asked the Minister of Transport if he can give the restrictions which have been imposed by the commissioner for the Greater London area under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, on the passenger transport service connecting London with the following centres: Epping, Waltham Cross, Waltham Abbey, Hertford, Ongar, Bishops Stortford, Dagenham, and Southend with regard, respectively, to cancellation of services and/or reduction of the number of services or schedule speed, and increase in fares; what appeals have been made by the transport companies concerned; and what the results of such appeals have been?

The preparation of such a special statement would involve considerable labour and would impede the commissioner in carrying out his duties. If, however, my hon. Friend desires information in respect of any particular service, I will do what I can to supply it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Western Traffic Commissioners in refusing licences to motor coach proprietors who have run express coaches from London and other populous centres to seaside resorts in the West of England; and whether, in view of the importance of assisting such resorts in every possible way during the prevailing economic difficulties, he will issue a circular inviting the commissioners, in arriving at their decisions in future, to give consideration to the desirability of encouraging holidaymakers to visit seaside resorts in England during the coming holiday season by every means in their power?

I have received representations from certain local authorities on this matter. Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, specifically requires the commissioners, when dealing with applications for road service licences, to have regard, among other matters, to the extent to which the proposed services are necessary or desirable in the public interest. I, therefore, do not think it is necessary for me to issue general direction on this point.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue instructions that in future all traffic signal lights should be hung up over the centre of the road where they can be more easily seen than when erected at the side of the road?

The question of the best position for light signals is under consideration by the departmental committee which I have recently appointed, but, in the meantime, I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that signals hung up over the centre of the road are necessarily more easily seen by drivers than those placed at the side of the road.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give details of the number and results of references by approved societies to regional dental officers for the two latest comparative periods, and the number and results of any questions and inquiries made under Parts V and VI of the Dental Benefit Regulations, 1930, S.R. and O., 1,060?

The number of references to the regional dental officers received from approved societies in England and Wales during the last two years was:

1930	…	…	…	55,352
1931	…	…	…	52,081

In each year in about 85 per cent. of the cases examined the report of the regional dental officer confirmed entirely or substantially the statement given by the dentist as to the treatment required or the satisfactory completion by him of treatment given. During the year 1931 the number of questions under Part V of the Dental Benefit Regulations dealt with by local reference committees in England and Wales was 375. Two hundred of these were appeals by dentists, of which. 77 were allowed, 84 dismissed, and 39 were decided in a manner not wholly for or wholly against the dentist. Appeals against the decisions of reference committees were lodged in 13 cases. In one of these the appeals committee allowed the appeal in part, and in 12 cases the appeal was dismissed. Inquiries under Part VI of the Dental Benefit Regulations on representations made to the Minister by the Dental Benefit Council have been held in nine cases. The reports of the inquiry committees on six of these cases have already been received, and are now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution passed and sent to him by the public assistance committee of Rotherham, refusing to calculate as means when assessing for transitional benefit all pensions granted for disability; and what action he proposes to take thereon?

I have received this resolution, and am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply sent to the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will request His Majesty's Minister at Rio de Janeiro to ascertain whether it is the intention of the Brazilian Government, when issuing certificates under the various categories of defaulted Brazilian debt, to make provision for suitable hypothecation of revenue to meet liabilities under the fourth default in obligations of the Brazilian Government, provincial and municipal authorities?

It is understood that the arrangements proposed by the Brazilian Government in connection with their decision to issue Funding Bonds in respect of interest on certain of their external loans have been stated in detail to the-bondholders concerned, and my right hon. Friend does not think that any useful purpose would be served by communicating with the Brazilian Government on the matter. He understands that this funding scheme does not apply to the obligations of the provincial and municipal authorities in Brazil, which are a separate matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received from any of the Colonies in favour of a closer commercial union with Great Britain?

I have received from many quarters in the Colonies official and unofficial expressions of a desire for the development of closer trade relations within the Empire. And as the Chancellor of the Exchequer pointed out in his speech, the strongest proof of that desire is to be found in the wide range of preferences which many Colonies have established.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonial Governors have accepted a reduction in their emoluments since the recent financial crisis, together with the amounts?

The Governors of all Colonies in which a temporary levy on the salaries of public officials has been found necessary have accepted reductions in their own salaries on a corresponding scale it would be some-what misleading to give a list, as in many Colonies where the question of a levy is or has been under consideration, details of the scheme are not, yet available. It will be realised that the savings secured by these reductions accrue to the funds of the respective Colonies, from which the Governors' salaries are paid. The salary of the High Commissioner for Iraq, and part of the salary of the Governor of Malta, which are paid from home funds, are subject to a reduction of 10 per cent. in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the report of the Royal Commission on Malta has yet been received; and if it is intended to publish this report?

The report has been received, and copies will be issued to Parliament on 11th February.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will recommend to the Government of India the desirability of the use of mustard gas as a humane method of dealing with disturbers of the peace?

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the use of tear gas. This suggestion has been carefully considered in the past, but hitherto has been rejected.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider revising the terms used for assessing efficiency, observing that paragraph 5 of Article 607 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions states that "Moderate" is only intended to be given to efficient men, but that ratings with "Moderate" for efficiency are refused permission to re-engage to complete time for pension on the grounds that they are not in all respects fit to continue in the service?

The present definition of the terms used for assessing efficiency is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the present composition of the Civil Aviation Advisory Committee; and when the last meeting was held?

The Civil Aviation Consultative Committee, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, has now been discontinued. The last meeting of the committee was held on 4th July, 1930.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many aero- planes are occupied in carrying the mails on the route to India; how many of these are actually employed at any given time and how many are in reserve; and if he can give the corresponding figures for the African air mail route?

I understand that Imperial Airways, Limited, have at present a fleet of 30 aircraft which are used on the various sections of the air routes to India and Africa. Not more than three aircraft are in operation at any one time on either of the two routes; the remainder of the fleet are held in reserve; on the various sections of the routes, and are to a certain extent interchangeable.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will furnish a list showing at the latest convenient date the local education authorities which were making arrangements for the provision of meals for school children, in continuation of the information given in his reply to a similar question on 22nd January, 1931?

During the week ended 23rd January last 146 local education authorities in England and Wales made arrangements for the provision of meals to school children. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the authorities concerned.