asked the President of the Board of Trade the decline in British exports to India year by year from 3rd June, 1929, to 24th August, 1931?

The following statement shows the total declared value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported during each quarter from July, 1929, to June, 1931, registered as consigned to British India. Similar particulars relating to the precise period indicated in the question are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many posters the Empire Marketing Board has exhibited during the course of the last years advertising the specific products of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State respectively?

The produce of Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, has shared the publicity in favour of. United Kingdom produce. Twelve sets of posters on the Board's frames have dealt exclusively with United Kingdom produce; the great majority of these have advertised products of interest to Northern Ireland, equally with other parts of the United Kingdom. Three sets have dealt exclusively with the products of the Irish Free State.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the amount granted in credits under the Export Credits Scheme in financing orders between 3rd June, 1929, and 24th August, 1931, to Russia and to all other countries?

From 3rd June, 1929, to 22nd August, 1931, the Export Credits Guarantee Department entered into contracts with British exporters covering credits totalling £8,384,443 and £7,838,644 in respect of exports to Russia and to all other countries respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figures in his possession with regard to unemployment in those countries of the world mainly in industrial competition with Great Britain?

The latest published figures on unemployment overseas appear on page 316 of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for August. More recent figures will be given in the September number of the Gazette which will appear on the 18th of the month.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works the receipts and expenditure of Brompton Cemetery during the last financial year; how much of the expenditure represents labour; and whether trade union rates of pay and conditions are observed?

The receipts and expenditure of Brompton Cemetery during the last financial year were £10,060 and £6,576, respectively, exclusive of headquarters costs. £3,346 was paid in reapect of wages of the industrial staff. With regard to the last sentence, trade union rates of pay as such are not observed by Government Departments whose settled practice is to base the pay and conditions of their workpeople on those observed by good employers for comparable work. Moreover, as a number of unions cater for the grades concerned it is not clear which particular union is referred to in the question. I may say, however, that the pay and conditions of the industrial and other staff in the cemetery are in appropriate relativity with those of comparable grades in the Government service.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the report on the recent floods in Middlesbrough; whether he is satisfied that these could not have been prevented had the drainage works been started and completed earlier since the last floods in 1928; and whether, in these circumstances, he will sanction the payment of compensation to the householders and shopkeepers who have suffered damage?

A report from the town council has been received, and I am informed that the flooding was due to exceptional rainfall combined with a rising tide and a north-east gale. The works which are now being carried out, and nearing completion, should prevent future flooding of this kind; there does not appear to have been any avoidable delay in carrying out the works, which presented difficulties. As regards the last part of the question, no application on the subject has been received from the council.

asked the Minister of Health why three approved societies

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, associated with trade unions are specifically mentioned in his report for 1930 on special inquiries into the administration of National Health Insurance, while the other societies referred to in the same connection are not so designated?

This report was prepared during my predecessor's term of office, but I understand that no special reason, other than the general desire to be informative, exists for the inclusion of the words referred to. The hon. Member will have observed that while the report refers to defective administration in several societies, the three societies in question are specially mentioned as having effected improvements.

asked the Minister of Health if he will show in tabular form, annually in each case, the number of medical practitioners acting as panel doctors under the National Health Insurance scheme since it came into operation; the total amount paid to such panel doctors; the number of doctors receiving payment in this connection; the number of insured persons; and the capita grant per insured person paid?

The figures are as follow:in the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease of a serious character, such as scarlet fever or diphtheria, in an elementary school, it is the practice to notify the parents of scholars attending the school; whether the school medical officer is required or authorised to close the school when the number of eases exceeds a certain percentage; and generally what steps are required to be taken to safeguard the pupils against the risk of infection and to stamp out the disease?

It is not the practice to notify the parents of scholars attending a public elementary school in the event of an outbreak of infectious disease. The sanitary authority and the local education authority, acting on the advice of their expert officers, are empowered to close a public elementary school in appropriate cases. My hon. Friend will find general information on the subject in the memorandum on Closure of and Exclusion from School issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Board of Education, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the need for economy, he will take steps to cut down the expense of administering the Road Traffic Act, both to the State and to applicants for licences, with their wit- nesses; and whether he will give instructions to the traffic commissioners to arrange their sittings so as to avoid expense waste of time in the interests of the applicants and of economy?

The expenses incurred by my Department and by the traffic com- missioners in connection with the administration of Part IV of the Road Traffic Act. will continue to be subject to close and constant review in the interests of economy, and I am sure that the traffic commissioners will do everything they reasonably can to obviate unnecessary expense on the part of applicants.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give instructions to traffic commissioners to simplify as much as possible the forms and schedules required of small omnibus proprietors who apply for licences and who have not the clerical staffs nor the ability to comply with present requirements?

The traffic commissioners require certain information to assist them in hearing and determining applications for licences, and every effort has been made to devise the simplest forms of return which will achieve this purpose. I also understand that the staff of the traffic commissioners render every assistance to applicants for licences who find themselves in difficulty in furnishing the information required, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the matter will be kept under review, and if experience points to the possibility of simplification, especially in the case of small proprietors, the considerations to which he draws attention will be carefully borne in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Thermogene, Antiphlogistine, and many other patent medicines are now being sent to qualified chemists without revenue stamps of 3d and 6d. attached; and whether, as chemists are suffering from this recent policy, he will consider what steps should be taken to protect the revenue?

The law provides for exemption from Medicine Stamp Duty in favour of "known, admitted and approved" remedies when sold under certain conditions by duly qualified chemists or druggists. I am aware that certain manufacturers have taken steps to bring their preparations within the scope of that exemption, but this is not a matter in which I can interfere.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the dissatisfaction among the farming community at the payment of tithe rent, he is prepared to give to those who are threatened with proceedings, because of their inability to pay, any relief?

I have no power to: relieve tithepayers of their obligations.