asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many women workers there are in each of the Royal Dockyards and Admiralty establishments, respectively, giving their trades?

The information is as follows:

Approximate Numbers of Women Workers employed in H.M. Dockyards and Admiralty Establishments at Home showing their Trades or Occupations.
—	Colour-makers.	Uphol-stresses.	Machinists in Roperies.	Seam-stresses.	Cooks, Domestics and Laundry-women.	Examiners of Ordnance Stores.	Char-women and Cleaners.	Nitro-glycerine and Cordite Process Workers.	Repair of Bags, etc., in Victualling Yards and Supply Stores.	Messengers and Telephone Operators.	Operators and Testers in Experiments, etc., Establishments.	Printing Process Workers.	Leading Tracers and Tracers.
Portsmouth Yard	52	—	—	—	—	—	39	—	—	1	7	—	49
Devonport Yard	37	15	39	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	29
Chatham Yard	33	—	59	—	—	—	2	—	—	1	—	—	16
Sheerness Yard	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Rosyth Yard	—	—	—	—	—	—	6	—	—	1	—	—	—
Portland Naval Base	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	—	—	—	1	—	2
R.N. Store Depot, West India Docks	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
R.N. Cordite Factory, Holton Heath	—	—	—	—	3	—	4	27	12	1	—	—	—
R.N. Torpedo Factory, Greenock	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	—	—	—	—	—	4
Inspection Dept., Woolwich	—	—	—	—	—	59	5	—	—	2	—	—	—
R.N. Armament Depot, Crombie	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	—	—	—	—
R.N. Armament Depot, Chatham	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
R.N. Armament Depot, Gosport	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, Gosport	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	13	—	—	—	—
Royal Victoria Victualling Yard, Deptford.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	14	—	—	—	—
Royal William Victualling Yard, Plymouth.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5	—	—	—	—
R.N. Hospital, Haslar	—	—	—	6	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
R.N. Hospital, Portland	—	—	—	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
R.N. Hospital, Chatham	—	—	—	4	21	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
R.N. Hospital, Plymouth	—	—	—	6	22	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
R.N. Hospital, Gt. Yarmouth	—	—	—	2	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
R.M. Infirmary, Deal	—	—	—	1	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Admiralty Compass Observatory, Slough	—	—	—	—	6	—	—	—	—	2	4	—	—
R.N. College, Greenwich	—	—	—	—	4	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—
R.N. College, Dartmouth	—	—	—	—	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Training Establishment, Shotley	—	—	—	1	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Admiralty Research Laboratory, Teddington.	—	—	—	—	—	—	7	—	—	—	—	—	—
Admiralty Chart Establishment, Cricklewood.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	13	—
	127	15	98	20	100	59	77	27	50	8	12	13	104

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many retired naval officers from warrant rank are employed in His Majesty's ships, including shore establishments, at home; and whether he will, with a view both to economy and to the relief of stagnation in advancement and promotion, relieve them by active service warrant officers?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make the evidence taken by the Mates Committee available to Members of the House of Commons; and whether the committee's report will be published and circulated as a Parliamentary Paper?

The reply to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of special entry cadets entered annually for engineering duties since 1924; and the number of ratings promoted to mates (E) in the same years?

The numbers are as follow:

Year.			Number of special entry cadets (Engineering).	Promoted to acting Mate (E).
1924	…	…	6	5
1925	…	…	34	5
1926	…	…	47	5
1927	…	…	41	5
1928	…	…	19	5
1929	…	…	22	4
1930	…	…	23	4

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of officers (ex-special entry cadets), executive and engineering, now serving on the active list?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not readily available and the detailed investigation in tracing the individual records appears hardly to be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information concerning the composition of the committee which the Government of India propose to set up to examine the question of whether the Bengal and North Western and the Rohilkhund and Kumaon railways should be taken under State control from the end of next year, when the existing contracts expire?

I have no information at present as to the composition of the committee of the Legislative Assembly to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has invited the views of the Indian postal authorities on the contention submitted by the London Chamber of Commerce that a ¼-ounce initial weight for the Indian air mail, with a substantial reduction in cost, would attract more than double the present percentage of the Indian mail carried by air?

