asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of commissioned officers who were sentenced to death during the late War, 1914–18; and in how many cases the sentence was carried out?

During the period 1914 to 1918, six commissioned officers were sentenced to death after trial by court-martial. The sentence was carried into effect in three cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is in a position to state what changes, if any, will be made at the Royal Army Ordnance Factory at Didcot consequential upon the Pimlico clothing factory being closed down; what number of workers are likely to be transferred from London to Didcot; and what steps, if any, the War Office propose to take towards assisting the local authorities in providing housing accommodation?

As already announced, the clothing depot and inspectorate at present situated at Pimlico will be located at Didcot. I am not at present in a position to make a statement either as to the number of pivotal employés who will be transferred from London or on the question of their accommodation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of empty houses owned by the Air Ministry at Cardington; and whether any reduction of rent has been made to attract new tenants?

Nineteen of the Air Ministry houses at Cardington are at present vacant, but as the question of utilising them for the accommodation of Royal Air Force personnel is under consideration, action to let them has been temporarily suspended. No special difficulty is anticipated in letting the houses at existing rentals if it is decided to do So.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many men from the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, his Department were able to place elsewhere?

The Department has been instrumental in providing employment for 108 of the personnel previously employed at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington. Of these, I am glad to say that 70 are in employment at other establishments of the Air Ministry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what terms the agreement with Mr. T. F. Wallis, late of the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, was terminated when his appointment for 12 months for service at Ismailia at £10 a week ceased?

This employé was offered and accepted a compensatory payment of £30 in settlement of all claims arising from the curtailment of his engagement for service at Ismailia.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total amount of subsidy paid to National Flying Services, Limited, since its inception; the total number of pilots trained; and the total number of fatal accidents?

As regards the first two parts of the question, the total of the grants to date amounts to £3,530 and 235 pilots have been trained. As regards the last part, including affiliated clubs there have been two fatal accidents during training and four in the course of other flying—six in all.

asked the Home Secretary the number of motor cars reported stolen in the Metropolitan area during 1931, the number of convictions, and the number of cars traced?

5,086 cars were reported stolen; 4,869 were recovered; and of 935 persons arrested, 748 were found guilty.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Road Traffic Act does not guarantee to third-party claimants in motor accidents the settlement of claims for damages, nor does it cover the motorist involved in the accident in respect of his own claims should his insurance company fail to meet them; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to alter those conditions?

Part 11 of the Road Traffic Act deals only with third-party claims in respect of death or bodily injury, and does not apply in any way to claims, in respect of damage or injury to the motorist himself. If the hon. Member has in mind the possibility of an insurance company becoming insolvent and so being unable to meet its liabilities, I may point out that Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act provides for a deposit with the High Court, following in this respect the precedent established by the provi- sions of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, in respect of other accident assurance business.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider raising the question of discontinuing the Congo Basin treaties affecting East Africa, with a view to enabling East Africa outside the mandated area to enter more closely into the field of Imperial Preference?

My right hon. Friend is not in a position to add anything to the answers which he gave on 30th November last to the hon. and gallant Member for South Paddington (Vice-Admiral Taylor).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the salary of £5,000 to be paid to the chairman of the Tariff Commission and the £3,000 to be paid each of his two colleagues will be subject to Income Tax and Super-tax, or paid tax free?

I have been asked to reply. The salaries will be subject to Income Tax and Surtax.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of inaugurating an advertising campaign, by means of the Press or otherwise, to make better known the banking facilities now offered by the Post Office on the lines now carried out in regard to Savings Certificates?

I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to appoint a reorganisation commission for milk and milk products?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the retail price of milk in the city of Manchester on a convenient date for each week since 1st January, 1932; and, if there has been an increase in the price, whether part or the whole of the increase has been passed on to the producer?

I have been asked to reply. According to my information, the predominant retail price of loose milk in Manchester was raised from 5½d. to 6d. a quart at the beginning of January and remained at 6d. until 27th February; on 28th February the price reverted to 5½d. For bottled milk the price has been higher, throughout, by ½d. a quart. I am unable to say how much of the increase in prices during January and February was passed on to the producers, but I understand that the majority of retailers paid increased prices for their supplies of milk as from December in some cases and from January in others.

asked the Minister of Health what are the regulations governing the prescription and supply of hypodermic syringes to patients suffering from asthma under the care of practitioners on the panel and needing such syringes for self-treatment?

The appliances in question are not included in the list of appliances contained in the Second Schedule to the Medical Benefit Consolidated Regulations, 1928, and cannot, therefore, be supplied as part of medical benefit.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take an early opportunity of making a statement on the policy of his Department with regard to the sanctioning of loans which local authorities wish to raise to carry out works, in order that local authorities may know to what extent and in what directions considerations of economy should govern their plans for development?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the circular letter issued in September last on this subject to local authorities. On consideration, I have seen no sufficient reason for any further communication.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in Stockport whose cases are being considered under the Anomalies Act by the court of referees, and how many have been refused benefit?

Up to 30th January, 1932, 1,836 cases had been considered by the Stockport court of referees under the Anomalies Regulations and benefit was disallowed in 1,604 cases. Claims are referred to this court from the following Employment Exchanges: Stockport, Poynton, Wilmslow, New Mills, Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Reddish.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of married women at Shrewsbury who have been disallowed transitional benefit under the Anomalies Act up to the latest available date?

Up to 30th January, 1932, the claims of 97 married women had been disallowed by the Shrewsbury court of referees under the Anomalies Regulations, Class (d). Separate figures for those who had applied for transitional payments are not available. Claims are referred to the Shrewsbury court of referees from the following Employment Exchanges: Shrewsbury, Bishops Castle, Church Stretton, Ludlow, Wem, Whitchurch, Oswestry and Ellesmere.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the shipbuilding industry to-day as compared with 1929?

At 25th January, 1932, there were 110,331 insured persons in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain. The corresponding figure at 21st January, 1929, was 53,323.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of cases dealt with by the public assistance committee at Shrewsbury, under the means test, to the latest available date; in how many cases have full benefits been allowed; in how many cases partial benefits; and how many applicants have been disallowed benefits?

During the period 12th November, 1931, to 23rd January, 1932, the Shrewsbury public assistance committee gave determinations on 1,012 applications for transitional payments. In 300 cases payment was allowed at the maximum benefit rates and in 453 at lower rates, while in 259 cases the needs of applicants were held not to justify payments being made. The figures include renewals and revisions of determinations and the number of separate individuals concerned is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the committee appointed to inquire into the incidents at Chittagong, in August last, has reported; and when the report is likely to be published?

As was made clear in the debate on 3rd February in the Bengal Legislative Council, it is not proposed to publish the report of the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for India what arrangements are made by the authorities to give first-aid and medical attention to those injured by lathi charges or rifle fire?

The reports received by me show that the senior officers present are always careful to ensure that injured persons receive attention, and, when necessary, are conveyed to the nearest hospital or dispensary at the first opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is by order of the Government of India that a hospital in Medura, where persons injured by lathi charges were given first-aid and medical attention, has been closed down?

I have no information on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give figures showing the fall or otherwise in the price of paddy in Burma during the years 1929, 1930, and 1931; and the present price of that commodity?

I am sending the figures to the hon. Member.