asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the school organisation is used to allow children to attend entertainments which include performing animal turns, he will consider the desirability of prohibiting it, particularly in view of the resolution passed unanimously by the Royal Society of Teachers at their last annual conference urging such action?

My right hon. Friend has not received complaints as to any cases of the use of the school organisation for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Education what representatives were called to the conference convened by him to negotiate terms for the settlement of the religious matters arising out of the Education Bill; and why no representative body from Wales was invited to take part?

The names of the 20 persons, whom I invited to the Conference, as being likely to prove representative of the five major interests involved in England and Wales are set out below. I did not consider that the conditions in Wales were in this respect sufficiently distinctive to justify my increasing the representation of each of these interests by inviting persons specially representative of Wales, as such.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can give any estimate of the sum at issue in meeting the claims put forward under the Education (School Attendance) Bill by the representatives of the non-provided schools?

No, Sir. The claims have not been put forward in a form that would enable my right hon. Friend to frame an estimate. It is, however, clear that it would in many cases be an economy of public funds if a local authority were enabled to make a contribution to the improvement of the premises of a non-provided school where it would otherwise be necessary for them to incur far greater expenditure on the provision of a new school.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the amount paid by local education authorities towards non-provided schools and Roman Catholic schools in Wales from funds provided by rates and what grant is given by the Board of Education for such purposes, giving each item of payment separately?

The returns submitted to me do not enable me to distinguish the expenditure incurred by local education authorities on the maintenance of non-provided schools from that incurred on the maintenance of provided schools. The expenditure ranks for grant as part of the expenditure on elementary education generally.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give comparative figures to the latest convenient date showing the number and names of the local education authorities which are permitted to award more than 50 per cent. free places in their grant-aided secondary schools; the number of schools concerned in each education area; and the percentage admitted in each case?

The particulars are as follow:

STATEMENT of Local Education Authorities in whose areas the Board have approved the award of free places tenable at Grant-aided Secondary Schools, in excess of 50 per cent. of the admissions in the previous school year.

The third column shows the number of free places awarded at grant-aided secondary schools at the beginning of the school year 1930–31, calculated as a percentage of the number of pupils admitted to these schools during the school year 1929–30.

Local Education Authority.	Number of Schools.	Percent age.
I. Areas in which all the Schools are free.
Smethwick, County Borough Council	2	—

Local Education Authority.	Number of Schools.	Percent age.
II. Areas in which all the Schools are free.
Wallasey, County Borough Council	5	56.4
Plymouth, County Borough Council	8	90.4
Durham County Council	22	77.1
Darlington, County Borough Council	5	69.8
Manchester, County Borough Council	17	65.0
Oldham, County Borough Council	3	63.7
Salford, County Borough Council	7	62.7
Bradford, County Borough Council	13	115.2
Sheffield, County Borough Council	9	70.8
Glamorgan County Council	33	72.1
Cardiff, County Borough Council	9	58.0
Merthyr Tydfil, County Borough Council	4	74.6
Swansea, County Borough Council	4	62.4
Newport, County Borough Council	4	76.2
III. Areas in which none of the Schools is free.
Gateshead, County Borough Council	1	56.9
West Ham, County Borough Council	5	68.4
Gloucester County Council	19	53.2
Barrow, County Borough Council	2	100.5
Bootle, County Borough Council	2	75.4
Preston, County Borough Council	5	53.4
Rochdale, County Borough Council	1	57.3
Stoke - on - Trent, County Borough Council	4	54.0
York, County Borough Council	6	55.0
Yorks, West Riding, County Council	49	63.6
Barnsley, County Borough Council	2	66.7
Doncaster, County Borough Council	2	90.0
Halifax, County Borough Council	6	55.6
Huddersfield, County Borough Council	4	71.1
Rotherham, County Borough Council	2	68.7
Wakefield, County Borough Council	4	55.1
Anglesey County Council	3	70.2
Brecon County Council	5	79.3
Merioneth County Council	7	56.1
Montgomery County Council	8	65.0
Radnor County Council	2	76.0

asked the President of the Board of Education how many nursery schools were in existence on 30th June, 1929; how many new nursery schools have been approved in the period 1st July, 1929, to 31st December, 1930, inclusive; the number of these now under construction; the number functioning; and the average initial cost of building a new school?

On 30th June, 1929, there were 28 recognised nursery schools in existence. Plans for four additional schools had already been approved, and during the period from 1st July, 1929, to 31st December, 1930, approval was given to plans for 23 further new schools. Of the 27 schools thus proposed, 15 are now open and recognised by the Board (making a total of 43) and eight are believed to be under construction. The cost of building a new nursery school is approximately £36 per place.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Reuter's and other telegrams, describing the assaults and insults suffered by British officers and officials at the opening of the new wharf at Karachi by the Governor of Bombay on 15th November last, were censored and mutilated; and, if so, by whom and where this was done?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury) on 8th and 19th December.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the case of Ramchandur Lakhiram Chandhavi, of Rohtak, who was arrested on 18th November last, and the allegations made by him to the magistrates as to his treatment by the police?

I have asked for a report on this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has had any recent reports of films that have been banned in India, and will he give particulars?

According to the information in my possession, two films, other than those named in the list which I circulated on 28th November, have been banned in India during the months of November and December. These were a film showing the funeral procession of Jatindra Nath Das, and a film entitled "One Stolen Night."

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received a report from the Government of India in the matter of the inauguration of an air service from Karachi, via Jodpur, Delhi, and Allahabad, to Calcutta with Government aeroplanes

Yes, Sir. The Government of India propose to proceed with the scheme, but there has been some delay owing to a change of plans.

asked the Postmaster-General the average time taken to establish connection when a trunk call is made from London to Manchester, from London to Newcastle-on-Tyne, from London to Plymouth, and from Cardiff to Kingston-upon-Hull, respectively?

The average times taken to establish the connections referred to during the three busiest hours of the day are 13.9, 10.2, 9.1 and 15 minutes, respectively. If the calls made at other hours of the day were included, the figures would, of course, be much lower.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in cases of dog licences it is necessary for the Post. Office official concerned to fill in the hour and minute at which it is issued; that this is not the case with other licences; and if he will state the reason for this differentiation

The precise time of issue must be indicated on gun and game licences as well as on dog licences. This practice is imposed in order to facilitate carrying out the law.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the same postal facilities to the boot and shoe industry to advertise their manufactures by cancellation stamps as he has offered to the Lancashire cotton industry?

Advertisement of the British Industries Fair by postmark is an established practice; this year the scope of the fair has been enlarged by the inclusion of a new section on a very large scale, that of cotton textiles, and I have agreed that prominence shall be given to that fact in the postmark advertisement of the fair. Similar conditions do not apply to the boot and shoe industry.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of engineering employés on the staff of the Post Office on 1st January, 1929, and 1st January, 1930, respectively

The figures for which the hon. Member asks, namely, 32,389 and 31,544, were furnished in reply to his question on 11th February, 1930.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the substitution of automatic telephones for telephones worked on the light system has involved the changes of numbers and exchanges to subscribers, he can give an assurance that these numbers and exchanges will not again be altered in the near future should there be a large extension in the use of the telephone?

Changes of subscribers' numbers, which are made from time to time as the service grows and new exchanges become necessary, could only be avoided by very large and uneconomical expenditure on line and other plant. But, subject to these considerations, every care is taken to reduce number changes to a minimum, and, in par- ticular, to avoid a second change of number for any given subscriber within a relatively short space of time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a list of the individuals or organisations from whom he has received representations in regard to the proposed subsidy to the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate, stating the nature of such representations in each case?

I have received no representations from individuals or organisations in regard to this matter.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department when the economic mission to the Far East will return to this country; will it make a report; and will that report be made public?

Under present arrangements, the trade mission to the Far East will return to this country towards the end of March or the beginning of April. The answer to both the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative.

