asked the Secretary of State for India the names of the National Congress leaders that have recently been released from prison?

The following is a list of the names of the 28 persons reported to me as having been released:

• M. K. Gandhi.
• Jawhar Lal Nehru.
• Jamnalal Bajaj.
• Shivaprasad Gupta.
• Abdul Kalam Azad.
• Jairamdas Daulat Ram.
• Sardar Sardul Singh Cavisher.
• Rajagopalachari.
• Vallabhai J. Patel.
• J. M. Sen Gupta.
• Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
• Satyapal.
• Mangal Singh.
• Lala Dunichand.
• M. A. Ansari.
• Mathurdas Tricumji.
• Mufti Kifayat Ullah.
• Syed Abdullah Brelvi.
• Govind Kant Malaviya.
• Afzal Haq.
• Mrs. Sarojini Naidu.
• Raja Rao.
• Doctor N. S. Hardikar.
• Mahadee Desai.
• Pyarelal Vandravn Das.
• Babu Sunder Lal.
• Babu Nohanlal Saxena.
• Mrs. J. M. Sen Gupta.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make a statement as to the present position in India?

In order to avoid the risk of any possible prejudice to a favourable issue of the present situation, it is proposed to suspend for the present the issue of the appreciations referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the First Commissioner of Works with regard to the negotiations entered into for the taking over by his office of Carregcennen Castle, what terms are being arranged and when it is expected work will be commenced on its restoration?

The guardianship of the castle has been offered to my Department, and I hope that the deed will be completed at an early date. When that is done, the work will commence as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters sent off in India by air post on 6th December were delivered on 20th December and another despatched on 19th December was delivered on 2nd January; and whether, as 14 or 15 days is the average delivery between England and India, he will take steps to speed up the delivery service?

Air letters posted in India on 6th and 19th December would be included in the air mails which left Karachi on 10th and 24th December respectively. These mails were delayed en route by bad weather conditions and did not reach London until the evening of 19th December and the morning of 2nd January respectively. These appears, therefore, to have been no delay between the time of arrival of the mails and the time of delivery.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience that will result from the division of the London Telephone Directory into two halves and the issue of each half at different periods of the year; and whether he will consider the possibility of issuing both halves at the same time?

Owing to the size of the directory, division into two parts has become unavoidable. I have no reason to suppose that the issue of the two parts at different times will result in any appreciable inconvenience, while it offers substantial advantages, such as economies in printing, a reduction in the time between the closing date for new entries and the date of publication, and earlier delivery.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in making his arrangements for special obliterating stamps in connection with the forthcoming British Industries Fair, he will consider giving prominence at various times to the chief industries supporting the exhibition in addition to the cotton textile industry, and in particular to the iron and steel industry, in view of the support given by this industry to the fair?

The reason for special mention this year of the cotton textile section of the British Industries Fair in connection with the postmark advertisement of the Fair is that this Section has this year been added to the Fair for the first time, and some potential visitors might still be ignorant of the fact. There is no such reason for special mention of the other sections.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his Department continues to order from the manufacturers telephone instruments of the old candle-stick pattern; whether such instruments are being installed when exchanges are re-equipped for automatic working; and why the newer and more efficient hand micro-telephone is not being standardised for general use?

As regards efficiency, the candlestick pattern of telephone is in no way inferior to the new type, and is in fact standard both in this country and in the United States. The new type is more expensive both in initial cost and in maintenance charges, and is supplied to those subscribers who prefer it on grounds of convenience and are willing to pay a small supplementary charge to cover the additional costs. Supplies of both patterns are ordered as required.

asked the Postmaster-General in what direction the carrying out of the law is facilitated by imposing upon Post Office officials the duty of filling in the hour and minute at which dog, gun, and game licences are issued, when these details are not required in any other case?

The object of inserting the precise time of issue on dog, gun, and game licences is to prevent a person who has been challenged from evading a penalty by purchasing a licence and alleging it was in his possession at the time of challenge. In the case of other classes of licences evidence would usually be available which renders the insertion of the time unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any statistics that will show the number of accidents that have occurred during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date on the main road between Lancing and Worthing; and have any recent consultations taken place between the officers of his Department and the staff of the Sussex County Council with regard to the erection of additional warning signs?

I am informed that the following accidents were recorded on the main road between Lancing and Worthing during the year 1930:—

3 fatal accidents in which three persons were killed and three injured.

