asked the Postmaster-General how many Crown post offices there are in the 10 largest cities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and giving the population of each city?

The numbers of Crown post offices in the 10 largest provincial cities are given below. They represent the numbers in the town postal area, which does not usually coincide with the municipal area. The statistics of population quoted are taken from the 1921 census.

City.		Number of Crown Post Offices.	Population.
Glasgow	…	29	1,130,675
Birmingham	…	30	919,444
Liverpool	…	33	803,118
Manchester	…	34	730,307
Sheffield	…	7	519,239
Leeds	…	11	458,232
Edinburgh	…	18	420,264
Belfast	…	4	415,007
Bristol	…	10	376,967
Hull	…	7	287,150

asked the Postmaster-General the estimated profit or loss incurred by his Department on the 1½d. and ½d. poets, respectively?

It is roughly estimated that the profit on a 1½d. letter is about ¾d. and the loss on a ½d. packet rather less than ¼d.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in connection with the resolution, a copy of which was sent to him, passed by the United Textile Workers' Association, condemning any alteration in the present system of work and wages in the cotton industry?

The resolution to which the hon. Member refers does not appear to call for any action on the part of the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a recent bankruptcy case the fees and expenses came to £380 13s. 7d. in order to get in a sum of £950; and whether he intends to take any steps to reduce the costs of realisation in matters of this kind?

My attention has not been drawn to the case referred to, but if the hon. Member will furnish sufficient particulars of the case to enable it to be identified, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department will consider setting up an official panel of translators for the convenience of business houses who wish to make their approaches in the language of various markets, but who cannot afford to maintain a staff of linguists?

Where special difficulties are experienced, the Department of Overseas Trade is always prepared to assist with advice, but having regard to the existing commercial facilities for work of this kind, I do not consider that it is either necessary or convenient to establish an official service.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the average age of mortality, at the last known date, in British India?

No exact figure can be given, but in 1928 (the latest year for which materials for calculating are available) the average age was about 23 years.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number and the per- centage of children under 14 in British India that receive any public education at all, and how many do not, at the last known date?

The latest information on the subject is contained in Chapters VI and VII of the ninth quinquennial review (1922–27) of the progress of education in India. Attention is particularly invited to paragraphs 201, 244, 245 and 261 of these chapters. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of unemployed men and women in British India, or the latest estimated figure?

On 27th March, 1930, I gave my hon. Friend all the information then available on the subject of unemployment in India. I have no later information relevant to the present question.

asked the Secretary of State for India what percentage of revenue that is raised in India is spent on the maintenance of the fighting forces and police, and what percentage on agriculture, education, medical relief, and other social services?

The following statement shows, for the year 1929–30, the gross revenue of British India (Central and Provincial), the gross expenditure under certain heads, and the percentage of expenditure under those heads to the total gross revenue.

Gross Revenue (Central and Provincial)—Rs. 2,27,26,48,398.
Head of Expenditure.	Gross Expenditure.	Percentage of Gross Revenue.
	Rs.
Military Services	59,08,08,743	26·0
Police	13,07,82,658	5·8
Agriculture	3,07,85,973	1·4
Education	13,58,76,391	6·0
Medical and Public Health.	6,61,95,450	2·9

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any further information with regard to the death of Colonel Morshead?

It is now considered to be almost certain that the lamentable death of Colonel Morshead took place while he was endeavouring to disarm a poacher. The police have made certain arrests, but it is at present unknown whether the attack on Colonel Morshead was deliberate or not. There is no reason to connect it with the rebellion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any ordinances have been promulgated in Palestine to stop the alienation of Arab holdings or what steps have been taken to prevent further additions being made to the number of landless Arabs?

In accordance with the last sentence of paragraph 12 of the Prime Minister's letter to Dr. Weizmann of 13th February, an ordinance was promulgated on Friday last to protect tenancy and occupancy rights, including the rights of squatters, throughout Palestine. As stated in the preceding part of that paragraph, the centralised control of land transactions will take effect as from such date only as the authority charged with the duty of carrying out the policy of land development shall begin to operate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider, in regard to the regulations for mui-tsai in Hong Kong, the raising of the prescribed minimum rates of pay?

The prescribed minimum rates in the regulations for mui-tsai in Hong Kong were necessarily experimental, as no wages had been paid to these girls before. Since then the fall of the dollar has halved their sterling value. A recent investigation has shown that, in nearly every case, more than the prescribed minimum is being paid. My Noble Friend has thought it desirable, in all the circumstances, to consult the Governor of Hong Kong as to an increase in the prescribed minimum rates.

asked the Minister of Transport if his Department recognise a standard system of electrification of railways in this country; and, if so, will he state its salient particulars and how the systems in use on the Continent and in the United States of America differ therefrom?

There are two alternate recognised standard systems of railway electrification in this country of which the hon. and gallant Member will find full particulars in the report of the Railway Electrification Committee (1927). The two standard systems recommended by the committee are:

(a) The direct current, overhead, with a maximum pressure of 1,500 volts; and

(b) The direct current, third nail, with a maximum pressure of 750 volts.

A considerable proportion of the route mileage of electrically worked railways on the Continent and in America is electrified in accordance with systems which do not differ materially from those proposed for this country, but various other systems are also in use abroad and to some extent in this country.

asked the Minister of Health the practice adopted by the auditors of the Ministry in respect of the certification of the expenditure of local councils who are paying allowances to employés, under the Superannuation (Metropolis) Act, 186G, to men who have completed the necessary years of regular employment though not considered to be on the permanent list?

My right hon. Friend is not aware that any such expenditure has come before a district auditor for consideration, but if my hon. Friend will send details of any particular case in which he is interested, my right hon. Friend will make inquiries and communicate with him.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ascertain the conditions under which consignments of butter now reaching this country from Russia are produced; whether these conditions conform to the conditions re- quired in this country; and whether he will cause samples of the butter from Russia to be analysed on arrival?

As at present advised, I do not consider it necessary to make the inquiry suggested. Imported butter is subject to examination on arrival in this country under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act and the Imported Food and Preservatives Regulations. Samples of recent consignments of Russian butter have been found, on analysis, to be genuine, and I am having further samples examined bacterio-logically.