asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many warrant officers promoted for long and zealous service have served, respectively, four five, six, seven, or eight years as rating and officer without increase of emoluments; and whether steps will be taken to ameliorate the position of officers promoted for long and zealous service.

I regret that it is impossible to give the information asked for in the first part of the question without expenditure of considerable time and labour. As regards the second part of the question, the position of the warrant officers concerned has recently been under consideration, and I hope to make an announcement on the subject shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of malt, unmalted corn, rice, etc., sugar and molasses used in distilling, and the number of proof gallons distilled, during the distilling year ended 30th September, 1930.

The quantities of certain materials used in distilling and the number of proof gallons of spirits distilled, in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, during the year ended 30th September, 1930, are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of proof gallons of spirits used for medical purposes in respect of which a rebate has been granted under Section 4 of the Finance Act, 1920, during the financial years ending 31st March, 1921 to 1930?

The rebate of spirit duty provided by Section 4 of the Finance Act, 1920, applies to spirits used both in medical preparations and for scientific purposes, and separate particulars are not available of the quantities admitted to rebate on the ground of medical use alone. The aggregate number of proof gallons of spirits in respect of which a rebate has been granted under that Section during each of the financial years ending 31st March, 1921 to 1930, is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of malt, unmalted corn, rice, maize, etc., sugar, and hops used in brewing in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the beer brewed, during the year ended 30th September, 1930?

The quantities of certain materials used in brewing and the number of bulk barrels brewed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 30th September, 1930, are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of distilleries at work in England and Scotland during the year ended 30th September, 1930?

The number of distilleries at work in England and Scotland respectively during the year ended 30th September, 1930, were—in England 9, and in Scotland 94.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commmissioners, particulars of the cases, with the acreage involved, in which land has been acquired by the Forestry Commission, despite the fact that the Department of Agriculture in Scotland, having been consulted in terms of Section 3 of the Forestry Act, 1919, have expressed the view that such land should not be withdrawn from agricultural uses?

The Forestry Commissioners invariably consult the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in accordance with Section 3 of the Forestry Act, 1919. Data in the precise form suggested in the question are not available. In no case, however, have the Commissioners withdrawn permanent pasture or arable land from agricultural uses except small areas for nursery purposes. Such land when acquired is used for forest workers' holdings or is transferred to the Department of Agriculture for small holdings purposes or remains farm land. On the other hand hill grazings are normally taken by the Commissioners for afforestation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give particulars of the dividends paid by beet-sugar manufacturing companies in Great Britain for each financial year from 1924–25 to 1929–30, showing the rate of interest on ordinary shares and the total amount paid in dividends?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information desired by the Noble Lady. I understand, however, that those companies that are public companies have from time to time published their dividends in the Press, though the private companies have not.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made with the establishment of the new authorities in charge of land drainage and which catchment areas are now arranged for?

Catchment boards have now been fully constituted for 22 of the 47 catchment areas scheduled under the Land Drainage Act, 1930; 10 of these boards have already held their first meeting, and in the other 12 cases the first meeting will be held during this month or early in March. As regards the other 25 catchment areas: