asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the present price of raw rubber is under 3d. per lb., and that a continuance of this price will mean the ruin of many of the British subjects engaged in the rubber-producing industry; and whether His Majesty's Government are now prepared to take steps to better the situation by initiating some scheme of restriction?

The facts are as stated by the hon. Member, but on the question of Government intervention I can add nothing to my reply to the hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. Campbell) on 6th March.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what financial or other assistance the British Government gave to the British Exhibition at Buenos Ayres, Argentina?

:The Department of Overseas Trade has given all possible support and assistance to the organisers of the British Empire Trade Exhibition in Buenos Ayres, including publicity for the undertaking, and the circularisation of British firms with a view to encouraging them to participate in the exhibition. Close personal touch has been maintained with the exhibition authorities by the appointment of the director of the exhibitions division of the Department as a member of the London executive committee of the exhibition management. The said director also proceeded to Buenos Ayres, where he was commissioner-general of the Government pavilion. His Majesty's Government have given no financial support to the exhibition, but the sum of £30,000 was provided from public funds to meet the cost of the organisation of the Government exhibit and of the visit of His Majesty's ship "Eagle."

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement of the number of foreign ships entering British ports in the last three years without having complied with the Board of Trade regulations for the safety of life at sea, especially with regard to the loading of grain and the load line; how many have been fined and whether he will take steps to secure that no foreign vessels shall be allowed to discharge cargo in British ports with- out producing a certificate from His Majesty's Consul at the port of departure that such regulations have been complied with before sailing?

The number of foreign ships reported as having arrived at ports in the United Kingdom during the period 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1931, with grain loaded in contravention of the Merchant Shipping Acts is 29. The cases were not such that proceedings could usefully be instituted. The number of foreign ships reported as having arrived during the same period with their load line discs submerged is 18. In five cases the master was prosecuted and fined. It would not be practicable to adopt the procedure suggested in the last part of the question as to the supervision of foreign ships in foreign ports by British consular officers.

asked the Minister of Labour the reason why over 100 men engaged on the Skegness foreshore scheme were paid off by the urban district council, although a large portion of the work has yet to be completed; and, as the major part of the cost of the scheme has been contributed by the Unemployment Grants Committee, whether she will take steps to have this work continued?

I am having inquiries made into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there are sufficient men available at Devonport to relieve the naval ratings who have nearly completed 2½ years' foreign service in His Majesty's Ship "Queen Elizabeth," Mediterranean Fleet, and have applied for 14 days' leave; and if he will see that arrangements are made to give these men, a considerable number of whom are married men, the leave to which they are entitled in view of their 2½ years' foreign service?

There are amply sufficient men at Devonport to meet all the foreign service leave requirements of the men referred to. For the period quoted (2½ years), the foreign service leave due would be over a month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has considered the question of substitution of coal for oil in future ship-building programmes?

The Admiralty have no intention of departing from the present policy of using oil as the fuel in new construction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the average annual cost of training an officer of the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers?

The average cost of the annual training of a flying officer of the Reserve of Air Force Officers, including pay, allowances and travelling expenses, may be stated as approximately £350.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the effect on the nerves of ex-service men suffering from shell-shock and war neurasthenia of the uncertainty as to the continuance of their pensions, he will consider the question of making these pensions permanent after they have been in receipt of them for the last eight years?

Of the total number of pensions in payment for neurasthenia and shell-shock, about 90 per cent. have already been made permanent. I can assure the hon. Member that the possibility of making final awards in the remaining cases will be constantly kept in view. To make such awards in cases which are not medically suitable for them would not be in the best interests of pensioners generally.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) how much has been expended by the Crown on legal proceedings since 1st June, 1929;(2) what solicitors and barristers have been employed by the Crown since 1st June, 1929, and the fees which have been paid in each case?

The information referred to in these two questions is not available in the Treasury, and I am advised that its collection would involve the expenditure of considerable time and labour.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average local taxation levied per head of the population in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, comparable, so far as possible, to the local taxation levied in this country?

I regret that this information is not available.