asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what petitions from minorities, and in what numbers, have been received by the secretariat of the League of Nations during the last 12 months and held acceptable?

During the 12 months ending 30th May, 1931, which is the latest period for which detailed figures are available, 204 petitions were received by the secretariat, of which 73 were declared receivable.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government have indicated their views to the League of Nations as to whether it would be better to assist in connection with the treatment of prisoners by co-operation with the International Penal and Penitential Commission or by setting up a special committee of the League to study this problem in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Assembly on 23rd September, 1931?

The resolution adopted by the Assembly, to which the hon. Member refers, contemplated that the International Commission should first be asked to reconsider what are known as the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners in the light of observations received from various organisations and from Governments. When the Commission's answer concerning those Rules had been received, the Governments of States Members of the League were to be asked for their views on the point as indicated in the question; but that stage has not yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received the report of the Committee of the Communications and Transit Section of the League of Nations concerning the international transport of goods by rail; and what is the attitude of the Government thereon?

I understand that the special committee appointed by the Advisory and Technical Committee for Communications and Transit of the League of Nations to inquire into the question of the negotiability of railway transit documents, has recently reported. I have not yet seen this report, but it will no doubt be circulated by the League in due course.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the convicts at Dartmoor prison during the recent disturbances had served periods of training in Borstal institutions?

I cannot give this information until the work of reconstructing the burnt records is completed, but I may point out that in the last 20 years nearly 10,000 youths have served periods of training in Borstal institutions and if a few of them are now convicts, their number is very small compared with the number of those who have not reverted to crime.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the prisoners in Dartmoor prison on the morning of 24th January were implicated in the disturbances on that day; and how many of those prisoners were serving sentences of life imprisonment commuted from death sentences?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Morgan Jones). As regards the second part of the question, there was only one man serving a commuted death sentence in Dartmoor Prison on 24th January.

asked the Home Secretary how many convicts under sentence were in Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Maidstone, Chelmsford, and Lewes prisons on the morning of 24th January last; and how many of these in each prison were serving sentences of life imprisonment commuted from death sentences?

The numbers are as follow:

asked the Home Secretary if he is advised that the precautions taken to prevent fatal lung disease in workers lining London tubes with asbestos are adequate?

I have no powers of control in respect of this work under the Factory or other Acts, and have no information at present as to the precautions taken. I will make inquiries, however, and communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the present position in regard to the recognition by the British Medical Council of degrees granted by the faculties of medicine in Indian universities; and what stage has been reached in the setting up in India of an Indian Medical Council?

The conditional recognition accorded by the General Medical Council to the medical degrees of certain Indian universities was withdrawn in March, 1930. A revised draft bill for the establishment of an All-India Medical Council has been prepared, and it is hoped to introduce it in the Indian Legislative Assembly at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken, if any, to deal with the continual misrepresentation of facts which is indulged in by certain sections of the native Press in India

Powers to deal with the Press are contained in the Press Act and the Emergency Powers Ordinance. At the same time, local governments are making every effort through their publicity departments to secure the prompt correction of false rumours and reports and to present a true explanation of Government's policy. Particular emphasis is being laid on the determination of His Majesty's Government and the Government of India to proceed as rapidly as possible with the scheme of constitutional advance, and to protect the public in the pursuit of their lawful avocations.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will issue a White Paper giving the full correspondence between Gandhi and the Viceroy from 29th December to 4th or 5th January?

This correspondence will be included in the White Paper which is being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for India on what grounds Abdul Ghaffar Khan was deported

Abdul Ghaffar Khan was arrested and deported under Regulation III of 1818 on the ground that his activities were a menace to the preservation of law and order on the North-West Frontier.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any evidence for considering that the Red Shirt movement is different in character from the non-violent movement organised by the Congress?

A full account of the activities of the Red Shirts was contained in the statements issued by the Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province in December. These statements will be included in the White Paper which I propose to lay before the House.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that no privacy can be obtained by users of the public telephone at Lanner, which is situated in a shop without a cabinet; that the nearest public call-box is two miles away at Redruth; and if he will consider providing a public call-box at Lanner?

I am making inquiries, and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as these are completed.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the cost incurred during the past 12 months on the structural alterations at the Birmingham Post Office and on the introduction of new machinery, including the conveyor system?