10 non-fatal accidents in which 12 persons were injured.

10 accidents not involving personal injuries.

No recent consultations have taken place between officers of my Department and the highway authority, who are primarily responsible for the erection of warning signs. I am, however, causing inquiries to be made into the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport what action it is proposed to take upon Recommendation XXXI of the Royal Commission on Transport that the Ministry of Transport should formulate a special programme in regard to the strengthening of weak bridges, providing for the work to be done at the rate of not less than 1,000 bridges a year, and that special sums from the Road Fund should be definitely set aside for the purpose?

I have already indicated my willingness to make exceptional grants towards the reconstruction of weak bridges where the highway authorities concerned are willing to undertake the work, and I am glad to say that substantial progress is being made. During the last financial year 550 weak or inadequate highway bridges were reconstructed or widened with the aid of grants from the Road Fund, and while the information for the current year is not complete, I am satisfied that this rate of progress is being well maintained.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of Recommendation XXIV of the Royal Commission on Transport that they cannot support any scheme which would involve the expenditure of very large additional sums of public money on the provision of new arterial roads, he will consider the advisability of making substantial additional grants from the Road Fund to highway authorities in built-up areas for street widening?

Substantial grants are already available to approved schemes for the widening of roads in built-up areas.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet issued his directions to the area traffic commissioners recently appointed under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, with special regard to those motor-coach services which have been licensed by existing licensing authorities; and to what extent the repeated warnings as to licensing new services which he issued subsequent to the passing of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, have been violated?

I have not issued directions to the area traffic commissioners on this subject. They are bound under the Road Traffic Act, when considering an application for a road service licence, to have regard to the extent to which the service proposed is necessary or desirable in the public interest. I have no means of ascertaining the extent to which the warnings referred to by the hon. and gallant Member have been disregarded, but I see no reason to doubt that this is a matter which the traffic commissioners will take into con- sideration in deciding on applications for road service licences.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in framing the London traffic draft regulations, he had before him the evidence submitted to the sub-committee of the London advisory committee; and whether he took such evidence into his consideration?

The answers to both parts of the question are in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the existing terms of the London traffic draft regulations prohibit the operation of express carriages of those sight-seeing tours the routes of which are solely within the scheduled areas, and which help to attract a large number of foreign visitors to London, if he will modify the regulations in order to encourage this traffic?

I have received representations as to the effect which the proposed regulations would have upon sight-seeing tours in London, and I will give careful consideration to this aspect of the problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the dislocation of trade caused by the uncertainty created as to what the new regulations are to be for motor omnibuses and other passenger vehicles, he will take steps to expedite the issue of these regulations?

I only received a few days ago the observations of the representative organisations concerned on the final draft of the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations, which I propose to make under Section 68 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. I hope to be in a position to make the Regulations at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the conveyance by road, during last week, of a large ship's boiler from Liverpool to London; if he is aware that this vehicle not only caused damage to the public highway but also dislocation of traffic along the Watling Street; and what steps he will take to prevent such a vehicle loaded in this way travelling on the roads in future?

I have seen references in the Press to the conveyance of a large boiler by road. The movement of such articles by road must, in the interests of trade, be permitted on occasion, particularly when the articles in question are outside railway gauge. Highway authorities have their legal remedy in respect of damage occasioned by extraordinary traffic and further, in the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) Order, 1931, which has been recently made, it is provided that any one using a special vehicle for the conveyance by road of an exceptional load shall give notice to the highway authority and that such notice shall contain an indemnity in respect of any damage caused to any road or bridge by reason of the construction of the vehicle or the weight transmitted to the road surface not being in accordance with the general Regulations as to the construction and use of motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Surrey County Council have been advised by the county surveyor that it will be necessary to incur a further expenditure on concrete rafting of the Kingston by-pass road amounting to £118,500; whether he will give the total mileage of the road, the year or years in which it was constructed, the total cost, the additional sum already spent in replacement of the concrete raft, and the total amount of State grants to date; whether the original work was carried out by contract; and whether the further work necessary will be carried out by contract or by direct labour?

I am aware that the county council propose to expend £90,000 (not £118,500 as stated in the question) upon a new concrete surface on a section of Kingston by-pass. The total mileage (including the Merton Spur) is 9.53. The work was commenced in 1923; the whole of the by-pass was opened to traffic in 1927, but certain sections were being used prior to that date. The cost of the work was approximately £426,170. The amount expended on maintenance of the highway under all heads since 1926 is £38,750. Grants from the Road Fund to date including construction and maintenance amount approximately to £213,000 net. The work was executed by contract under the supervision of the Surrey County Council, but the further work will be carried out by direct labour.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a considerable number of the meters used on London taximeter-cabs are still very difficult to read and that many meters are insufficiently illuminated; and will he arrange that the police authorities shall refuse to license taximeter-cabs upon which the fare lettering on meters is not distinct or sufficiently lighted?

My right hon. Friend would refer the hon. Member to his reply to a question by the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) on 13th November. He understands that all new taxicabs submitted for licence are fitted with meters which have large figures and are efficiently lighted. As my right hon. Friend explained, it is not possible to enlarge the figures on the old type of meter without reconstruction, at great expense, of the whole instrument, and some time must elapse before all cabs are fitted with the modern type of meter and illumination. The police are hastening the improvement as far as is reasonably possible.

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in what year for the first time the Commissioners secured, as a charitable institution, a refund of Income Tax from the Treasury?

The first repayment of Income Tax was received by the Commissioners from the Inland Revenue in the year 1927, being a payment on account of a claim going back to the year beginning 6th April, 1916.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of money voted by Parliament, the amount applied for, and the total payments actually made for land drainage in Scot-

Year.			Amount voted by Parliament.	Amount applied for.	Payments.	Estimated acreage improved.
						Arable.	Hill.
			£	£	£	Acres.	Acres.
1924–25	…	…	43,500	109,543	29,831	5,300	136,000
1925–26	…	…	16,500	25,417	9,110	2,500	50,000
1926–27	…	…	20,625	38,573	14,732	3,950	56,000
1927–28	…	…	10,950	31,777	7,767	2,650	41,300
1928–29	…	…	13,010	34,513	10,056	3,100	37,750
1929–30	…	…	15,750	37,742	11,887	3,400	28,850
1930–31	…	…	29,950	40,215	5,871*	Particulars not yet available.
* This represents the amount paid to date. Claims for payment can be submitted up to 28th instant and the figure £5,871 will therefore be substantially increased.
Note.—In each year the amount of the grants approved was equal to the amount voted by Parliament. Some farmers, however, abandon their proposals and fail to notify the Department of Agriculture in time to allow them to offer grants elsewhere; and others are often prevented from carrying out their full programme of work by adverse weather, shortage of labour or tiles, sickness, etc. Consequently the actual payments made in each year are less than the amount of grants approved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Brazilian Government have just issued decrees raising the duties of raw jute from £l 9s. 3d. per ton to £21 18s. 9d., on grey yarn from £7 6s. 2d. per ton to £46 15s. 9d., and on coloured yarn from £9 10s. 2d. per ton to £61 8s. 5d.; that these duties seriously affect the export trade to Brazil, more especially of grey yarn in which there is a large trade; and what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, in the matter, more especially in the interests of current contracts?

I am aware of the heavy increase in the Brazilian import duties on jute and jute yarns imposed by a recent decree, which also made certain other tariff alterations. In view of the importance of the British export trade involved, His Majesty's Representative at Rio de Janeiro approached the Brazilian Government in the matter and I understand that a decree has now been issued which postpones the date of any land each year from 1924–25 till the present year; and the approximate area drained in each year, distinguishing arable from pastoral?

The particulars are as follows:increases until 1st April, and that before this date the question of the duties is likely to receive further consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, if he can provide a statement showing what special measures have been adopted during the past 18 months for the encouragement of British trade overseas?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the question put by the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) on 26th January of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give the House a list of orders which His Majesty's Government have obtained for British traders?

My Department are constantly assisting British exporters to secure business in markets abroad, but I am afraid it would not be practicable to submit such a list as is asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual consumption of matches in the United Kingdom; what proportion of these are home-produced and what proportion imported; and what proportion of the home-production and the imports, respectively, are made by firms affiliated or otherwise connected with the Swedish match combine?

During the year ended 31st March, 1927, the number of matches retained for consumption in the United Kingdom was about 141,000,000,000, but owing to a change in the method of levying the duty similar precise information is not available for any later period. The particulars furnished in the report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the year ended 31st March, 1930 (Cmd. 3651) indicate that in that year approximately one-half of the total number of matches was made in this country. It would appear that the bulk of our supplies, both home manufactured and imported, are made by undertakings having connections with the Swedish Match Company, but I am unable to give exact proportions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to lay before the House the conclusions of the committee appointed to consider the economic factors involved in the disposal of old ships and their replacement by new?