STATEMENT I.
Statement showing the total quantities and declared values and the average declared values (c.i.f.) of the undermentioned commodities imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, registered during the period October-December, 1930, as consigned from the Soviet Uion (Russia).
Commodity.				October-December, 1930.
				Quantity.	Declared value.	Average declared value (c.i.f.).
				Cwts.	£	£	s	d.
Wheat	…	…	…	15,381,142	4,409,165		5	9
Barley	…	…	…	3,433,276	650,485		3	9½
Oats	…	…	…	2,289,632	492,079		4	3½
Buckwheat	…	…	…	2,000	800		8	0
Butter	…	…	…	37,947	199,731	5	5	3
Bacon	…	…		876	2,696	3	1	7
Poultry, dead	…	…	…	10,806	53,439	4	18	11
Apples, raw	…	…	…	6	5		*
* This figure would have no significance.
NOTE.—No imports of Rye, Maize, Eggs, Poultry, alive, or Sugar, refined or unrefined, were recorded during the above period as consigned from the Soviet Union. The imports of fowls, as such, are not separately distinguished in the official trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the amount granted in credits under the Export Credits Scheme in financing orders since 15th December, 1930, to Russia and to all other countries?

From 15th December, 1930, to 17th January, 1931, contracts concluded under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme amounted to £146,398, in respect of exports to Russia and to £190,085 in respect of exports to all other countries.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the prices within Soviet Russia of cereals, butter, eggs, bacon, fowls, sugar, and apples, and the c.i.f. prices at which these commodities are sold on import into the United Kingdom?

Owing to the fact that wholesale prices within the Soviet Union are not ascertainable, I regret that it is not possible to obtain particulars of prices in that country which are strictly comparable with the c.i.f. prices of the same goods in the Unit ed Kingdom. Such figures as I have been able to ascertain are given in the following tables.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any step has been, or is being, taken to restrict the dumping of cereals from Russia?

I fear I can add nothing to the reply given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department on 30th October last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any figures showing the import of lace through the parcels post for each of the half-years ended on 30th June, 1930, and 31st December, 1930, respectively?

As regards the import of lace through the parcel post for the half-year ending 31st December, 1930, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to ques- tions asked on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft) on 23rd January. As regards the half-year ending on 30th June, 1930, I regret that the desired information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what materials of war were despatched from Great Britain to China, Poland, the Balkan States, Afghanistan, Persia, and Abyssinia during the years 1925 to 1929, inclusive, whilst the previous Government was in office?

The following statement shows the total declared value of the exports of arms, ammunition and military and naval stores, of United Kingdom manufacture, during each of the years 1925 fa 1929, consigned to the countries specified. These figures include a certain amount of sporting arms and ammunition, blasting accessories, etc., which are not normally considered as

Country to which consigned.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.	1929.
	£	£	£	£	£
China (including Hong Kong, Macao and leased territories).	22,999	19,524	24,866	18,039	32,700
Poland (including Dantzig)	19,580	1,400	45,967	36,610	5,343
Yugoslavia	6,166	487	17,734	15,882	98,361
Greece	349,714	55,614	10,819	33,145	25,408
Albania	347	—	671	133	1,475
Bulgaria	117	2	2,617	1,278	—
Rumania	440,147	61,071	40,413	59,711	19,519
Turkey (European)	86,837	29,259	26,145	55,670	44,468
Afghanistan	51	6,327	—	5,104	—
Persia	5,589	3,593	13,101	15,943	30,750
Abyssinia	6,774	8,444	310	3,030	744

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons have returned, during the last 12 months, to this country from Canada and Australia who had been in those Dominions for four years and over?

The numbers of British subjects who were recorded as arriving to take up permanent residence in the United Kingdom after leaving permanent residence in Canada and Australia during the year 1930 were 15,820 and 12,808 respectively. Permanent residence is regarded as residence for a year or more. No further information is available as to the duration of the last permanent residence of persons arriving in this country.

Prosecutions under Section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875.
	Persons dealt with in Summary Courts.
	Total.	Discharged.	Order made under Probation of Offenders Act, 1907.	Convicted and fined.
*1927 (whole year)	46	26	8	12
1928	11†	8	—	3
1929	34‡	6	25	3
*The Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act came into force in July, 1927.
† Excluding 2 persons committed fur trial at Quarter Sessions; 1 acquitted and 1 fined.
‡ Excluding 1 person committed for trial at Quarter Sessions; acquitted.

