asked the Postmaster-General the number of manipulative employés in the service of the Post Office at the commencement of each year from 1921 to 1931?

The number of manipulative employés, including temporary and part-time staff and sub-postmasters, in Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the beginning of 1923 onward were approximately as follow:—

asked the Postmaster-General the total amount paid to the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company in the last year in respect of the carrying of mails to and from India?

The amount paid to the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company for the conveyance of mails under contract between Great Britain, India, China and Australia is £295,000 per annum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of imports of each of the following commodities, namely, wheat and flour, oats, linen, butter, confectionery, garments wholly or partially made, and timber from Russia into Great Britain in each of the last five years, respectively, and for the first six months of 1931?

The following table shows, in respect of the under-mentioned

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when the Departmental committee is set up in due course for the examination and amendment of the present Companies Act, 1929, he will include in the terms of reference power to consider proposals to the effect that every British bank, banking firm, or banking company operating under the Companies Act shall deduct from its published reserve in its published accounts the amount at which its premises account appears in those accounts, so that the amount represented by published reserves shall appear as a net reserve composed entirely of liquid and not partly of immobile assets?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted, but I would call his attention to the fact that every limited banking company is required to exhibit at its places of business a half-yearly statement which shows inter alia the respective amounts of its Government securities, bills of exchange and promissory notes, cash at bankers and other securities.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the names and addresses of the committee elected to represent the interests of the exhibitors at the British Industries Fair, 1932; and how they were elected?

The advisory committee representing the exhibitors at the London Section of the Fair at present numbers 30 members and is composed of representatives drawn from each trade section. The majority of the members of the committee have been elected by their fellow exhibitors—the others have either been appointed as representatives of trade associations or have been nominated by the Department. The following is a list of the names and addresses of the members of the committee arranged alphabetically:George Abbott, Esquire, Messrs. G. S. Abbott, Limited, 54–56, Golden Lane, E.C.1.William Bailey, Esquire, Messrs. William Bailey (Birmingham), Limited, Victoria Works, 38–39, Weaman Street, Birmingham.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst the exhibitors for the British Industries Fair, 1932, with regard to the composition of the committee elected to represent the interests of the exhibitors; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to complete representation of all interests on the committee?

I am unaware that any dissatisfaction exists amongst exhibitors with regard to the composition of the British Industries Fair Exhibitors Advisory Committee. If the hon. Member will furnish me with any information in his possession which suggests dissatisfaction, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of building trade operatives, stating their various trades, unemployed on 30th June last?

The following table shows the number of insured persons in the building industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 22nd June, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of schemes and the total amount for the relief of unemployment authorised by the Unemployment Grants Committee during the last two years for the urban district councils of Wednesfield, Willenhall, and Short Heath?

Since 1st June, 1929, grants to the urban district coun-

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will further investigate the case of Mr. Samuel King, of Ballicarry, county Antrim, formerly in the Inniskilling Fusiliers and Labour Corps, with a view to granting him a pension; whether he is aware that Mr. King

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys, and girls, on the Employment Exchanges of Devonport and Plymouth, respectively, for the month of June, 1931?

The following table shows the number of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges at Plymouth and Devonport, respectively, on each Monday in June, 1931.is now suffering from tuberculosis as a result of having been gassed during the War; that his case has been prejudiced through delay in holding a medical examination owing to Mr. King having been technically a deserter after the Armistice; that he was transferred to the Labour Corps owing to physical disability in the War; that there was no tendency to consumption in Mr. King's family; that several doctors have certified his present state of health as being due to his War service; and whether he will take such further action as may enable a pension to be granted?

This case has been the subject of very careful consideration on more than one occasion, and I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the decision of the Ministry has not in any way been influenced by the desertion mentioned. No application was received from Mr. King until more than seven years after the end of his service, and his case was dealt with under the arrangements made for dealing with late claims. He was medically examined and given every opportunity of bringing forward all evidence and information in support of his claim, and before his application was finally determined the case was most carefully reviewed, in all its aspects, in consultation with an eminent specialist entirely independent of the Ministry. I was advised, however, that the evidence does not permit of Mr. King's application being accepted by the Ministry, and I regret, therefore, that the case is not one in which I can take further action. I may add that there is no record that Mr. King was gassed, and his transfer to the Labour Corps followed a period of treatment for synovitis of the knee.

asked the Secretary of State for War which of the articles in the pay warrants of 1913 and 1914 apply to the case of Army pensioners who prior to that date were serving with the Territorial forces and who were mobilised on the outbreak of War in 1914?

Article 1158 of the Pay Warrants of 1913 and 1914 applies. While the men in question were not formally re-enlisted during the emergency, having already undertaken to serve with the Territorial Force, their position in this particular respect was identical with that of pensioners re-enlisted during the War.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Mr. W. Fraser, now residing at Commercial Road, Glasgow, had served with the Royal Scots for eight years until about March last and had good conduct all the time, that on leaving the Service he has been refused unemployment benefit owing to a slight disagreement at the time of his discharge; and if, in view of the man's previous good character, he will take steps to alter the man's discharge so as now to allow him to receive benefit?

I have been in correspondence with my hon. Friend regarding this case. Private Fraser elected not to complete a vocational training course for which he had applied and was transferred to the Army Reserve at his own request. As Section 41 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, precludes the payment by the Army Council to the Unemployment Fund of any sum in respect of a soldier so transferred to the Reserve, he is not qualified to receive unemployment insurance benefit on return to civil life from the Colours. I regret that I am unable to alter the terms of Private Fraser's transfer to the Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in view of the Government's withdrawal of the grants formerly made to school cadet units, it is still the practice of his Department to loan firearms to these units?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. Instructions were issued in April, 1930, that all publicly-owned arms on loan to units of the Cadet Force were to be called in, and no firearms have been lent to such units since that date.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will, where there is a large number of non-trade union workmen in any department of His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, permit those men to elect one of their number to represent them on the local Whitley Council, instead of compelling them, as at present, to be represented by members of a trade union of which they have no wish to be members?

The answer is in the negative. It is not intended to alter the constitution of these local committees, which contemplates that the employés' side shall consist of members of trade unions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the reduced rates of pay for naval ratings introduced in October, 1925, he will consider a reduction in the present scale of charges laid down for discharge by purchase and which were fixed after the increase of pay granted in 1919?

No sufficient reason is seen for amending the scale. The increased scale of pay granted in 1919 is still enjoyed by pre-1925 ratings and in necessitous cases the Admiralty are prepared to consider free discharge.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will inquire whether any difficulty is experienced at the boys' training establishments in obtaining volunteers to serve in the signal and wireless telegraphy branches; and what is the reason why service in these branches is unpopular?

At present no undue difficulty is found in getting sufficient volunteers for these branches.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the system whereby men who could not qualify technically for signalman, telegraphist, or able seaman, but who were otherwise fit and capable, were allowed to transfer to the rating of stoker second class, has been discontinued; and, if so, whether he will consider its reintroduction so that trained and disciplined ratings may have the opportunity of remaining in His Majesty's service?

Transfers in suitable cases to stoker second class are still permitted in accordance with the provisions of Article 419 of King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

asked the Attorney-General the last occasion on which the Kent Advisory Committee met; if so, when and where; and whether this and similar advisory committees have fixed periods of meeting and by whom convened?

This committee met on 17th April last in London. There is no fixed date for calling the meeting together, but a meeting is usually held once a year, or oftener if necessary, and is convened by the Lord Lieutenant.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that, at the recent trial of Mr. Wallace at Liverpool on a charge of murder, the prosecution failed to bring to the notice of the defence their intention to call evidence which was not on the deposition; and whether any steps will be taken to obviate such an occurrence in the future?

I am informed that no witness was called at the trial who had not given evidence at the police court, and in these circumstances it is not necessary to consider the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Transport the principles which guide his Department in determining in the national interest for which classes of traffic transport by road, rail, or canal can best be utilised?

I have no power to determine for which classes of traffic transport by road, rail or canal can best be utilised. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the Royal Commission on Transport referred to this matter in paragraph 500 of their final report, and also made a number of recommendations with a view to securing the employment of the available means of transport to the greatest public advantage. These recommendations are now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the inter-Departmental Committee on Scottish piers and harbours has yet been drafted; whether it is proposed to call a conference of the local authorities whose co-operation is desired and, if so, when; and whether any action is meanwhile being taken on the report of the inter-Departmental Committee?

The Bill is in course of preparation, but its details will depend on the outcome of consultations between the Departments concerned and with local authorities. I hope that it will be possible to communicate with the local authorities at an early date, and, if necessary, conferences can be held thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to announce the arrangements for the proposed Round Table Conference on Burma; the terms of reference and the membership; and whether it will be within the province of the conference to consider the advisability of coming into the federation of the rest of India?

Not yet, Sir. But I am hoping to be in a position to make an announcement very shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the Governor of Mauritius has publicly recommended to the attention of the residents the issue of a publication called the "Crown Colonist," any Department of State is in any way financially assisting this publication; whether it is to be regarded as the official publication of the Colonial Office; and, if not, why instructions have been sent to Crown Colony Governors to recommend it to the residents?

As regards the first part of my hon. Friend's question I have no information. The "Crown Colonist" is not in any way an official publication, and no instructions concerning it have been sent to any of the Colonial Governors.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make a statement to the House showing the charge which has fallen upon the Treasury in consequence of the Derating Act, 1928?

As far as the cost of putting into operation of the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, 1928, is concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie) on 23rd April last. The actual rating relief to industrial and other property was, however, given by the two Local Government Acts of 1929. The total cost to the Exchequer of these two Acts in the financial years 1930 and 1931 is estimated as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of the report of the Select Committee on Capital Punishment have been sold to the public since its issue in December last?

Of the report issued in December last, 1,492 copies have been sold, and in addition 205 copies have been sold of the complete volume, containing the report, minutes of evidence and proceedings of the committee, which was published in January.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the financial expenditure of isolated councils to prevent refuse dumping and of the growing urgency of the problem, he will formulate a Bill to secure statutory powers to deal with the problem on county authority lines?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 23rd instant to a question by the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the number of badly-worn silver coins at present in circulation; and whether he will arrange for such coins to be called in and replaced by coins of recent issue?

There are arrangements in force by which worn or defective coin can be exchanged for good coin on presentation at the Mint. I am not prepared to call in coins generally from circulation, but arrangements have been made whereby as opportunity offers the Mint recoin silver of unsatisfactory appearance into the new alloy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will invite representative farmers from Carmarthenshire to the proposed discussion with English farmers regarding the question of the tithe?

I have invited the National Farmers' Union to nominate one of the six representatives of tithe payers who, together with six representatives of tithe owners, will attend the meeting which I have arranged for 29th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that cases have occurred of the incorrect marking of oranges as "Empire," when only the South African and Australian varieties are entitled to that description ; and whether he will proceed with an order for the marking of imperial citrus fruits under the Merchandise Marks Act?

No specific case has been brought to my notice of the marking of foreign oranges as "Empire." Before any steps can be taken with a view to the making of an Order in Council under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, to require the marking of imported citrus fruits with an indication of origin, an application must be made which substantially represents interests such as those of producers, traders or consumers, and the application must then form the subject of a public inquiry by the standing committee which has been set up under the Act. No such application has been received so far in respect of any citrus fruits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has as yet negotiated with the sugar-beet factories who have not accepted the Government scheme this season as regards their position next year; and, if so, with what result?

There is no reason why I should negotiate with the "non-advance" or any other factories, seeing that the Government scheme applies to this season only.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state in tabular form, for the years 1914 to the end of March, 1931, inclusive, the output per man-shift worked below and above ground in the mining industry of this country, with the approximate average length of normal shifts worked below ground including winding time?

The following table gives the information: