asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total sum given by the Government by way of loan for building, steading, fences and equipment to existing landholders under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911?

The total amount of loans granted up to 31st March, 1930, by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland to landholders then in occupation of holdings subject to the operation of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Acts, is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport the total cost of the new bridges which it is proposed to erect over the Caledonian Canal?

The total cost of the five bridges to be erected is expected to be about £50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses agreed to be improved under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in 1930 in each county or county district in Scotland; and in which counties or county districts no action was taken?

The following table contains the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour what grants were given by the Unemployment Grants Committee for the relief of unemployment in Caithness and

asked the Minister of Health the average cost of management, repairs, and maintenance per annum per house for the houses built under the Housing Act, 1924, by Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham respectively?

Information is not available on which a comparative statement could be made. I am, however, communicating with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many owners of small houses which come under the Rent Restrictions Acts are receiving only half the amount of rent which their tenants obtain by sub-letting; and whether he will consider the modification of the Rent Restrictions Acts in the direction of dealing with anomalies of this nature?

I would remind the hon. Member of the appointment by myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland of an inter-departmental committee to inquire into and report upon the present work- Sutherland in each of the years 1925 to 1930, both inclusive?

The following table shows the number and total estimated cost of schemes for the relief of unemployment in Caithness and Sutherland approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee during the calendar years 1925 to 1931.ing of the Rent Restrictions Acts, and whether any modification or amendments should be made to them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the practice of the Post Office to make known to the public any new services which may be made available for their use from time to time?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of his opinion that more might be done by advertising in the case of the telephone service, he will consider adopting the use of the cancellation dies as a method of advertising the existence of air mail services, as is done by many other countries and is advocated by the London Chamber of Commerce?

The proposal made by the hon. Member has been considered on more than one occasion, but it is the established policy of the Post Office to refrain from using the stamp-cancellation dies for purposes of advertisement save in most exceptional circumstances, and, having regard to the wide publicity already afforded to air mail services, I regret I do not feel able to make an exception in their favour.

asked the President of the Board of Education the policy of his Department in respect of the use of talking films in educational work; and whether any circular on the subject has been issued to local authorities?

I am watching with interest the experiments now being made, but I am of opinion that the time has not yet come for a declaration of policy. With regard to the second part of the question, no circular has been issued to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the condition of affairs which exists in the Gujerat district, where a campaign is in process to stop the payment of land revenue, and landowners are being prevented from harvesting their crops; and what measures have been adopted by His Majesty's Government to protect law-abiding persons?

I am aware that the situation in Gujerat is not entirely satisfactory. Developments are, however, being carefully watched by the authorities in India.

asked the Secretary of State for India why the British force available in Cawnpore, consisting of one battalion and one company of infantry, one company of tanks, and one battery of artillery, was not utilised at the outbreak of the riots in order to prevent the casualties, which amounted to 600 killed.

There was no delay in calling out troops to assist in the maintenance of order. The force of infantry mentioned in the question includes two companies who arrived from Lucknow on the day following the outbreak of the riots.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now give any date for the Debate on the proposed subsidy to opera, and indicate when, if the House sanctions the grant, it will be put in operation?

As stated on page 81 of the Post Office Estimates for 1931, it is proposed that the annual grant when approved shall run from 1st January, 1931, with a special payment in respect of the last quarter of 1930. As I have previously explained, the grant depends both on the execution of an amended agreement with the British Broadcasting Corporation and on the voting by this House of the money required. I have no doubt that an opportunity for discussion will arise before the end of the Session on the appropriate Vote, but I am not yet in a position to say when that will be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will consider the desirability of imposing an import duty on foreign tea, in view of the fact that the import of such tea has more than doubled since 1919, while the import of Empire tea has remained about the same?

My right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the Budget statement. I should add that the alleged facts in the question are not correct.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in providing allotments for the unemployed under the recently instituted scheme?

Pending the passing of the Bill into law, the scheme can only deal with the supply of vegetable seeds, seed potatoes, fertilisers and tools to enable unemployed and partly employed persons to cultivate allotment gardens. Up to the present, 52,068 unemployed or partly employed persons have been or are being provided with seeds, etc., at exceedingly moderate rates, and applications are still coming in very steadily.