asked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to state whether he will adopt the proposals of the Police Federation with a view to further economies in the police force instead of reducing pay and pensions?

As I informed the hon. Member on 11th February last, steps have been or are being taken to give effect to any practicable proposals for securing a reduction in police expenditure without impairing efficiency. The matter will come in due course before the Police Council who, under the Statute, must be consulted on several of these matters.

asked the Home Secretary what was the total number of young persons dealt with before the courts of summary jurisdiction for each of the ages from 16 to 21 during the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, respectively?

The numbers of per-song' aged from 16 to 21 charged with indictable offences whose cases were finally disposed of by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in 1929, was 9,440, and in 1930, 10,574. The returns do not further distinguish the age of the offenders, nor do they classify at all by age those charged with non-indictable offences. Figures for 1931 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the interests of small investors being undefended by the Council of Foreign Bondholders and those bond-selling firms who originally issued the bonds here, he will now appoint some financial representative of the British Government to watch the interests of British bondholders of the defaulted obligations of the Brazilian, Mexican, and Chilean Governments and of the municipality of Buenos Aires?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the terms of the reply given on 21st March to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Chester (Sir C. Cayzer) which are equally applicable in the instances to which he refers. His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the Council of Foreign Bondholders, with the assistance of His Majesty's representatives in the countries concerned, are taking every practicable step in the interests of British investors generally; nor have they any reason to believe that the Council of Foreign Bondholders makes any distinction between the interests of holders of large or small investments. My hon. and gallant Friend is misinformed in his reference to the municipality of Buenos Aires, as I understand that the City of Buenos Aires Five Per Cent. Loan of 1913–1914, the only loan of this nature quoted in London, is not in default.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries other than France, Germany, and Italy have applied to send delegates to the London Conference on the Danubian Confederation; and what reply has been sent in each case?

France, Italy and Germany were invited to attend the recent London Conference. No other Powers expressed a wish to be represented at the Conference.

asked the Minister of Health on the last convenient date the proportion of persons receiving unemployment benefit and transitional benefit payments, respectively, who are also in receipt of poor relief?

At the beginning of February, 1932, approximately 1 per cent. of the persons with claims authorised for insurance benefit, and 1.9 per cent. of those with applications authorised for transitional payments, were in receipt of poor relief. These particulars relate to England and Wales only.

asked the Minister of Health on the last convenient date the total number of men and women, and their dependants, respectively, receiving poor relief due to unemployment?

During the month of February, 1932, the average numbers of unemployed men and women (and their dependants) ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation who were in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales were:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position of the proposed legislation before the United States Congress prohibiting the business which foreign shipping lines have been able to develop successfully on cruises starting from American ports?

I understand that these measures are still before both-Houses of Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of each loan outstanding guaranteed by the British Government to the various Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandated Territories?

The loans outstanding on 31st March, 1931, were indicated on pages 82–84 of the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom for the financial year 1930–31 (House of Commons Paper No. 106). The loans issued by Colonial Governments since that date which have been guaranteed by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are as follow:

asked the First Commissioner of Works what appointment on the staff of the Royal parks and pleasure grounds it is proposed to make redundant when a vacancy occurs in order to effect the saving of £500 shown in the Estimates?

The saving of £500 is not connected with any specific post, but relates to the periods between the occurrence and the filling of vacancies in the park-keeping staff.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what work is done by the cinematograph staff of the Stationery Office and where the moving pictures are exhibited; and what are the duties of the technical adviser, receiving £929 a year, and the one operator and two women assistants that with him complete the staff of four attached to the Department?

The duties of the staff in question, which for reasons of administrative convenience is attached to the Stationery Office, are to assist Government Departments generally in questions relating to cinematography and to supervise the storage, preservation and use of films, of which a large number are, for a variety of purposes, in the possession of Departments. The moving pictures are tested and shown in a special room in the basement of the War Office. When exhibited to the public they are shown in the ordinary cinema theatres.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of Government officials at present employed under Part II of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and the total annual emoluments of such officials?

The number of staff at present employed, excluding the Commissioners, is 17; and the total annual emoluments of this staff are £6,738. For details of the staff and the annual cost I would refer my hon. Friend to the Estimates of the Mines Department for 1932—Class VI, Vote 6.