The estimated expenditure on the structural alterations at the Birmingham Head Post Office, including the conveyor system, during the past 12 months is approximately £11,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a statement showing the number of persons in receipt of pensions and children's allowances under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925–30, on 31st December, 1931, and those in receipt of pension under the Old Age Pension Acts, 1908–24; the approximate figures of the number of widows who are without pension from any source: and the number of persons aged 65 who are without pension from any source?

The number of persons (including children) in receipt of pensions and allowances under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925 to 1931, on 31st December, 1931, was 1,621,887. On that date there were also 1,476,558 persons in receipt of old age pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908–24, the pensions in 624,659 cases being payable by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Acts free of conditions as to means, residence and nationality. No information is available as to the number of widows or of persons aged 65, who are without pension from any source and such information could only be obtained as the result of a personal inquiry of each widow and person aged 65 in the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the additional land which will be brought into cultivation in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, as the result of the Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties) Act, 1931?

I regret I am unable to give any estimate as to the extent to which production will be increased as a result of the duties recently imposed under the Act referred to, but I may say that I have already received several reports of a most encouraging nature as to the effect of the duties in this direction.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give a list of all the organisations which have approached his Department since the formation of the present Government asking for protection of home-grown produce against foreign competition?

No, Sir. I do not consider that the expenditure of time and money involved in the preparation of such a list would be justified by any useful purpose it would be likely to serve.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in what counties the hours of employment of agricultural labourers have been increased since 1930?

It. is not possible to say what changes have taken place in the actual hours of employment of agricultural workers, but so far as the number of hours per week on which are based the minimum weekly wages for ordinary adult male workers fixed under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act is concerned, increases have been made since 1930 in respect of the following areas: Dorset, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Leicester, Rutland, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Soke of Peterborough, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, North Riding of Yorkshire, Radnor and Brecon, while the Buckinghamshire Agricultural Wages Committee also propose to make an increase.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to the boycott of German goods in Finland in consequence of the increase of duties by Germany against Finnish goods and, in particular, butter; and what steps he proposes to take to bring to the notice of British exporters the potential market now at their disposal in Finland in consequence of this boycott?

I have been informed of the increase of duties imposed by Germany, but have no official confirmation regarding the boycott of German goods in Finland. In reply to the second part of the question, the Department of Overseas Trade is impressing the importance of the Finnish market upon United Kingdom exporters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in September last the Italian Govern- ment imposed a revenue tax of 10 per cent. on the value of all coal imported, and as from 1st January this year a further impost of between 9d. and 10d, per ton has been placed upon all coal arriving by sea; whether he has made representations to the Italian Government; and if he will make a statement in the House?

On 24th September last the Italian Government imposed by decree a revenue duty on the importation of a large number of foreign goods. This duty was fixed generally at the rate of 15 per cent. ad valorem, but in the case of coal was fixed at 10 per cent. Coal for the use of the State railways and for merchant ships was exempted altogether. Since the duty was imposed for revenue purposes and is applied to coal from all sources, His Majesty's Government have not felt that there was any substantial ground for protest. On the other hand, the general landing duty of 2½ lire per ton imposed on 1st January applies only to goods imported by sea, and accordingly affects coal from this country to a greater extent than coal from other countries.. His Majesty's Ambassador is accordingly being instructed to draw the attention of the Italian Government to this aspect of the landing duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount was ad- vanced or guaranteed by His Majesty's Government in the first instance towards the building of the new Cunarder?

No such advance or guarantee has been granted. Under the Cunard (Insurance) Agreement Act, 1930, the Board of Trade undertake to provide insurance against construction risks and marine risks at an appropriate premium to the extent that by reason of the size of the vessel the ordinary insurance market cannot perform this service.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many salaried officers of the "P" class who were given permanent appointments under the Guinness agreement are now employed under the Ministry of Pensions; and whether, having regard to the services of these officers over a long period of years, it is intended to give them full establishment?

There are at present 182 "P" class salaried officers in the Ministry. In paragraph 556 of its report the Royal Commission on the Civil Service recommended the appointment of these officers to established posts in the bottom grade of the general or a departmental clerical class. This recommendation, with others contained in the Commission's report, is now under consideration by the Government.