asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities that have adopted the use of the humane killer for pigs; and if he has any figures showing the number of pigs killed by that means in 1929 and 1930?

The number of local authorities with, a by-law requiring the use of a mechanical stunning instrument for pigs is 368, but I have no information of the number of pigs to which it has been applied.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the number of British horses exported to Vaugirard for butchery purposes, he is satisfied that all horses slaughtered there are killed by means of the humane killer; that pending slaughter sufficient food, water, and bedding are provided for them; and that they are humanely treated generally?

I am satisfied that all horses which have been exported from this country for the purpose of immediate slaughter at the abattoir at Vaugirard, since the trade was resumed in April last, have been slaughtered by means of the mechanical killer. Some of these animals were slaughtered at the abattoir in the presence of one of the Ministry's senior veterinary officers, who reported that they were adequately fed, watered and bedded. The same officer reported that the stabling accommodation at the abattoir, which, is in charge of veterinary inspectors acting under the control of the Prefecture of Police, is satisfactory and that there was no reason to believe that the horses are not fed and watered as required by the regulations applying to abattoirs in the city of Paris.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the greatly improved results which potato growers can obtain with the aid of suitable scientific fertilisers; and whether he will consider publishing a leaflet on the subject of the manurial treatment of potatoes?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Advice on the manuring of this crop has been given for many years past in leaflets issued by my Department; I am sending a copy of the relative volume to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take to give security to cereal farming?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what measures the Government propose to take to put cereal growing on an economic foundation in this country; and when these measures are likely to be introduced?

I am sending to the hon. Members copies of the reply which I gave on 17th November to questions on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Louth (Lieut. - Colonel Heneage) and the Noble Lord the Member for Aldershot (Viscount Wolmer). I am unable, at present, to add anything to that reply.

asked the Minister of Health when he now proposes to restore the State grant to the national insurance societies to the original sum?

I am not in a position to add anything to the four previous replies which I have given to the right hon. Member on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the fact that women over 65 years of age whose husbands have deserted them for periods of over 10 years have been unable to get a pension, and they have also been unable to establish that their husbands are dead; and will he take steps to remedy the matter?

I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that where a woman claims a contributory pension, not in respect of her own insurance, but as the wife or widow of an insured man, it is necessary to show that the husband was an insured person and satisfied certain contribution conditions on attaining 65 or at the date of his death, as the case may be. In a case where the husband has deserted his wife and has not been heard of for 10 years, it may be possible to presume his death, but information as to his insurance would also be necessary before it could be established that his widow was entitled to a pension. The cases which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind have presumably failed to establish claim to pension because of the provisions of the Statute, and even if there were ground for any action fresh legislation would be needed.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he takes to investigate methods of treatment in lunatic asylums, especially in view of the fact that lumbar puncture is a routine practice for cases of locomotor ataxy in certain asylums, and that this method of treatment may in some cases be dangerous?

The Commissioners of the Board of Control in the course of their visits to mental hospitals inquire into the treatment of patients. The Board have not found that the treatment mentioned has been dangerous to patients; but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will give me the details, I will make further inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered resolutions requesting the appointment of an inquiry into sterilisation in relation to the mentally unlit; how many local authorities have endorsed these resolutions; and what he proposes to do in the matter?

Twenty-one local authorities have endorsed resolutions in favour of an investigation of this kind; but, as I explained in reply to a question on the 27th November, the issue is not one which can suitably be made the subject of a separate inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the sanction he has given to bylaws enabling municipalities to prohibit the attendance of children at places of entertainment when there is local influenza, how he proposes to define the term "influenza?"

I am not aware that any bylaws have been made on this subject. The hon. Member may be referring to a condition that may be attached by a licensing authority to the grant of a licence under the Cinematograph Act, 1909. I understand that a number of such licensing authorities have made it their practice to attach a condition designed to exclude children from premises licensed under the Act during an epidemic of infectious disease. But these conditions do not require my sanction, and any question regarding their validity or interpretation is a matter for the Courts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information as to the operation of the differential export duty on tin ore mined in the Malay States; and to what extent that duty has been, instrumental in securing that the tin shall be smelted within the British Empire?

