guaranteed price, and what that price is in each case?

I have no information to show that any country which has in recent years adopted a wheat quota system has since abandoned it. These systems have, as stated in my answer to the hon. Member on the 24th ultimo, been in operation for a comparatively short time. I understand that in Sweden the majority of the commercial mills have undertaken to purchase native wheat at a price equivalent to 42s. per 480 lbs. in September rising to 47s. in May. In Switzerland, the State Grain Office is under an obligation to pay a price equivalent to approximately 71s. per 480 lbs. for native wheat used in milling this season. In Norway a premium is paid on home-grown wheat equivalent to approximately 9s. 6d. per 480 lbs. in excess of the average price of imported wheat. These appear to be the only countries in which definite price arrangements are associated with the wheat quota system.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity and value produced in England and Wales in the year 1929 of the following articles, separately; wheat, oats, barley, milk and milk products, poultry, eggs, beef, mutton and Iamb, and bacon, ham, and pork?

The estimated quantity and value of the under-mentioned agricultural products sold off agricultural holdings or consumed in farm households in England and Wales during the Agricultural year 1929–30 have been as follow

Commodity.	Quantity.	Value.
	Thousand tons	Thousands of £
Wheat (a)	953	8,740
Barley (a)	649	6,000
Oats (a)	380	2,690
Milk and Dairy Produce, (b)	—	57,060
	Thousands
Fowls	20,900	4,440
Ducks	1,520	420
Geese	520	230
Turkeys	550	400
	Millions
Hen Eggs	1,800	12,970
Duck Eggs	34·2	230
	Thousand
	cwt.
Beef	7,906	31,890
Mutton and Lamb	3,068	15,750
Pigmeat (c)	4,634	22,400

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asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the appointment of a Select Committee to examine the question of pensions of ex-service men and their dependants, in view of the number of ex-service men and widows of such men who are in need?

I would remind my hon. Friend that the appointment of a Select Committee is a matter in the first instance for the Prime Minister. At the same time, having regard to the objects and scope of the War Pensions Warrants and Statutes, which are necessarily confined to the provision of compensation for war injury or death, I do not consider that I could usefully suggest the course proposed.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries as to hospital accommodation for ex-service men in the West of Scotland, in view of the unsuitability of the Erskine Hospital through the difficulty of approach to it and also as it was the outcome of public subscription for other purposes than a Ministry hospital?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean).on the 13th ultimo of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the profits made by brewers from 1911 to the latest date of which he has the figures; and what percentage this represents on the invested capital?

I am sending my hon. Friend copies of replies which were given to the Noble Lady the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Viscountess Astor) on 20th March and 5th May last that contain information regarding the amount of profits. I am not in a position to relate the amount of profit to the capital invested in the industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take immediate steps to facilitate the summoning of a conference of central banks in order to give effect to the Genoa Resolutions in respect to rationing of the use of gold and price stabilisation?

The representatives of the chief central banks are in constant communication through the Bank for International Settlements, which largely fulfils the objects set out in the Genoa Resolutions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that P class clerks in the Civil Service who were rejected on medical grounds after success in the Lytton or Southborough examinations, and have now been recommended for exceptional promotion to the established clerical grade under Clause 5 of the Guinness agreement, are being required to submit to a further medical test at a fee of £2 2s.; and whether, in view of the small salaries of the men concerned, he can arrange for a reduction of that fee?

My hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. The Civil Service Commission are always prepared in these cases to pay the fee of £2 2s. for the examination by a medical referee of a "P" class clerk presented for promotion to the established clerical classes in the circumstances in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the recent disturbances which have occurred in Brazil?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Ambassador at Rio has furnished me with regular reports on the recent disturbances in Brazil. But I am advised that order has now been restored throughout the country, and that conditions are returning to normal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the recent disturbances which have occurred in Finland?

Yes, Sir. I have received full information from His Majesty's Minister at Helsingfors re- garding recent events in Finland, including the disturbances to which my hon. Friend refers. Those disturbances, however, have now ceased, and I understand that the country is completely tranquil.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British representative in China has presented to the Chinese Government, for settlement, a statement of British financial claims for which no provision has yet been made by the Chinese Government; and, if not, whether he will do so in connection with the pending adjustment of China's international obligations?

His Majesty's Minister is taking steps to obtain a full list of British financial claims against the Chinese Government. As soon as this list has been prepared, it will be submitted to the Chinese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a statement in respect of the representations made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon to the Portuguese Government as long ago as January, 1929, regarding the arrest on the charge of theft of £1 of Mr. A. J. Brewer, who was detained for nine months while awaiting trial in Portuguese West Africa, and subsequently sentenced to 300 days' imprisonment and £18 fine or another 90 days' imprisonment?