No, Sir; the committee in question have not yet presented their report.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of persons employed in the manufacture of buttons for each quarter of 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930?

Separate statistics of the number of persons employed in the manufacture of buttons are not available.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total trade, imports and exports, of the Yemen and the share of Great Britain in that trade for the last two years for which statistics are available?

So far as I am aware, no official trade statistics relating to the imports and exports of the Yemen have ever been published. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give the information requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. R. E. Turner, of High Street, Bagworth, formerly Corporal, No. 11,644, 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, who was invalided on account of wounds in 1916 and admitted to pension, but, not-withstanding the fact that he was a paid acting corporal when wounded, received no rank allowance between the date of discharge and the 14th April, 1930; and, having regard to the fact that the claim for rank allowance has been admitted and such allowance issued as from April of last year, whether he will arrange for arrears of such allowance to be paid as from date of discharge?

Mr. Turner was granted a life pension in May, 1916, before any additional allowance for acting rank was authorised, and his pension was correctly based on his substantive rank. It was not practicable to notify each pensioner individually of any additional benefits conferred by subsequent legislation, but wide publicity was given to those benefits, including the provision made for acting rank. Notwithstanding this publicity, Mr. Turner made no inquiry until April, 1930, and the allowance has, in accordance with the established practice, been granted from the date of application.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the enforcement of Article 4 of the Royal Warrant is finally decided by non-medical clerks; that where a pensioner does not undergo treatment when so ordered, or leaves a hospital without the consent of the medical superintendent, his pension is reduced by half; that errors of final awards are errors of the Ministry and, if reopened, have no statutory rights as to any increase of pension or, in case of decease, to widows' or dependants' claims; and whether he will reconsider the procedure?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The power conferred by Article 4 of the Royal Warrant is exercised only when the Minister's medical advisers are satisfied that treatment, which is necessary in the pensioner's interests, has been unreasonably refused. As regards the latter part of the question, no such statutory rights as those mentioned could be created by an award made under special sanction. But this does not prevent the Ministry from dealing with any later developments on their merits, and indeed the increased award is clear evidence of its readiness to take an equitable view of unforeseen contingencies.

asked the Minister of Health whether applications for loans by public authorities in Wales for constructive works under the Public Health Acts are sanctioned or refused by him on the recommendation of the Welsh Board of Health?

Loans in respect of the following services are sanctioned by my right hon. Friend on the recommendation of the Welsh Board of Health: Tuberculosis sanatoria, venereal disease clinics, isolation and infectious diseases hospitals, maternity and child welfare centres, slaughter houses, markets.

NUMBER of PERSONS on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in the Tyneside area* at 19th January, 1931, and 21st January, 1929.
Date.				Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
19th January, 1931	…	…	…	66,141	2,959	8,616	2,516	80,232
21st January, 1929	…	…	…	52,629	2,111	4,596	2,277	61,613
* The local offices included are: Blaydon, Elswick, Gateshead, Heaton, Hebburn, Jarrow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, North Shields, South Shields, Wallsend, Willington Quay, Dunston, Felling, Newburn and Walker.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for transi-

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons disallowed unemployment benefit on the grounds of not satisfying the transitional condition (b) during the period 13th March, 1930, to 12th January, 1931?

During the period 13th March, 1930, to 12th January, 1931, 168,714 claims to benefit made at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were disallowed by courts of referees on the ground that transitional condition (b) was-not satisfied.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed at the last convenient date on State-aided schemes in the Woolwich area, with the estimated duration of their employment, including the number who will be so employed for less than 12 months?

The number of men employed on State-aided schemes in the Woolwich area on 19th December, 1930, was returned as 376. It is not practicable to make an estimate of the kind asked for in the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed in the Tyneside area at the last convenient date and the number for approximately the same date in 1929?

The following table gives the information desired:tioanl benefit have been made by applicants in the different Tyneside Exchange areas since 1st January, 1930; how many have been granted benefit; and how many have been refused benefit by the courts of referees?