An additional export duty of $30 per pikul is levied on all tin ore exported from the Federated Malay States otherwise than under such guarantees as the Chief Secretary may require that it shall be smelted in the Straits Settlements, Australia or the United Kingdom. All but a negligible portion of the ore mined in the Malay States is smelted in British Malaya. The value of the tin ore exported to foreign countries in each of the last three years was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation enabling local authorities to hold up the further conversion of residential property into factory or trading premises?

I propose to introduce legislation for extending planning powers to built areas, which would enable the conversion of residential property into factory or trading premises to be brought under control.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is a great shortage of houses in the Neath borough area; and will he give special financial assistance for slum clearance and the building of new houses?

I am aware that more houses are needed in this area; my powers of granting financial assistance are limited to those conferred by the Housing Acts of 1924 and 1930.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the following information regarding the smallest types of A 3 house recently built by Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Hull, Manchester, Nottingham, and Bristol: superficial area of house, contract price, cost of land and street works, and net rent?

I have obtained particulars as in the attached statement from the local authorities mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will grant the return with respect to local government officers' superannuation standing in the name of the hon. Member for Rochdale?

As I have explained to my hon. Friend, there are difficulties about the preparation of a return of this kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has recently received a communication from the Woolwich Borough Council in relation to the effects of the Local Government Act, 1929, upon the finances of the borough, together with certain reports; whether he has any information in his possession which confirms the statement contained therein that there has been an over estimation of the gains which the poorer boroughs receive by the complete centralisation of the Poor Law in the standard year; and whether he proposes to modify the conclusions he communicated to the council on 5th April, 1930, as to the beneficial result of the Act to Woolwich or anticipate the investigations into the working of the scheme for which provision is made under Section 110 of the Act?

I have seen the reports referred to. I am of opinion that it will not be possible to draw any general conclusions as regards the working of the financial arrangements of the Local Government Act for some considerable time, and I can see no advantage in undertaking an inquiry into the working of the Act in London at the present time.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies (1) what is the name of the company in Jamaica to which His Majesty's Government has advanced £20,000 for the purpose of making fibre board and sugar refining; and what are the conditions of and security for the loan;

(2) In what part of Jamaica is the sugar refining and fibre-board making company to which His Majesty's Governent have advanced £20,000 to be placed; whether the refining of the sugar or the making of the fibre board is a new process or one already existing and, if the latter, what is its name?

Proposals of the nature referred to have been under consideration, and correspondence on the matter is at present proceeding with the Governor of Jamaica. The views of the Colonial Government are awaited and, pending their receipt, I am not in a position to furnish detailed information.

asked the Attorney-General the number of magistrates, men and women separately, in England and in Wales?

I regret I am unable to give all the information asked for. There are 283 Commissions of the Peace in England and Wales, and my Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, has no facilities for ascertaining accurately how many of the persons whose names appear on these Commissions are effective magistrates. The number of women magistrates in England and Wales and Scotland appointed since the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, 1919, is 1,961 to the end of 1929.

asked the Attorney-General for a list of the names of the advisory committee for the borough of Guildford; and the date of the last meeting of the committee?

The following are the members of the Advisory Committee for the borough of Guildford:

Chairman: William Thomas Patrick, Esq., J.P., Treverward, Nightingale Road, Guildford.

Ferdinand Smallpiece, Esq., J.P., Cross Lanes, Guildford.

Leonard Ellis, Esq., J.P., Telford Lodge, Edgeborough Road, Guildford.

Dr. A. M. Mitchell, Eastgate House, Guildford.

Councillor W. G. Sheppard, Bethwynd, Bridgemount, Guildford.

Meetings of advisory committees are fixed by the committee and not by the Lord Chancellor. I am, therefore, unable to answer the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of representations made to him on 28th November last by the three councils of chartered accountants in Scotland and having regard to the anxiety of the business community in Scotland to secure the appointment of a person duly qualified in accountancy, in law, and in business experience to the office of accountant at Court, he will state the special qualifications of the present holder of the office, particulars of the training he has had in accounting, and the reasons why an appointment hitherto held by a chartered accountant has been given to a civil servant not qualified in this manner?