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions there have been under Sections 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of the Trade Disputes Act, 1927; and what, in each case, was the result of the prosecution?

No prosecutions have been instituted under Section 1 (Sub-section 2) of the Act of 1927, and no prosecutions can arise under Section 2 of that Act. From the beginning of 1927 to the end of 1929 there have been 94 prosecutions under the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875, but no information is available showing how many of these cases were affected by the provisions of Section 3 of the Act of 1927. The details are shown in the following table.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount of money expended by the Poor Law and/or public assistance authorities in England and Wales for the years 1929 and 1930; and what proportions of this amount were contributed by local rates?

The amount expended by Poor Law authorities in England and Wales during the financial year ended 31st March, 1929, on relief of the poor and purposes connected therewith (other than out of loans for capital purposes) was £39,670,895, of which about 84 per cent. was payable out of rates. The corresponding figures for the financial year ended 31st March, 1930, are estimated to be £39,250,000 and 81 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health the number of able-bodied unemployed who were being assisted by Poor Law relief on 31st March and 30th September, 1930, respectively?

The average number of persons (including dependent wives, but excluding children) in receipt of domiciliary relief who were ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and relieved mainly on account of unemployment was 116,297 in March, 1930, and 57,177 in September, 1930. The numbers of dependent wives included in these figures were approximately 50,000 and 25,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in the city of Plymouth, specifying categories, for the month of December, 1930?

The following statement shows the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the city of Plymouth on Saturday, 27th December, 1930:

Institutional Relief (including casuals)	557
Domiciliary Relief (excluding persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only)	5,228
Total	5,785

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of revising the principle laid down by him for the instruction of public assistance committees that the number of hours for which a man must be set to work shall be uniform for all cases, irrespective of whether the man is married or single or the amount of relief he is receiving, so as to provide that so far as practicable the amount of test work shall be proportionate to the relief received?

No, Sir. A system under which the hours worked are proportionate to the amount of relief received is not in accordance with the object of the Relief Regulation Order, 1930, which is not the provision of work for wages but the maintenance and improvement of employability for which purpose regular and uniform hours of occupation or training are clearly desirable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there have been any fresh outbreaks of foot-and-month disease in Sussex or elsewhere during the past week; whether the source of infection at Westmeston has been discovered; and whether the outbreak is being dealt with by the slaughter of all animals or by the new proposals as regards inoculation?

No fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in any part of Great Britain since that confirmed on 18th January at Westmeston. The source of infection in that case has not been discovered. All the stock on the premises, consisting of 52 cattle, 97 sheep and 102 pigs, was slaughtered, all these animals having been in contact.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the opposition of Lhe National Poultry Council and the National Farmers' Union to the principles and details of the proposal in his Marketing Bill; and, in view of the check to home production which they are convinced will ensue, whether he will withdraw the Measure until he has consulted again with these producers' organisations?

I am aware of the opposition of the bodies referred to. I am also aware of a growing support for the Bill from the rank and file of producers. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation making public performances by wild animals in this country illegal?

I am afraid that I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on this subject at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is still absent on sick leave abroad; when he is expected to return to duty; and what steps are being taken, in view of the depleted staff at headquarters, to ensure the efficient control of the Force?

According to my latest information, Lord Byng will have to remain abroad for reasons of health until the early spring, but he is not out of touch with Scotland Yard, and under his general guidance I am confident that the work will be carried on with full efficiency by the senior officers of the Force.

asked the Home Secretary if he will take steps to grant facilities for police protection inside as well as outside licensed premises during the share-out of loan clubs held therein, and so place all premises on an equal footing in that respect?

Any such question is a matter for the particular chief officer of police who is concerned and every case, I imagine, must be considered on its merits.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether any permissions have been granted by his Department to film companies to take scenes in the royal parks during the previous six months; and will he give particulars?