His Majesty's Ambassador has recently drawn the attention of the Portuguese Government to the very long delay over this case, on which representations were first made to that Government on 3rd November, 1928, Sir Francis Lindley has been informed that in April last the papers relating to the trial, which had been scrutinised by the Portuguese Cabinet, were handed to the Supreme Court for examination with a view to determine whether a miscarriage of justice had taken place. This examination is, apparently, not yet finished.

asked the Home Secretary whether the financial grant to the Royal Commission on Licensing makes provision for the expenses of members of the Commission incurred through taking evidence in the United States of America of the results of prohibition?

I have been asked to reply. The expenses of the Royal Commission on Licensing (England and Wales) are borne on the Vote for Royal Commissions, etc. I am informed that no expenses of the kind referred to by the hon. Member have been incurred or are likely to be incurred.

asked the Home Secretary how many subjects of the Soviet Government have entered this country during the past month?

The figures for November are not yet available. In October, 194 passengers with passports showing them to be Soviet citizens were permitted to land in the United Kingdom.

asked the Home Secretary what number of colliery companies became bankrupt in the South Wales coalfield each year from 1921 to date; what number had not insured their workmen against accidents; can he give the date of winding up and the date when the workmen received their compensation, and what amount in the £ was paid; the amount paid to the receiver during the period he was in possession; and what steps will he take to make it compulsory for the employers to insure their workmen against accidents?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he has no information for the period previous to 1927. Inquiries show that nine colliery companies in South Wales went into liquidation in 1927, 33 in 1928, 14 in 1929 and six during the present year, making 62 in all. Of these, so far as has been ascertained, eight had not insured at all, and 14 had insured only against part of the risks. The other particulars asked for are not available, but I may say that at three collieries there was a permanent loss of compensation amounting in the aggregate to nearly £14,000. There are also other cases where the final settlement has not yet taken place. The situation is undoubtedly grave, but it can only be remedied by legislation which would necessarily be of a far-reaching character. The Government have the matter under serious consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not in a position at present to make any statement.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many coal mines in Holland are State-owned; the total output for 1928, and 1929, respectively; and the wages of the workmen?

The output of the four State-owned mines in Holland in 1928 was 6,904,800 metric tons and in 1929 6,812,000 metric tons. The average cash earnings of the workers per shift, expressed in sterling were 8s. 9d. in 1928 and 9s. 1d. in 1929.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many explosions occurred in coal mines in Great Britain during the 10 years 1910 to 1919, and how many lives were lost?

During the 10 years 1910 to 1919 there were 137 explosions involving loss of life, the total number of deaths being 1,419.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of all the county councils in Scotland which are operating Section 17 (1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929?

All the county councils in Scotland except the separate county councils of Kinross, Moray and Nairn have resolved to pay allowances under Section 17 (1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929. In the cases of Ross and Cromarty, Wigtown and Zetland, the resolution does not cover allowances in respect of time lost; in the case of Peebles the resolution only applies to travelling expenses; in the case of Inverness personal expenses are only to be paid where absence from home overnight is entailed.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he has definitely abandoned the Calton Hill site in Edinburgh for the erection of new Government offices; and, if so, will he approach the Glasgow Corporation with a view to securing a Glasgow site?

The answer to the first part of the question is in -the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will consider the advisability of having the varnish removed from the oak woodwork of the House of Commons?

The removal of the varnish from the oakwork has already been carried out in various parts of this building, but the change of colour involved suggests that discrimination is necessary in extending such treatment. I am doubtful if, under present conditions, the expense could be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of the works at Cardiff Docks towards which a grant is being made to the Great Western railway Company under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929; and what is the nature and amount of the Government grant?

The scheme submitted to the Development (Public Utility) Advisory Committee by the Great Western Railway for Cardiff Docks was for the provision of six appliances capable of dealing with 20-ton wagons in lieu of existing hoists; provision of 12 electric cranes in lieu of existing steam and hydraulic cranes, and provision of new electric pumping plant in lieu of existing steam plans. The estimated total cost of the work is £325,000, and forms part of a comprehensive scheme for the modernisation of the company's South Wales Docks at a cost of £3,222,000. The assistance offered by the Treasury, with my concurrence and after consultation with the Development Committee, takes the form Under Section 2 of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, of a grant towards defraying the interest on the capital expenditure incurred, and is estimated to have a present value equivalent to a capital contribution towards the whole scheme of approximately £972,000.