My right hon. Friend has noted the views expressed in the representations referred to. The present holder of the office of Accountant of Court is a civil servant of long accounting experience in the public service, particularly in respect of the legal services, and has rendered distinguished service as secretary to numerous inquiries on legal subjects. He was chosen for appointment on my nomination from among a number of candidates, including chartered accountants, within and without the Civil Service, as having exceptional qualifications for the office and as being the best qualified to discharge its duties.

asked the Lord Advocate if he is now in a position to state the cost of obtaining an adoption order under the provisions of the Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act; and if he is prepared to put in operation in Scotland a procedure which will be no more expensive or complicated than that obtaining in England?

The cost of obtaining an adoption order under the provisions of the Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act will largely depend upon whether the application for an order is opposed or unopposed, and in the latter case upon whether the applicant employs a law agent. Assuming the case of an unopposed application in the Sheriff Court where a law agent is employed, the cost involved should be of very moderate amount. I have no definite information as to the cost of the procedure obtaining in England, but, if it is found to be less expensive, I shall be prepared to make representations in the proper quarter with a view to endeavouring to secure similar facilities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of State-aided houses completed and occupied in Scotland during the first 10 months of this year; and how this number compares with the number completed during the similar periods in 1928 and 1929?

Information is not available as to the number of State-aided houses that were occupied during the periods in question. The number of houses actually completed in Scotland in the first 10 months of 1930 with State assistance was 8,776. The corresponding figures for 1928 and 1929 were 14,214 and 15,845. The number of tenders for State-aided municipal houses approved during the first 10 months of 1930 was 7,441. The corresponding figures for 1928 and 1929 were 6,893 and 6,211, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any understanding has now been arrived at with the Scottish banks at the further meeting held with representatives of the banks for operating the provisions of Part I of the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act; what proposals have been made to the banks; and when it is intended to bring into force the provisions of Part I of the Act?

The further meeting referred to will be held to-morrow, and pending that meeting I am not in a position to add to the replies which I have previously given on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the unsatisfactory conditions under which Diesel oil is being supplied to motor-drifters and fishing boats fitted with heavy-oil engines which involve a discrimination against such fishing craft, he will be prepared to take steps to secure delivery to such fishing craft of the Diesel oil they require in the same quantities and at the same schedule price as the oil it at present being delivered to owners of land-engine installations?

The Fishery Board for Scotland are in communication with the oil companies concerning this matter, and I shall inform the hon. and learned Member as soon as I am in a position to report the result of the correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is estimated to be the cost of reconstructing the Aberfoyle-Trossachs road; whether a grant for this amount will be paid to the Perthshire County Council; whether, if this estimate be exceeded, any part of the balance of cost, and, if so, what part, will have to be met out of local rates; what is estimated to be the annual cost of upkeep; and how many men will be employed on the site in the reconstruction and for about how long?

In reply to the first and last parts of the question, I refer to the reply which I gave to the Noble Lady's question on 2nd December. Under the arrangements proposed, grants amounting to the estimated cost will be paid to the Perthshire County Council via the local authorities of the necessitous areas from which men will be taken to work on the road. I am informed that the estimated annual cost of upkeep of the road for the first five years after reconstruction is £450, of which the balance falling on the rates, after allowing for the Ministry of Transport's grant of 60 per cent. would be £180 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the moneys realised by the sale of sheep stock and other effects of the people deported last August from the island of St. Kilda have now been paid to the several owners; and whether any expenses connected with the removal of the inhabitants or their property have been or will be deducted?

Subject to the observation that the islanders were evacuated at their own request, and not deported in the usual sense of that term, the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any experiments have been made or inquiries instituted by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland as to the best means for the disposal of surplus potatoes; and, if so, the conclusions arrived at?

Investigations into the use of potatoes as feeding stuffs for farm stock were carried out last year at the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen. A report on the conclusions arrived at in these trials will be found in the issue of the Scottish Journal of Agriculture for January, 1930, which also contains an article by an officer of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland suggesting various methods of utilising surplus potatoes. Further experiments have been made at the Rowett Institute with the object of ascertaining the feeding value of dried potatoes, and an article on the subject will appear in the Journal which will be issued in January, 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any experiments have been made by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in the laying down of temporary pasture in Scotland and in the variation of crop rotations, and the conclusions arrived at?

No experiments have been carried out directly by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, but numerous experiments have been conducted by the agricultural colleges in Scotland—particularly by the North of Scotland College of Agriculture—in the laying down of temporary pasture. With regard to the second part of the question, many of the field experiments of the colleges have a bearing on the subject of crop rotations. Information as to the conclusions arrived at from the experiments is contained in publications which may be obtained on application to the colleges.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the appendix containing the maps referred to in the Report on Immigration, Land Settlement, and Development by Sir John Hope Simpson, C.I.E. [Cmd. 3686], will be published?

Owing to certain technical difficulties, it is not anticipated that publication will take place till after the New Year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, owing to the alleged shortage of telephone equipment, inconvenience is being caused to the residents at Kenton, Middlesex; and whether he will take steps to speed up the supply of telephones to the inhabitants of this district?

Upwards of 200 subscribers have been joined up in the Kenton area within the past six months, and additional subscribers are still being connected. Cabling operations of considerable magnitude were put in hand some time ago in a portion of the area where the margin of spare wires was becoming reduced, and upon completion of this work, which is expected within the next month or six weeks, there should be no difficulty in providing service in any part of Kenton.

asked the Postmaster-General the total sum held annually for the last 10 years on deposit on account of telephone subscribers; how much interest has accrued on these deposits; and whether such interest is utilised to the benefit of telephone subscribers?

The amounts held at 1st April each year have been as follow:

No part of this sum has been placed on deposit at interest. It forms, in the first instance, part of the general balances out of which, after providing the necessary working balance, payments are made to the Exchequer on account of Post Office revenue earned and in hand. The fact that the Department is thus relieved from the necessity of borrowing its working capital operates to the benefit of subscribers, since otherwise costs, and consequently rates, would be correspondingly higher.

asked the Postmaster-General the numbers of the male and female staff employed in the telephone department at 31st May, 1929, and 30th November, 1930, respectively; and the number of employés discharged during that period?

Statistics are not available for the dates mentioned in the hon. and gallant Member's question; but the approximate numbers of telephone operating staff employed on 1st July, 1929, were 3,800 men and 19,000 women, and the corresponding figures for 1st October, 1930, are 4,000 men and 18,700 women. No established telephonists have been discharged.

asked the President of the Board of Education if any grants have been made by the Board to the keepers and governors of Harrow School; and, if so, the amount and date of the grants?

No grants have been made by the Board to the governors of Harrow School.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of schools in Lancashire that have been condemned on sanitary or public health grounds during the last five years, differentiating between provided and non-provided schools?

The Board issued, in 1925, a "black list" of public elementary schools with defective premises. It is not possible to differentiate schools which were included in that list on sanitary or public health grounds as distinct from other grounds, but Division A of the list includes all schools described as unsuitable for permanent use and incapable of improvement. The following table shows the position of List A so far as concerns the schools in the area for which the Lancashire County Council is the authority for elementary education:

asked the President of the Board of Education particulars of any schools in the counties of Brecon and Radnor that have been condemned on sanitary or public health grounds since the War?

No public elementary schools in the Counties of Brecon and Radnor were closed on account of defective premises between the end of the War and the issue of the Board's "black list" in 1925. It is not possible to differentiate schools which were included in that list on public health as distinct from other grounds; but Division A of the list includes all schools described as unsuitable for permanent use and incapable of improvement. There were no schools in Radnor shire included in this Division of the list. Of the two schools in the County of Brecon which were thus included, one has since been removed from the list as a result of improvements to the premises, and the other still remains on the list.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether similar figures to those given by him on 24th November, in relation to pupils in elementary schools between the ages of 9 and 11 years and the percentages of free scholars admitted to secondary schools, can be given for the schools under the control of the London County Council?

The number of pupils between the ages of 9 and 11 in public elementary schools maintained by the London County Council as on 31st March, 1930, represents an increase of 49.8 per cent. over the corresponding number as on 31st March, 1928. The number of free places in grant-aided secondary schools in London awarded at the beginning of the school year 1930–31 represents an increase of 10.5 per cent. over the corresponding number awarded at the beginning of the school year 1928–29.

asked the Minister of Transport the number and location of new roads and widening schemes under construction or pending; the estimated number of men each will employ and for how long; the estimated cost in each case; and the likely expenditure to be incurred, respectively, on the acquisition of land and/or other compensation to owners or occupiers for severance, disturbance, easements and the like, wages, and material?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a statement which I issued to the Press at the beginning of November, giving information respecting road schemes and other works which have been authorised by the present Government, with a view to stimulating employment. I am also sending him a copy of a supplementary statement issued at the beginning of this month, giving information respecting the road schemes approved for grant during the month of November. I regret that it is not possible to furnish the detailed return asked for by the hon. Member without an undue expenditure of time and labour which would divert staff from urgent work in connection with unemployment schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport how many schemes have been put forward by the county and local authorities of the North Riding of Yorkshire for roads and bridges?

Since 1st July, 1929, 59 schemes of road improvement have been put forward by these authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is her intention to reconsider the question of the supply of water in rural areas in conjunction with the Government's schemes for unemployment?

Since December, 1929, specially favourable terms of grant from Exchequer Funds have been available through the Unemployment Grants Committee to local authorities who desire to undertake schemes of work for the construction of rural water supply. A variant of those terms has now been decided on to enable a grant to be made where the construction of the supply is conditional on the authority guaranteeing a certain revenue to a neighbouring local authority carrying out the works and providing the supply.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the women who are to make inspections of canteens; and if the report they make will be made public?

The names are:

Mrs. E. D. Simon (Chairman),

Dame Catherine Furse,

Miss Emily Hoctor,

Mrs. Florence Jagger, and

Mrs. Singleton.

They have already begun their work, and expect to finish it before Christmas. It is my intention to publish the report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether His Majesty's Government intend to ratify the Forced Labour Convention which was agreed to at the International Labour Conference at Geneva in June?

His Majesty's Government have every intention of ratifying the Convention, but Article 26 requires that the instrument of ratification shall include a declaration as to the extent to which it is intended to apply the provisions of the Convention in the Colonies. It has, therefore, been necessary to consult all the dependencies concerned as to the possibility of applying the Convention before it is actually ratified. From the replies so far received, there is every reason to hope that the general application of its provisions will prove to be practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport, as he has appointed Mr. Joseph Farndale, C.B.E., Chief Constable of Bradford, to be chairman of the Traffic Commissioners for Yorkshire, if he will give the following particulars in reference to the appointment; age of Mr. Farndale, salary to be paid for new appointments, amount of pension which will be paid to Mr. Farndale from the Bradford Watch Committee, and superannuation funds as pension for police service?

Mr. Farndale, who is 65 years of age, has been appointed for a term of three years at a salary of £1,000 per annum. I understand that he will be entitled to a pension in respect of his past service in the police force on the usual scale.

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to give effect to the findings of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the law relating to the stopping up and diversion of highways?

Legislation would be required to give effect to the recommendations of this committee. As regards the prospects of legislation, I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on 4th November.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will make inquiries among British producing firms in order to ascertain from them the reasons why we are not obtaining a larger share of the market in Uruguay for better class drills and sheetings; if he will then state which country secures the larger proportion of the Uruguayan market in these goods; and why we are losing orders to our competitors?

According to a report furnished by His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Montevideo, the United States hold a leading position in the Uruguayan market for better class drills and sheetings. United Kingdom goods are chiefly handicapped by the price factor. As the result of instructions issued from the Department, a detailed report was received in May of this year on the market position in Uruguay for cotton prints, cabots, Japanese sheetings and drills in which the competitive situation was fully

asked the President of the Board of Trade what effect the abolition of the German imports licence system has so far had upon the importation of German cereals into this country; and what cereals and cereal products are today being still imported from Germany and the quantities imported during the past three months?

analysed. This report was circulated to interested firms, the Federation of British Industries and the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. In addition, samples of competitive goods were submitted to the latter body and were made available to manufacturers. In view of these facts, my hon. Friend does not think any further inquiries can usefully be undertaken at the present time, but he is sending a copy of the detailed report referred to to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of wheat and other cereals, under their separate categories, imported into this country from Russia during the last complete year before the War, and the quantity imported during the last year for which figures are available?

The following statement shows the total quantity of the undermentioned descriptions of grain imported into Great Britain and Ireland during the year 1913, and registered as consigned from the former Russian Empire, and into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the 12 months ended 30th November, 1930, and registered as consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia). The corresponding figures for the average of the five years 1909–1913 are also given.

The particulars desidered by the hon. and learned Member are not readily available for the purpose, but I am having the necessary information compiled, and will forward it to him as early as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much approximately in the case of imported touring cars was added to the cost of each by the duty collected?

The number of touring cars imported complete which were retained for home consumption in the year ended 31st March last was 10,050, and the total duty paid in respect of them was £578,513, i.e., an average of £57 per car. The actual amount of duty varies, of course, according to the value of the car in each case. I must leave the hon. Member to form his own conclusions as to how far the retail prices of imported cars are affected by the duty.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of soldiers serving on a 12-years' engagement, including those retained for an additional year owing to the War, who were granted permanent regular commissions and temporary commissions, respectively, during the year 1917?

I regret that the figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers holding temporary commissions who belong to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers?

There are 15 officers holding temporary commissions in the General List, Regular Army Reserve of Officers. These officers are civil servants who have been granted these commissions for the purpose of serving with the audit staff in the China Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of Army officers who were commissioned during the past year; and what number of these were promoted from the ranks?

During the past 12 months, 628 commissions in the Army have been granted. Of this number, 31 commissions were granted to non-commissioned officers through cadet colleges and 64 commissions were granted direct to warrant officers and non-commissioned officers as quartermasters, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any increase in the number of skilled workmen employed at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich is contemplated; and, if so, under what conditions?

In order to obviate overtime, it is in contemplation to take on about 20 skilled workmen for certain work of an urgent nature in the royal gun and carriage factories. Their employment will be on a purely temporary basis, and is not expected to extend beyond March, 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of volunteers who have submitted to poison-gas experiments; and what fund, if any, exists to compensate them in case of accident or injury or their dependants in case of death?

Since 1st January, 1929, some 520 volunteers have undergone tests with the object of proving the efficacy of preventive and curative treatment for skin burns and of confirming the adequacy of the protection afforded by respirators. Many of these volunteers have undergone more than one test. Every care is take to ensure that the test involves no risk to the health of the volunteers, but, if an injury were sustained, it would be dealt with as attributable to the service, and such compensation would be paid from Army funds as the ordinary regulations provide.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the position as regards chances of promotion of a certain number of instructor officers, surgeons, chaplains, and schoolmasters in the Royal Navy who qualified and entered the Navy at a comparatively advanced age on account of their War service; whether he proposes to take any steps to ensure that these officers shall have chances of promotion equal to those of other officers who have no War service to their credit; and whether, in view of the fact that it is chiefly on account of age that their chances of promotion are prejudiced, he will consider making some allowances for their War service in the period qualifying them for promotion, irrespective of whether such War service was in the Royal Navy?

The question cannot apply to chaplains, since chaplains are not promoted. The conditions as regards the other three branches differ substantially, but in selecting officers for promotion, credit is given for War service.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will give an estimate of the reduction in the numbers of the employed that will be caused by the decision, under the provisions of Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, to reduce compulsorily the output of coal in the country in the period January to March, 1931, by 10 per cent. below that of the same period in 1930?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 16th December to a similar question in which he asked that an estimate might be prepared of the loss in wages.

asked the Home Secretary the total cost of the Workmen's Compensation Act to the mining industry for 1929, and what this cost represents per ton of coal raised and on each £1 of wages paid?

I am not in a position to state the total charge arising out of the Act, but it is estimated that the total compensation paid in the coal mining industry in 1929 amounted to £2,958,331. and on this basis the cost would be 2.8d. per ton of coal raised and 6.5d. per £l of wages.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the continuous acquisition of cinemas in this country by American companies who are also producers of films; and if he is satisfied that the hire fees charged against the theatres for the exhibition of the companies' own product are economic, and not regulated so as to avoid tax?

I am aware that control of certain cinema theatres in this country has been acquired by foreign interests. In connection with the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Rules 7 and 8 of the General Rules of the Income Tax Act, 1918, which are designed to prevent avoidance of taxation in the manner indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many persons have been arrested, imprisoned, or detained under the Bengal Ordinance and under Regulation III of 1818, respectively, in the last six months; and the number of persons at present in prison or under detention under these two enactments?

The number of persons arrested under the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, and under the Act by which it was superseded in October, is 392 between 26th April and 15th November. Of these, 46 have been released, six have been convicted under Section 124A Indian Penal Code, 30 are in jail under Section 4 and 307 under Section 2 (1) of the Act. Three persons have been detained under Regulation III of 1818 during the last six months, and the total number of persons now under detention is 46.

asked the Home Secretary the total amount of premiums paid by employers to insurance companies for the purposes of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1929; and what proportion of this sum was paid back to workmen as compensation?

The premium income for 1929 of the companies which make returns to the Board of Trade was £5,600,955. The corresponding amount paid as compensation (including legal and medical expenses) was £3,138,557, which represents 56 per cent, of the premiums. I must point out, however, that under the agreement between the Accident Offices Association, and the Home Office, employers insured with the companies belonging to that association are entitled to have repaid to them, by way of rebate, the amount by which the compensation paid fell short of 62½ per cent, of the premiums paid.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had under consideration the appointment of a departmental committee to investigate the question of the administration of prisons; and, if so, whether he proposes to set up such a committee?

I propose to set up at an early date a committee to investigate the problem of persistent offenders who return to prison repeatedly, and pending the result of this investigation it would not be desirable to appoint a committee of inquiry into other aspects of the prison question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to consider the creation of a superannuation scheme for the employeás of the Carlisle and district State management scheme?

As my hon. Friend, who has written to me on this subject, is aware, I am very ready to consider, and have at present under my consideration what can be done for the salaried staff employed by the Carlisle and district State management undertaking.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, seeing that the guides at St. James's Palace, Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards, and elsewhere are now prevented by the police from assisting visitors to London who ask for information, he will consider the advisability of affording them means of recognition in order to prevent undesirable persons from giving assistance to visitors who need it?

It is not within my power to license guides for visitors to London, nor does it form part of my duty to afford persons desirous of acting as guides with any means of recognition.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if, in view of the necessity of the Westminster Hospital concentrating outlying departments and extending on the adjacent site now occupied by the Stationery Office, he will consider helping Parliament to act in support of its local hospital by assisting it to acquire the site of the Stationery Office on easy terms, partly in exchange for outlying sites and leases now held by the hospital?

I regret that it is not possible for me to assist the Westminster Hospital in the manner suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer he has received from the Soviet Ambassador with regard to the proposals for the alteration of the wording of the Anglo-Soviet agreement regarding propaganda?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F Hall).

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will consider increasing the wages of charwomen employed in his Department?

Charwomen form a group common to many Departments in the Civil Service, and their pay has to be regulated in conformity with the general standard.

asked the Minister of Labour the commencing salary of temporary clerks at the Unemployment Exchanges; and whether they are granted an additional allowance to meet travelling expenses?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 6th Novem- ber, 1930, to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills) on the subject of the salaries of temporary clerks in the Ministry of Labour. Temporary clerks are required to place themselves on duty at their normal headquarters at their own expense. When required to attend at other offices or elsewhere for duty, travelling expenses on an approved scale are payable by the Department.