Since July, 1930, permission has been given in two cases—to the Gaumont Company, Limited, to photograph a scene in St. James's Park in July, 1930, and to Reginald Frogwell Productions, Limited, to take scenes for a film in Bushey and iiichmond Parks in December, 1930.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of engine-room artificers, under the age of 30, who were eligible for the 1930 annual selection for mate (E); the number of candidates; and the number awarded commissions?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. The names of 26 candidates were forwarded by fleet selection committees. Twelve of these candidates were selected to take the examination. Four were selected for promotion to acting mate (E).

asked the First Commissioner of Works by what date it is anticipated that the new office building for His Majesty's Inspector of Taxes and staff at Newport, Isle of Wright, will be ready for occupation?

Negotiations for the hire of the new offices are not yet completed, and I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to give the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the town council of Bishop's Castle requesting him to promote legislation in order to make it compulsory for the Great Western Railway Company to take over and work the Bishop's Castle railway; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a copy of the Resolution to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. I have recently been informed by the Great Western Railway Company that after careful consideration they have come to the conclusion that there are no prospects of developing the traffic which would justify the expenditure which would be required if they were to acquire and work the railway in question, and that, in these circumstances, they are not able to adopt this suggestion. I do not propose to promote legislation for the compulsory transfer of the railway.

asked the Minister of Transport whether arrangements can be made with railway companies to afford indigent blind persons in institutions free travelling facilities when going to their homes on leave?

I have no powers in this matter but will, however, communicate with the railway companies and advise the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the condition of the road leading from Rye to Rye Harbour; and what steps he has taken, or will take, to assist the local authorities concerned to render this road fit for traffic?

I am aware that the road has fallen into a bad state of repair owing, I am informed, to financial difficulties of the Harbour Commissioners, who are under statutory obligation to maintain the road. I have intimated that, subject to the making of satisfactory arrangements for the future maintenance of the road by the local authorities, I shall be prepared to consider an application for a grant from the Road Fund towards the net cost to these authorities of an approved scheme of reconstruction. The authorities concerned, namely, the East Sussex County Council and the Rye Town Council, have, however, not yet been able to agree as to the cost of reconstructing that part of the road which is within the borough of Rye, and until agreement is reached I cannot take any further steps to assist them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that judgments for large amounts have been obtained in Abyssinia against the heirs of Haji Abdulla Sadiq by English creditors, and that the Empei or of Abyssinia has refused to allow the judgment to be executed on the ground that the heirs are his wards; if the British Legation have taken any steps to secure payment of these judgments; and what has been the result?

My right hon. Friend has received no information to this effect, but is making inquiries of His Majesty's Minister in Abyssinia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in connection with the Liberian report on Slavery, he has received any report from His Majesty's Consul in that country dealing with the allegations of reprisals on the natives who gave evidence before the international commission; and, if so, whether it is proposed to publish such consular despatches?

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Monrovia reported in November that rumours were current that tribesmen who had given evidence before the commission were baying their villages pillaged by Liberian Frontier Force soldiers. He has been instructed to furnish all information available on the subject. The question of publication of these consular despatches is receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position in China?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given, on Wednesday last to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount paid in the last financial year in meeting sinking funds on those Government securities on which a sinking fund is payable according to the terms of issue

Stock of Monetary Gold.
Country.			Date.		Stock of Gold.	Sterling equivalent.
United States	…	…	7th January, 1931	…	$4,602,000,000	£945,700,000*
France	…	…	9th January, 1931	…	Frs. 54,109,000,000	£435,600,000
United Kingdom	…	…	14th January, 1931	…	£144,543,000	£144,543,000
Germany	…	…	7th January, 1931	…	Rms. 2,216,000,000	£108,500,000
Spain	…	…	10th January, 1931	…	Ptas. 2,440,000,000	£96,700,000
* Including about £70,000,000 of gold coin estimated to be in circulation.

The right hon. and gallant Member will find full particulars in the White Paper H.C. 129 of 1930.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the stock of gold in sterling held by the five largest holding nations, respectively, on the latest available date?

The information is given in the following table: