asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the number of telephone subscribers who have ordered but cannot obtain hand-microphone instruments; what is the reason of the delay; and is the old type of instrument being returned in sufficient quantity to obviate the need for further supplies of this type being manufactured?

The reduction on 1st January in the charge for the new instruments naturally produced a large increase in orders which are being worked off as quickly as possible. But in some cases there may be unavoidable delay. Special arrangements have been made with the contractors for expediting delivery, which is at present at the rate of 2,000 instruments per week and will be increased to 3,000 per week within the next month. It will not be necessary to place orders for the old type of instrument for some months to come, but it is too early to say whether a further supply will be required after that period.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the appointment to the clerical and departmental clerical classes of 18,000 temporary clerks since 1920, many of them appointed since 1926, without passing a competitive examination, he will consider favourably the claims of 270 Post Office clerks who qualified by passing the high standard of the 1926 competitive examination for entry into the clerical class but have not been appointed?

The claims of the unsuccessful candidates in the 1926 competition have received the fullest consideration, and some time ago 50 additional appointments were assigned for them on the clear understanding that this was to be regarded as a final settlement of the case. I am sorry that I can hold out no hope of any further concession.

asked the Postmaster-General the total weight of correspondence sent to India by air during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The total weight of correspondence sent to India by air during the year 1930 was 32,288 lb.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones that have been installed at the post offices in rural areas during the previous 12 months?

2,008 additional rural post offices were provided with call office facilities during the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is prepared to have a cancellation stamp for all letters posted in High Wycombe bearing the word "Buy Wycombe Chairs"?

As my hon. Friend has already explained in answer to similar requests for postmark advertisements of British industries, the circumstances appertaining to the advertisement of the Cotton Section of the British Industries Fair do not apply to the case in point, and I therefore regret that my hon. Friend is unable to grant the hon. Member's request.

asked the Minister of Health whether the investigations into the cause of the deaths of 67 children at Lübeck early in 1930 following the Calmette treatment of the Pasteur Institute are yet completed; and, if so, can he obtain a report on the matter?

My right hon. Friend understands that an official report has been made to the German Imperial Health Council concerning these deaths. The council concluded that the deaths were not traceable to the original B.C.G. cultures, but were probably due to some unexplained admixture with virulent tubercle bacilli. The Imperial Council have also confirmed their decision of 1927 that the use of living bacilli, even in an attenuated form, for human prophylaxis is undesirable in the present state of knowledge.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will furnish statistics of public assistance in continuation of those given in reply to a question on 30th January, 1930?

STATEMENT giving Certain Particulars with regard to the Number of Persons in receipt of Poor Relief in Scotland at 15th May, 1930, and the amount of expenditure on such relief in the year ended on that date.
—	1930.
	Indoor.	Outdoor.
Number of Poor chargeable at 15th May:
Sane Poor:
Males	7,118	34,294
Females	3,993	34,643
Total	11,111	68,937
Dependants:
Adults	115	18,980
Children	522	62,959
Total Dependants	637	81,939
Grand Total	11,748	150,876
Expenditure on Poor Relief of Sane Poor	£876,657†	£2,848,400
Number of children who were not dependants chargeable at 15th May, and included in Sane Poor above:
Males	452	3,546
Females	372	3,234
Total	824	6,780
Number of vagrants chargeable at 15th May, included in Sane Poor above:
Males	—	204
Females	—	20
Total		224
Dependants	—	19
Grand Total		243
Lunatic Poor chargeable at 15th May
Males	8,421	1,207
Females	8,159	1,348
Total	16,580	2,555
Expenditure in Relief of Lunatic Poor*	£ 472,539
*The figures given here represent the cost of maintenance of pauper lunatics borne by Parish Councils, namely, one-half of the cost. The other half-cost of maintenance is borne by District Boards of Control.
† The increased cost of indoor poor is practically all accounted for in Glasgow Parish which has increased expenditure of £96,000 mainly on repairs to poorhouses.

The desired particulars are contained in the following statement showing the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in Scotland at 15th May, 1930, and the amount of expenditure on such relief in the year ended on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will furnish a return showing for 1930 the number of houses completed in Scotland by local authorities with State assistance, by private enterprise with State assistance,

Number of Houses completed in Scotland from 1919–1930 inclusive.
Year.			By Local Authorities with State Assistance.	By Private Enterprise.
				With State Assistance.	Without State Assistance.
1919–1929 inclusive	…	…	81,868	21,877	15,956
1930	…	…	7,918	3,138	1,408
Total	…	…	89,786	25,015	17,364

Total houses with State Assistance	114,801
Total houses without State Assistance	17,364
	132,165
In addition there have been erected by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust), Ltd., on behalf of the Government, Steel Houses	2,552
Grand Total	134,717

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will furnish a return showing at 1st January, 1930, and 1931, respectively, the number of houses completed and the number authorised, but not completed, under each of the Housing Acts by local authorities and

HONSING—SCOTLAND.
Act.	Number of houses.
	Completed in				Authorised but not completed in
	Burgh by		Counties by		Burgh by		Counties by
	L.A.	P.E.	L.A.	P.E.	L.A.	P.E.	L.A.	P.E.
As at 1st January, 1930—
Housing Town Planning, etc. (Scotland), Act, 1919.	18,097	317	7,032	104	—	—	—	—
Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919.	—	797	—	1,527	—	—	—	—
Housing, etc., Act, 1923	12,759	10,282	2,291	7,292	2,279	1,314	172	1,036
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.	33,330	1,385	8,342	173	6,149	1,530	748	4
Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
As at 1st January, 1931—
Housing Town Planning, etc. (Scotland), Act, 1919.	18,097	317	7,032	104	—	—	—	—
Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919.	—	797	—	1,527	—	—	—	—
Housing, etc., Act, 1923	14,122	11,355	2,456	7,853	2,511	1,113	78	975
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.	38,710	2,887	9,352	175	7,854	44	620	11
Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930	—	—	—	—	500	—	12	—
L.A. = Local Authority.				P.E. = Private Enterprise.

The following statement contains the particulars desired.private enterprise in Scotland, distinguishing between burghs and county districts, in continuation of the information given by him on 25th February, 1930?

The information desired is contained in the following statement.

asked the Minister of Health the terms which have been offered to tenants in relation to alternative accommodation pursuant to the Royal Victoria Dock Approaches (Improvement) Act, 1929?

I understand the local authority have under consideration the rents to be charged for the new houses and flats erected as alternative accommodation under this Act. I am informed that no houses have yet been demolished under the Act.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the estimated saving if only third-class instead of first-class travelling vouchers were available for Members of this House?

Exact figures are not available, but it is estimated that the saving would be approximately £16,000 per annum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the profits of brewing concerns for the accounting years ended in the Income Tax year of 1929–30, including in addition to brewing profits any profits arising from the carrying on of any trade ancillary to the main business?

The profits of brewing concerns for accounting years ended in the Income Tax year 1929–30 are estimated at £25,000,000. This figure represents the profits as computed for Income Tax purposes less the amounts allowed for wear and tear of machinery and plant, and includes profits arising from the carrying on of any trade ancillary to the main business.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific economies in national administration have been effected since 1st April, 1930, apart from the recent reduction in the Civil Service cost-of-living bonus?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question which he put to me on 27th November last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make any statement as to the negotiations that have been opened by the Australian Government for a reduction in the rate of interest on British War Loans to Australia; and what are the intentions of the Government?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to-day on this subject in reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander).

asked the Secretary of State for War in respect of the troops of all ranks in the Aldershot Command the number of disciplinary actions during the past year; the number of deaths from disease; the number of suicides and attempted suicides; and the number certified insane during the same period?

The figures for the year 1930 are as follow:

Courts-martial	…	230*
Deaths from disease	…	27
Suicides	…	5
Attempted suicide	…	1
Certified insane	…	4

The average strength of the Aldershot Command during the year was approximately 25,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War, approximately, how much beef was supplied to the forces situated in Britain during the six months October to March for the past two years?

The quantity of beef and mutton supplied to the Army at home during a period of six months amounts to approximately 6,000 tons. Separate figures are not available for beef and mutton respectively, but only a relatively small proportion is mutton.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary

ENGLAND AND WALES.
Public Elementary Schools (excluding Special Schools) and Practical Instruction Centres maintained by Local Education Authorities.
Teachers in Regular Employment on 31st March, 1930.
—		Scales allocated.
		I.	II*	III*	IV.
Certificated Teachers	Men	2,323	6,098	23,023	8,174
	Women	3,859	10,471	52,533	18,116
	Total	6,182	16,569	75,556	26,290
Special Subjects Teachers	Men	53	194	952	440
(Other than Certificated Teachers).	Women	134	418	1,778	572
	Total	187	612	2,730	1,012
Uncertificated Teachers	Men	271	593	1,062	41
	Women	4,311	9,234	15,442	431
	Total	4,582	9,827	16,504	472
Total	Men	2,647	6,885	25,037	8,655
	Women	8,304	20,123	69,753	19,119
Men and Women		10,951	27,008	94,790	27,774
Supplementary Teachers		2,066	3,024	2,202	205
*The scale for Carmarthenshire Local Education Authority was changed from III. to II. in respect of teachers entering that Authority's service on and from 1st April, 1928, the existing scale (III.) remaining in operation for teachers already in their service. For the purpose of this return all teachers under this Authority have been regarded as on Scale III.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the usual concession of reduced fares granted to delegates, both Indian and European, attending important conferences in India was not extended in the case of the recent All-India Women's Conference at Lahore; and whether, especially in view of the desirability of encouraging the women's movement in India, he will represent to

The following is the information:the authorities concerned the value of extending to such women's conferences as that held at Lahore at least the same concessions as are allowed in the case of other important conferences in India?

I have no information on the subject but will inquire.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give any figures showing the total decrease of imports and exports, to and from India, for 1930 as compared with 1929?

The total imports into India from the United Kingdom during the first 11 months of 1930 and for the corresponding period of 1929 were:

1929.	1930.
Rs.98,22,95,432.	Rs.70,39,50,236.
(£73,672,157.)	(£52,796,267.)

The total exports from India to the United Kingdom during the same period were:

1929.	1930.
Rs.62,80,93,387.	Rs.51,72,71,278.
(£47,107,004.)	(£38,795,345.)

The total imports into India from all countries during the same period were:

1929.	1930.
Rs.248,61,25,756.	Rs.173,21,83,802.
(£186,459,431.)	(£129,913,785.)

The total exports from India to all countries during the same period were:

1929.	1930.
Rs.321,54,45,084.	Rs.235,39,68,418.
(£241,158,381.)	(£176,547,631.)

Figures for December, 1930, have not yet been received.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the amount and the value of beet sugar manufactured in this country in the years 1928, 1929, and 1930, respectively?

The quantities and estimated wholesale value of home-grown beet sugar manufactured in the three years referred to are as follow:

		Quantity produced. Cwt.	Value. £
1928–29	…	3,904,172	4,550,000
1929–30	…	5,841,489	6,030,000
1930–31	…	8,220,000	7,800,000
(provisional.)

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of the world production of pig iron and steel for the years ending 1929 and 1930; and if he has any available statistics in respect to steel ingots and castings for the same periods?

According to estimates prepared by the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers, the world production of pig iron in the years 1929 and 1930 amounted to 97.23 million tons and 78.65 million tons, respectively; the estimated production of steel ingots and castings in the same years was 118.3 million tons and 93.0 million tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position regarding the Convention on Import and Export Restrictions and Prohibitions?

The Convention is at present in force as between Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Any of these countries is entitled to withdraw on 30th June, 1931, or on the corresponding date in 1932, 1933, or 1934.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the increased import duties on jute goods proposed to be charged by the Brazilian Government; and whether, in view of their effect on the British jute trade, he purposes taking any action to assist in the situation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer on this subject which I gave on 2nd February to the Noble Lady the Member for Kinross and West Perth (Duchess of Atholl), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any figures showing the profits or losses made in the following industries for each year since the War, namely, coal, iron and steel, oil, cotton, wine and spirit, tobacco, and banking?

The only industry for which official figures showing profits and losses are compiled is coal, and for these figures I would refer my hon. Friend to the Annual Reports of the Secretary for Mines and the quarterly Statistical Summary relating to the coal mining industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in the Board of Trade Journal a graph showing the dissected details of the factors causing the gap between wholesale and retail United Kingdom prices of foods; and, if he has not collected the necessary material, will he request the assistance of the Federation of Grocers' Associations of the United Kingdom and then publish the graph with the details?

There have from time to time been inquiries (e.g., by the Food Council) in which an attempt has been made to assess particular items of the retailer's gross margin in certain trades, but no general figures are available. I would remind the hon. Member that one of the objects of the Consumers Council Bill is to obtain data of this kind. Meantime, I should welcome any information which the Federation of Grocers' Associations are in a position to furnish.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has any information as to the attitude of the Canadian Government with regard to the import of Russian timber into Canada?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether war materials despatched from Great Britain to Soviet Russia are paid for in cash; and, if not, is the machinery of the exports credits system used to assist this traffic?

No information is available regarding terms of payment. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, for munitions of war are excluded by Statute from the scope of the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme.

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what proportion of the cigars sold in the House of Commons last year were of British manufacture?

The proportion which British cigars bear to the total sales during 1930 is 49.66 per cent.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the cost per unit of electricity for lighting and power supplied to the House of Commons?

The cost per unit is 3¾d. for lighting and 1d. for power.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is hoped that the conference convened by the League of Nations on the treatment of foreigners will be resumed?

No date has yet been fixed for a resumption of this conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the result of the Conference for the Unification of River Law held at Geneva last autumn; and whether it is intended to ratify the conventions adopted thereat?

The conference to which the hon. Member refers formulated three conventions:

1. On administrative measures for attesting the nationality of inland navigation vessels.

2. On the registration of inland navigation vessels, rights in rem over vessels and other cognate questions; and

3. On the unification of certain rules concerning collisions in inland navigation.

Since these conventions do not affect this country, it is not proposed to ratify them on behalf of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give a list of nations and States taking part in the coming Disarmament Conference, and a list of those who are not participating?

In view of the terms of Article 8 of the Covenant, it is presumed that all the Members of the League will be represented at the Disarmament Conference. As my hon. Friend will be aware, certain States not members of the League have participated in the work of the Preparatory Commission and it is anticipated that they will attend the conference. It is the earnest hope of His Majesty's Government that all States who wish to participate in the work of the conference will be invited.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what expenses were incurred in connection with the acceptance and rejection, respectively, of the 46 and 774 candidates for engine-room artificers, Royal Navy, examined between 1st August and 30th November, 1930?

I regret that this information is not readily available, and its compilation would involve an expenditure of time and labour which my hon. Friend will probably agree would not be justified.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Nigg Pier was sold; what price was paid for it; what arrangements were made for its upkeep; and what conditions, if any, were attached to the sale?

Nigg Pier was not sold, but the Admiralty transferred their interests and obligations by disposition, dated 30th December, 1926, which whilst placing on the disponee the obligation to keep in repair so long as it was in existence, gave him the right to demolish it whenever he saw fit.