The answer is in the negative. I have no reason for thinking that the institution of a ¼-ounce unit would have the effect on the traffic which the hon. Member suggests.

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

The figures are:

—			Imports into India during the year ended 31st December		Percentage decrease on 1929.
			1929.	1930.
1. From United Kingdom	…	…	Rs. 105,51,26,722 (£79,134,504).	Rs. 74,32,37,808 (£55,742,835).	-29·6
2. From all countries	…	…	Rs. 248,61,25,756* (£186,459,431).	Rs. 184,74,68,533 (£138,560,139).	-25·7

—			Exports of Indian Merchandise from India during the year ended 31st December		Percentage decrease on 1929.
			1929.	1930.
1. To United Kingdom	…	…	Rs. 68,07,94,947 (£51,059,621).	Rs. 56,45,14,995 (£42,338.624).	-17·1
2. To all countries	…	…	Rs. 321,54,45,084* (£241,158,381).	Rs. 251,80.45,032). (£188,853,377).	-21·7
* These figures were erroneously given in the reply to question No. 2 on 16th February as figures for the first eleven months only. The correct figures for the eleven months are—Imports Rs. 231,58,15,789 (£173,686,184), Exports Rs. 298,17,04,466 (£223,627,834).
Copy of a note on the front page of the monthly accounts on which the replies to this and other similar questions are based.
"Corrections have to be made from month to month in these accounts on the receipt from Custom Houses of Statements of errors discovered in the returns submitted by them. The progressive figure must therefore not be understood a necessarily representing the sum of the latest month's figure and of the progressive figure published in the preceding month."

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the figures showing the decrease of imports and exports to and from India, for

—			Imports into India during December		Percentage decrease on December, 1929.
			1929.	1930.
1. From United Kingdom	…	…	Rs. 7,28,31,290 (£5,462,346).	Rs. 3,92,88,364 (£2,946,627),	-46·1
2. From all countries	…	…	Rs. 17,03.09,957 (£12,773,247).	Rs. 11,56,53,773 (£8,674,032).	-32·1

—			Exports of Indian merchandise from India during December		Percentage decrease on December, 1929.
			1929.	1930.
To United Kingdom	…	…	Rs. 5,27,01,560 (£3,952,617).	Rs. 4,24,94,468 (£3 187,085).	-19·4
To all countries	…	…	Rs. 23,37,40,618 (£17,530,546)	Rs. 16,41.82,634 (£12,313,697).	-29·8

The figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information in respect of the present position in the matter of the proposed establishment of an all-India medical research institute?

In March, 1930, I sent my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a Debate in the Legislative Assembly which showed that the Government of India had then decided to summon a conference to inquire into the most suitable centre for the proposed central medical research institute and other matters. This conference was held in July and passed a resolution (the official members not voting) that a central medical research institute on the lines advocated by the Fletcher Committee should be located at a university centre as soon as financial conditions permitted. The Government of India are considering this resolution, but anticipate that it will not be possible to bring the institute into existence either at Dehra Dun or elsewhere so long as the present financial stringency continues.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the proportion of taxation to national income in Cyprus; what is the national income per head; and what is the tax revenue per head of the population?

According to the latest official calculations, which are contained in the report of a taxation commission which examined the position in 1927, the annual income of the island was approximately £3,500,000 and the amount of taxation levied £600,000. Based upon this figure, the proportion of taxation to national income in Cyprus is approximately 17.14 per cent.; national income per head, £10, and the tax revenue per head £1 15s. In spite of the fall in commodity price levels, there appears to be little ground for thinking there has been any substantial change in the above proportions and averages during the last three years. The estimated tax revenue of the island for the current year is approximately £640,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the members of the committee set up to inquire into the finances of the Colony of Cyprus; how many are permanent or other officials and how many are elected members of the legislative council; what are the terms of reference of the committee; and when it is expected to report?

The names are as follow:

Mr. E. du Boulay, Colonial Treasurer (Chairman).

Mr. G. F. Wilson, Comptroller of Customs and Excise.

Mr. D. N. Demetriou, Mehmed Munir Bey and Mr. A. M. Triantafyllides, Unofficial Members of the Executive Council.

There are thus two permanent officials and three Cypriot unofficials on the committee. One of the latter, Mr. Triantafyllides, is a member of the Legislative Council. I am unable to give the exact terms of reference, but the purpose of the committee is to examine into the question of salaries and the economic situation generally with the particular object of balancing the Budget in future. It is hoped that the report of the committee will be submitted in time to enable any recommendations involving legislation to be implemented before the summer season.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the visit by the Secretary for Native Affairs in Tanganyika to the Songee area, if he will state whether any of the native chiefs at Songee are under arrest; and what is the nature of their offence?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the written reply to his question on Monday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the several colonies in East Africa which have received grants and loans out of the Colonial Development Fund for the purpose of improving internal transport and communication have fulfilled the provisions with regard to the conditions of labour laid down in Section 1, sub-section (2) (a) of the Colonial Development Act, 1929?

My Noble Friend has asked Colonial Governments to forward half-yearly reports showing the steps taken to ensure compliance with the requirements mentioned by the hon. Member in the case of all works in respect of which assistance has been granted from the Colonial Development Fund. The reports received from the Governments of the East African Dependencies have been satisfactory.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many additional acres of royal parks and pleasure gardens have been devoted to sports and games during the year 1930?

22¼ acres were added during 1930 to the area set apart for sports and games in the Royal Parks. This figure does not include the area, 3 acres, of boating and paddling ponds constructed during the year.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has considered the desirability of the utilisation of the present site of the Botanical Gardens, Regent's Park, for the development of an open-air school; and what decision he has reached?

My hon. Friend's suggestion is receiving consideration, together with others which have been made for the use of this site.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state, with regard to the proposed aircraft park at South Cerney, in Gloucestershire, what is the nature of aircraft service intended to be carried out there; how many men and machines the park is designed to accommodate; and what is the approximate cost to public funds of the construction and equipment of the proposed park?

The proposal is only under preliminary investigation and has not yet taken definite shape. The main object of an aircraft park is to receive aircraft from the manufacturers and serve its allotted units, but beyond this I am not in a position to reply to the hon. Member on the particular points which he has put to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the variation, if any, in the wholesale prices of raw materials for margarine since 1924 and also the price of the manufactured article for the same period?

According to the information published in regard to commodity prices, the recent wholesale prices of the raw materials of margarine are about two-thirds of those of the corresponding commodities in 1924. I have no information as to the wholesale price of margarine during this period, but the average values of imported margarine, which represents about 15 per cent. of the total estimated consumption in this country, have fallen from 7.46d. to 6.20d. per lb. during the same period. According to the Ministry of Labour figures, the average retail price of the varieties of margarine included in the compilation of the cost-of-living index, which was 6¾d. per lb. in 1924, was 7¼d. per lb. in December, 1930.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of the county rate for the towns of Oxford and Cambridge and the amount of the contribution payable by each for building 1,000 houses for farm labourers, based on an average cost of £350 per house, in the rural areas of the respective counties; the amount of the housing debt; and the population of each town?

Oxford, being a county borough, does not contribute to the rate fund of the County of Oxford. In 1930–31 the county rate levied in the Borough of Cambridge was at the rate of 4s. 7d. in the £. The produce of this rate was approximately £122,700. The borough bears about 70 per cent. of the expenditure of the County of Cambridge and would, therefore, contribute about £700 per annum towards the cost of 1,000 houses erected for farm labourers in the rural districts in the county, if the county council confined their contribution to the minimum prescribed by the Housing Act, 1930. According to the latest information available (1929) the amount of the housing debt (exclusive of Small Dwellings Acquisition) and the population are as follow:

	Housing debt.	Population.
	£
County Borough of Oxford	627,195	74,000
Borough of Cambridge	557,985	60,730

NUMBERS of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Eastern Division of Fifeshire at 10th February, 1930, and 9th February, 1931.
Employment Exchange.		10th February, 1930.					9th February, 1931.
		Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.	Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
Anstruther	…	141	1	45	11	198	200	1	76	6	283
Auchtermuchty	…	107	1	45	7	160	174	3	86	7	270
Copar	…	228	1	17	1	247	251	5	24	1	281
Newbutgh	…	108	1	39	1	149	175	7	41	1	224
St. Andrews	…	143	3	19	2	167	176	4	47	1	228
Tayport	…	93	1	18	—	112	179	2	36	—	217
Total	…	820	8	183	22	1,033	1,155	22	310	16	1,503

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that all Great Britain's chief Continental competitors are able to send an air-mail letter to South America for 1s. 6d., their initial weight being five grammes, whereas the minimum cost from this country is 4s., the initial weight being half an ounce; whether he has considered the representation of the London Chamber of Commerce that British firms are sending letters to France to be posted there in order to take advantage of the Continental low initial rate; and what, if any, cost would be incurred by the British Post Office in instituting a ¼-ounce initial weight for air mail from this country?

I am aware of the fact that it is possible to send letters by air from certain European countries to South America at a lower minimum charge than it is from this country, but only the lightest letters come within the

asked the Minister of Labour if she can state the present number of unemployed persons in the eastern division of Fife, giving the figures for each Labour Exchange area under their separate categories and also the figures for the corresponding period of last year.

pursuant to her reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th February, 1931; col. 1475, Vol. 248), supplied the following statement:limit of 5 grammes, which is the equivalent of just over one-sixth of an ounce. On the other hand it is appreciably cheaper to send a letter weighing approximately ½ ounce from this country than from any other European country. In my opinion, the remedy for the high initial fees lies, not in a reduction of the unit of weight, but in a reduction of the very high charge for transport on this service, which is 10 times greater than the charge made on the Indian Air Mail service. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, any additional cost incurred would be reflected in the fees charged to the public.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel negotiations will be concluded; what are the financial quotas offered by the Kent, Essex, and Hertfordshire County Councils, respectively, and the sum suggested by him as necessary to ensure local labour being used?

I am doing everything within my power to expedite the negotiations with regard to the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel, but I cannot state when they will be concluded. The contributions offered by local authorities are as follow:

	£
Essex County Council	250,000
Kent County Council	250,000
London County Council	150,000

The City Corporation and the Middlesex County Council have also been approached, but not the Hertfordshire County Council. It is not possible at this stage to state what arrangements; will ultimately be agreed as to the recruitment of labour.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the urgent nature of calls made on doctors, he will consider allowing a distinctive sounding horn on their cars, as in the case of ambulances, so that the police in control of traffic will be thereby enabled to afford them special facilities for proceeding on their way?

Fire engines and ambulances are vehicles which are readily recognisable, and both the police and the general public do what they can to facilitate their expeditious passage when answering a summons. There is no distinction in appearance, however, between a doctor's car and an ordinary private car; and I should deprecate any attempt to establish a priority of right of way by the use of a distinctive type of motor horn or any other similar means, as such a course would be open to serious abuse.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give figures showing the decrease in the number of adult male workers on agricultural holdings of above one acre for the six months ended June, 1928, December, 1928, June, 1929, December, 1929, June, 1930, and December, 1930, respectively?

I regret that, inasmuch as returns of the numbers of workers are collected annually, I am unable to indicate increases or decreases over periods of six months. The returns collected on the 4th June in the three years mentioned show increases in the total number of adult male workers of 9,773 and 1,639 in 1928 and 1929, respectively, and a decrease of 16,045 in 1930.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of men employed in the beet-sugar factories in the United Kingdom; how many are employed throughout the year; and the average number of weeks for which the remainder are employed?

The total number of men employed in the beet-sugar factories in Great Britain during the past beet-sugar manufacturing campaign (from October to January, inclusive) was 9,900, the average length of employment being 16 weeks. Of these men, 2,200 are permanently employed. During the summer of 1930, about 1,800 men, in addition to the 2,200 permanently employed, were engaged in the factories for an average period of 15 weeks on the refining of imported raw sugar.