asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he can explain why the arrangements for long-term credits to Scottish agriculturists are still not concluded; and whether he can give any definite undertaking as to when these credits will be made available for those for whom they were intended;(2) whether he is aware that, in connection with the issue of long-term credits to agriculturists, the Scottish Land Securities Company placed their memorandum and articles of association in the hands of the Treasury several months ago but without obtaining any definite statement as to when the Treasury part of the contract will be implemented; whether he will investigate this delay with a view to its being terminated at the earliest possible moment; and whether he is aware that, owing to the delay in bringing the long-term credit arrangements into force in Scotland, the country will lose £12,000, the interest on the £125,000 allocated to it for the purpose?

The necessary steps for the incorporation of the Agricultural Security Corporation to be set up under the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act, 1929, have been and are being taken as expeditiously as possible. As stated in my reply of the 23rd instant to the hon. Member for Kincardine and Western Aberdeenshire (Mr. Scott), the memorandum and articles of association of the corporation have now been approved by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, and the further stages in the formation of the corporation are being carried out, but I am not yet in a position to say when the corporation will be ready to commence operations. No loss of interest has occurred or will occur owing to the fact that the corporation has not yet been formed, as the advances to be made to the corporation from the Exchequer will be free of interest for a

asked the Minister of Health the number of centres that have been approved by his Department for the purpose of artificial sun-ray treatment; how many applications have been made to his Department by local authorities during the previous two years for the approval of similar centres; and the names of the authorities?

Since 1st April, 1930, the approval of my Department has not been necessary to the provision of these centres, except in cases where the centre is to be used for the treatment of tuberculosis and is to be provided in premises not previously approved for that purpose. The number of centres approved up to 1st April, 1931, was 269. The number of applications during the period of 60 years from the date when the advance is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of money the expenditure of which upon the maintenance and improvement of piers and harbours in Caithness and Sutherland has been authorised by the Fishery Board and the Department of Agriculture, respectively, during each of the years from 1925 to the present day?

The following table shows the amount of assistance given by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in respect of the provision and improvement of piers, harbours and landing places in Caithness and Sutherland in 1925–26 and subsequently:last two financial years was 17, and the names of the local authorities are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will submit a return to the House, under various headings, of the amount of subsidies granted from State funds for civil aviation,

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that auxiliary clerks have recently been dismissed from Government service on the ground that they are not of ex-Service status although the only reason why they did not serve was that they were interned in Germany for the whole period of the War; and will he consider the reinstatement of such men?

No such cases have come to my notice, but it is a fact that the preference for Government employment accorded to ex-Service men does not extend to interned civilians.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of War Debt was due to Great Britain by other nations, what modifications in payment have been agreed, the date of such agreement, and how much has been received on account of War Debt payments to date?

The terms on which the Allied War Debts due to Great sugar beet, housing, and the coal industry from 1920 to 1930?

The amounts paid in subsidies or subventions in each of the years mentioned are shown in the following table:Britain have been funded are given in detail in the Funding Agreements which have been presented to Parliament. The net amount of the Debts at the date of funding was about £1,250,000,000 (excluding the War Debt of Belgium for which liability was assumed by Germany under the Treaty of Versailles and the War Debt of Russia, in regard to which no settlement has been reached). The Allied War Debts to Great Britain have been settled on terms corresponding to a remission of about 65 per cent. of the Debt, except in the case of Italy, in which case the remission is equivalent to 86 per cent. The amount received by Great Britain on account of War Debt payments to date is £71,250,000.

asked the Minister of Health approximately the number of dwellings called tied cottages in England and Wales, respectively; and whether the number has increased or decreased during the last 10 years?

I have no statistics as to the number of tied cottages in England and Wales, and cannot therefore give the information desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of paragraphs 176, 309, 310, and 316 of the Macmillan report, which describe the benefits to employment that will arise from a greater willingness to lend overseas, he will request the British commercial representative in Brazil to furnish him with a report on the present position of the Leopoldina Railway and the possibility of action being taken by the Brazilian Government to enable the railway to work at a profit?

In view of the fact that authoritative information on the present position of the Leopoldina Railway Company is only obtainable from the head office of the company in London, I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to ask the Commercial Secretary at Rio de Janeiro to furnish a report of the nature desired by the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. Campbell).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the cost of wool tops is on the average due to commissions, brokerage, and other charges and profits of intermediaries between the overseas farmer and the worsted industry; and what was the corresponding figure during the period when the wool was purchased in bulk by His Majesty's Government?

I regret that the information desired is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will institute an inquiry into the woollen and worsted industries with a view to ascertaining the effect upon the selling price of cloth of inflated capital charges in the combing, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing sections of the industries, and of the margins received by merchants, dealers, and retailers, and for the purpose of suggesting measures to reduce these burdens on the industries and on the buyers of cloth?

The wool textile industry has been the subject of several Government inquiries of recent years, the last being in 1930. As already indicated, the question of the reorganisation of this and other staple industries is receiving the constant attention of His Majesty's Government, and I do not think that any special inquiry into the particular aspects of the wool textile industry mentioned by my right hon. Friend is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the copy sent to him of the resolution passed on 16th July by the Tapestry Carpet Manufacturers' Association, pointing out the growth in the imports of carpets and protesting against the continued free entry of such carpets at non-competitive prices while factories in this country are working short time; and what action the Government intend to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given in connection with his similar question asked on 3rd February last.

asked the Postmaster-General by how many the number of new telephone subscribers in the past three years has exceeded the number of subscribers relinquishing the use of installations?

The net increase in telephone stations was 124,409 in 1928, 125,885 in 1929 and 109,222 in 1930.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to encourage business firms to instal private telephone switchboards, he will follow the practice of private companies selling or renting mechanical devices and make arrangements to supply trained operators at fixed wages?

The Post Office gives free training to telephone operators employed by subscribers renting private branch exchanges and, in cases of emergency, loans Post Office operators for a short period. These arrangements aim at ensuring the proper working of private branch exchanges and as a general rule meet the needs and convenience of subscribers. I do not think it desirable to maintain a trained operating staff solely for employment by telephone subscribers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in cases of removal of subscribers, telephone instruments are allowed to remain until a new occupier has had an opportunity of continuing the use of the instrument; and, if so, what interval is allowed to elapse before the instrument is removed?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of workmen of all grades employed in His Majesty's dockyard, Portsmouth, and paid under Vote 8, Shipbuilding, Repairs, Maintenance, etc., Vote 9, Torpedo Depot, and Vote, 10, Works, Buildings, and Repairs, on 1st July, 1931?

The required numbers are Vote 8, 10,434; Vote 9, 390; and Vote 10, 1,316.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Provided the apparatus can be left with safety at the vacated premises, it is generally left in situ for about 14 days, pending information as to the requirements of the incoming tenant.

asked the Home Secretary how many fatal and non-fatal road accidents have occurred in the Metropolitan area since the abolition of the speed limit; and how many occurred during the corresponding calendar period prior to the abolition?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement as to the action agreed upon at the Seven-Power Finance Conference as to the steps necessary to restore the stability of the German economic system?

As I indicated in reply to questions on this subject last Thursday, I do not think I can add to the Declaration which has been published and which has been communicated to the Bank for International Settlements.