asked the Secretary of State for India the present position in respect to the recent disturbed condition in Kashmir?

Conditions continue quiet, and no reports of further disturbances have reached me.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the present position concerning the organisation of wireless broadcasting in India; whether the assets of the former Indian Broadcasting Company are still in possession of the Government of India; and the number of licences held in India for wireless reception?

In 1930, the Government of India acquired the assets of the Indian Broadcasting Company by purchase and continued the service from the Bombay and Calcutta stations for an experimental period of two years and at a considerable annual loss. They have now decided to maintain the service, but to take steps to put it on a self-supporting basis. I have no information as to the number of sets licensed at present, but understand that there were some 9,000 such sets when the Broadcasting Company closed down.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the princes of India have yet come to any decision with regard to the participation of the States in any federal constitution for India; and what communications have been made to the Government of India or to His Majesty's Government on the subject during the present year?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. A meeting of the Chamber of Princes takes place in a few days time. There has been no communication with the Government of India so far as I am aware, nor with His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that it is stated in the foreword to the report on the Sugar-Beet Industry at Home and Abroad, recently published by his Department, that this was prepared by two representatives of the industry itself and an official of the Ministry of Agriculture, he will consider the desirability of causing an impartial inquiry to be made at an early date into the whole British sugar-beet scheme on which future policy may be based at the conclusion of the subsidy period?

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, under the Wheat Bill, it is intended that a registered wheat grower, after selling his millable wheat to a registered miller, shall be able to buy back at market price either the whole or a part of his wheat from the said miller and use it or dispose of it in any way that may seem best to him?

Under the Wheat Bill there is no disturbance of the existing free market for home-grown wheat, and transactions of the kind referred to by the Noble Lady will, therefore, be possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate production in Great Britain and Northern Ireland of wheat, oats, and barley in 7930 and 1931, respectively?

The estimated total production of wheat, barley and oats in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the years 1930 and 1931 was as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) the approximate value for 1930 and 1931 of oats consumed on the farms in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where grown, and the value of the oats sold off farms;(2) the approximate value for 1930 and 1931 of wheat consumed on the farms in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where grown, and the value of the wheat sold off farms;

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement as to the recent negotiations that have taken place with the Dutch Government with a view to restrict-

The following statement contains such information as is available in respect of Great Britain. The latest year for which corresponding particulars have been published in respect of Northern Ireland is 1928.ing the output of rubber; and whether, before any agreement is come to, it will be brought before the House?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a Private Notice Question in the House to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will recommend the different educational authorities that teachers should be advised to devote some of their time to showing their pupils over the road at crossings which cannot adequately be policed?

My right non. Friend is satisfied that local education authorities and teachers are fully alive to the importance of doing all in their power to protect children from traffic dangers. The decision as to the method to be adopted in any particular case must depend on a knowledge of local circumstances, and he does not regard it as his function to make a particular recommendation such as is suggested in the question.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the annoyance caused by the use for heavy traffic of streets devoted primarily to the medical profession; and if he will consider taking steps to ensure that such streets be kept free of such traffic for the benefit of patients where there are alternative routes conveniently available?

I am afraid it would be impracticable to impose restrictions such as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that mails by the ordinary steamers are often delivered in Egypt before air mails which may leave only a day or so later; and whether he will consider the desirability of instructing his staff at post offices where air-mail letters are accepted, to give the writers full information as to the probable date of delivery of the communications they send?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, as a rule the air services to Egypt offer advantage only for correspondence which cannot be posted in time to catch the ordinary service leaving London on the previous day. I am making arrangements that the entry in the Air Mail leaflet will be amended so as to give to the public the information required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can given an assurance that before any credits are again obtained by the Treasury from foreign countries, as they were obtained from France and America in September last, arrangements will be made to secure the previous assent of Parliament?

I cannot give any pledge as to what course might be followed in an unforeseen emergency when prompt action might be vitally necessary. On the occasion to which my hon. Friend refers Parliament was not sitting, and its approval could not therefore have been obtained. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that no action was taken by the Government beyond its strict legal powers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that manufacturers are being placed in difficulties in arranging for the extension of business and entering into contracts owing to the uncertainty of their position under the Abnormal Importations Duties Act, and particularly No. 1 Order, which expires in May; and if he has any information as to when the advisory committee is likely to make an announcement of policy?

All duties imposed by Orders made under the Abnormal Importations Duties Act expire on 19th May. I do not know when the advisory committee are likely to present any recommendations to the Treasury, but I am satisfied that they have fully in mind the desirability of reducing the period of uncertainty as much as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give figures showing the amount of invisible exports in shipping, investments, insurances, and totals shown separately, possessed by Great Britain, Germany, France, and America in the years 1913, 1924, 1930 and 1931?

Comparable statistics relating to the invisible exports from the countries specified are not available, but my Noble Friend will find some statistical data of the nature desired for 1913 and 1924 in the publications dealing with international trade and balances of payments which have been issued by the League of Nations for the years 1910 to 1924 (Vol. I), 1911 to 1925 (Vol. I), and 1926 to 1928 (Vol. II). It is understood that the particulars for 1930 will be published shortly. The data for 1930 and 1931, so far as they relate to the United Kingdom, were published in the Board of Trade Journal of 18th February last.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from small-pox have been registered in France during the years 1929 and 1930, and for the first half of the year 1931; the deaths registered from small-pox in Russia during the same period; and the number of cases of smallpox registered in Spain in the years 1929 and 1930, to complete the tables dealing with small-pox in the recent epidemiological report of the League of Nations Health Committee?

According to the annual reports made to the French Minister of Hygiene by the Academy of Medicine, one death from small-pox occurred in France in 1929, and none in 1930; the corresponding report for 1931 is not yet available. I am unable to supply the figures for Russia and Spain requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the present state of the law with regard to the practice of abortion under the Act of 1861 with a view to amending that Act?

I am at all times happy to consider the state of the law with regard to any subject, but I am not at present satisfied that the law concerning this matter requires amendment.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fixing of full scales by public assistance committees in those cases where there is no income or assets of any kind or other circumstances to take into consideration, he can state the maximum scale and the minimum scale so adopted in different parts of the country, giving the name of the authority in each case?

There is no requirement that scales should be submitted to me, and I regret, therefore, that I am unable to supply the information desired by my hon. Friend. He will, no doubt, appreciate that scale figures by themselves are in any case misleading, since they are subject to much qualification and variation in application to the cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the date of the last application by the Chinese Government for compensation in the McBride case; and if he is prepared to give the reply of His Majesty's Government to the application?

The last application for compensation was made orally by a Chinese official on behalf of the relatives of the dead boy on 3rd May, 1930. The official who made it was informed that no liability could be accepted. It had previously been made clear to the Chinese authorities that a claim could, if desired, be put forward against Paymaster-Commander McBride in the appropriate court.