Separate statistics are not available regarding the total number of claims for transitional benefit made nor for the number of such claims that have been allowed. The following table shows the number of claims made at Employment Exchanges in the Tyneside area disallowed by Courts of Referees^* during the period 12th March, 1930, to 12th January, 1931, on the ground that the transitional conditions were not satisfied:Ground of Disallowance and Number of claims disallowed.Less than eight contributions paid in previous two years or less than 30 contributions paid at any time …1,069Not normally insurable and will not normally seek to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment … 9,000

asked the Minister of Health, in respect of non-parlour and parlour houses built by local authorities during 1930, the average cost of each, distinguishing those built by direct as opposed to contract labour?

The final costs of the houses included in direct labour schemes of local authorities in England and Wales during 1930 have not been ascertained. The average prices of houses included in contracts let by local authorities during that year were, for non-parlour houses £338, and for parlour houses £403.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built with State assistance by local authorities and by private enterprise, respectively, in the years ended September, 1929, and September, 1930?

The following statement gives the desired particulars so far as houses in England and Wales are concerned:

asked the President of the Board of Education how many assistant inspectors have been retired on old age pensions by the Board during the last 10 years before they had reached the maximum salary of their class or who had reached that salary during the last year of their service; what was the number of years of service in each case; and how many years' service a chief inspector must have to attain the maximum salary of his class?

During the past 10 years 47 assistant inspectors retired from the Board's service on superannuation allowances before they had reached the maximum salary of their class, and during the same period 12 retired who had reached the maximum salary during the last year of their service. The average length of service of these officers was 31 years 8 months, 19 having completed over 35 years, 29 between 30–35 years, four between 25–30 years, and seven under 25 years. The salaries attaching to the posts of chief inspector (men) under the Board are fixed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the position disclosed by the Treasury memorandum on the state of the Unemployment Fund; and whether, in view of the position therein disclosed, he intends to persist in increasing expenditure by providing a subsidy for grand opera?

My right hon. Friend will be fully prepared to justify this grant when the proper occasion occurs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the effect upon national finance of the increased flow of gold into France; whether any consideration has been given to the possibility of trying to avoid the competition between France and other countries; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

The question raised by my hon. Friend is hardly one I could deal with within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question, but I should like to refer him to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 27th January to my hon. Friends the Members for East Leicester (Mr. Wise) and North Bristol (Mr. Ayles). I will send him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what particular crops in England and Wales under arable cultivation, other than sugar-beet, have been made to pay since the present Government took office?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present average ruling price of British home-grown wheat of milling quality per quarter; what is the last previous year in which corresponding wheat has been at this price or at a lower price; and whether such a price is above the net present cost of production in any part of England?

According to the returns collected under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, and the Corn Sales Act, 1921, the average price of British wheat in the week ended 24th January, 1931, was 23s. 7d. per quarter of 480 lbs. The last previous occasion when such a low level was reached was in September, 1896. I regret that the available information does not enable a reply to be given to the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what results have accrued to his approach to the Joint Standing Committee of the National Poultry Council and the Masters of Foxhounds Association in respect of the recent depredations on the poultry farms by foxes in the Peacehaven district, Sussex; and whether he will take steps to prevent any repetition of the turning out of 30 young foxes on Telscombe Tye last autumn and to secure powers to prevent the importation of foxes into a poultry-breeding district?

I regret that, in view of the short notice, I am not yet in a position to answer the first part of the question. I will consider the points raised in the second part of my hon. Friend's question when the results of my communication with the joint committee are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of demonstration smallholdings at present in existence in England and Wales?

There are three demonstration smallholdings in England and Wales, situated respectively at Stone Farm, South Moulton, Devon, and Fair-field, Stockton, Durham, and at Rawcliffe, Yorkshire. These holdings are in the main dairy holdings and are farmed by the respective occupiers under the general supervision of the local agricultural education authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered the resolution of the Urban District Council of Brigg pointing out that whatever State assistance the industry receives it is fully returned to the people in multiplied amounts by way of reducing the price of sugar and owing to the amount of employment provided; and if he will give further consideration to the question of the subsidy?

I have received the resolution referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer him to the reply given to-day by the Prime Minister to a question put by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bewdley (Mr. S. Baldwin).

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give particulars of the experiments in connection with the Spahlinger treatment, now being carried out in association with the Government of Northern Ireland?

I have been informed that experiments with Spahlinger vaccine are being carried out by the Government of Northern Ireland, but I am not in a position to make any statement in regard thereto.

asked the Secretary of State for War the amount of the last vote for the purposes of the Commissar of War in the Soviet Government?

I have no official information, but according to the Soviet Press, a Vote of 1,290,000,000 Roubles in 1931 for the Commissariat for War has been confirmed by the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics. I am not aware whether this figure corresponds with the total figures for defence expenditure in previous years shown in the League of Nations Armaments Year Book.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that a Russian white organisation, known as the Russian General Military Union, has a representative in Great Britain, that this organisation is of a military character and in hostility to the Soviet Government, and that this country is in normal diplomatic relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he can make any statement on the matter?

I have seen a report in the press to the effect mentioned in the question. The individual to whom reference is made has been resident in this country for many years, and so far as I am aware he has not committed any offence against the, law, nor has he done anything of which I could take cognizance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the position in relation to the Russo-Asiatic Consolidated Company's claim of £56,000,000 against the Soviet. Government for sequestrated properties and business; and whether, in view of the importance of the case to many British shareholders, he can say when a conclusion will be reached by the Anglo-Soviet Debt Commission?

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom (Commander Southby) and the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 12th November last, the claims of this company, together with a large number of similar claims, are under discussion by the Joint Anglo-Soviet Committee. In reply to the second part of the question, I am unable to add anything to answers recently given on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the figures showing the number of separate explosions of firedamp having fatal consequences which were reported for each of the last 20 years?

The particulars are as follow:

Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust.
Year.		Number of Separate Fatal Accidents.	Number of Deaths.
1911	…	23	36
1912	…	20	124
1913	…	12	462
1914	…	10	26
1915	…	16	41
1916	…	8	22
1917	…	9	20
1918	…	6	160
1919	…	15	27
1920	…	16	26
1921*	…	15	19
1922	…	14	73
1923	…	16	60
1924	…	48	35
1925	…	11	29
1926*	…	5	5
1927	…	11	72
1928	…	15	36
1929	…	13	34
1930	…	18	70
* In these years work at coal mines was reduced by protracted disputes.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to take the Second Reading of the Grey Seals Protection Bill?

The Bill will be taken when the exigencies of the main Parliamentary programme permit, but I am afraid I cannot name a definite date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the ambiguity of certain, expressions made use of in the Geneva Gas Protocol of 1925, referred to in the British Delegation's memorandum of 18th November last, steps have been taken by the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference to secure from other States which are signatories to the Protocol expressions of opinion as to its correct interpretation?

Yes, Sir. At its recent session, the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference advised that careful study should be given by all the Governments concerned to the ambiguity in the Geneva Gas Protocol of 1925, to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of the British Government contributions to the League of Nations and the International Labour Office for the years 1929 and 1930, together with the total sums contributed to these bodies by all nations in the same years?

The British Government contributions to the League of Nations and the International Labour Office for the years 1929–1930 were as follow:

	Gold frances.
1929	2,702,598.57
1930	2,900,767.72

The total amounts payable by all the States Members of the League in respect of these bodies for the years in question were as follow:

	Gold francs.
1929	25,235,686.48
1930	27,096,588.38

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the recent occupation of the Kufra oases in Libya by Italian troops; and what steps are being taken with regard to the arrangement of a definite frontier line between Italian Libya and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome has reported that Italian troops occupied Kufra on 24th January. The matter raised in the second part of the question is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of entering into negotiations for the abrogation of the treaties of alliance between this country and Portugal and in particular that of 23rd June, 1661, by which this country undertakes to defend and protect Portugal and all Portuguese colonies and to carry out certain military and naval obligations?

No, Sir. I do not think that the proposed action would be advisable.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the six members of the China Purchasing Commission; and whether, if they are not yet appointed, he proposes to expedite their appointment in order to ensure the early expenditure of the money which is placed at their disposal under the China Indemnity Bill for the purchase of railway material?

The Chinese Minister in London and a representative of the Chinese Ministry of Railways will be the Chinese members of the Commission. The remaining four members, who will be British, will be selected by the Chinese Government from a panel of names which my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to submit to them shortly. A number of gentlemen have already been good enough to intimate their willingness to serve on the Commission if selected by the Chinese Government, but my right hon. Friend is not authorised to state their names at this stage. The Commission cannot be formally constituted and start work until after the China Indemnity (Application) Act has received the Royal Assent. Every effort will be made to avoid delay in constituting it.