asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for unemployment insurance benefit whose claims have been disallowed during the last six months to the nearest available date, on the respective grounds that they were not normally in insurable employment or under any one of the disqualifications imposed by the Anomalies Act; and the number of cases in which by the operation of the means test benefit has either been reduced or completely withdrawn?

I am having this information extracted, so far as it is available, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the depression in the main industries hitherto serving the Ayr Juvenile Employment Centre, he is bringing to the notice of the advisory committee the desirability of training the younger generation for work of other kinds in which the prospects of employment are better?

The instruction given at junior instruction centres is not intended to train boys and girls for specific occupations, but to maintain habits of discipline and self-respect, and by giving general training and education to facilitate their re-absorption into industry. My hon. and gallant Friend will see, therefore, that the question of the adaptation of the curriculum at the Ayr centre to specific occupations does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to control the investments made by insurance companies so as to protect the interests of insured persons?

My right hon. Friend does not know of any facts which call for a general statutory control of the manner in which insurance companies should invest their funds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the intentions of the Government with regard to the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act extension?

It is proposed to allow this Act to lapse on 19th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the large-scale survey of farm management and technique and the factors which determine success in farming, which was initiated by the Minister of Agriculture in 1930, has been carried out by the universities and colleges; and, if so, whether any report or reports have been made to his Department?

A farm management survey covering the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire is being carried out by the School of Agriculture, Cambridge University, and I understand a report will be available in August. Surveys of a similar kind in other parts of the country had to be postponed on account of the need for economy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the proportion of bulbs now being sold by British dealers which are of Dutch production; and whether he can make it easier for those who wish to buy British-grown bulbs to obtain them?

No official statistics are available, but it is estimated that 80 to 90 per cent. of the bulbs sold in this country are of Dutch origin. I have conferred with representatives of the home industry, and am considering what further steps can be taken to stimulate production in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the use of speed boats on navigable rivers where no regulations exist; whether he will consider the desirability of taking powers to frame such regulations; and how many rivers there are which are thus affected?

I have been asked to reply. A few complaints on this matter have from time to time been received, but I have no information as to the number of rivers on which speed boats are used. As the hon. Member is aware, many of the principal rivers, like the Thames and Severn, are under the control of conservators who have wide powers under private Acts for regulating river traffic. On other rivers or estuaries not so regulated, notably the River Avon and those in the county of Devon, good rule by-laws have been made by borough and county councils for dealing with danger from motor boats and requiring them to be fitted with silencers. I am not aware at present of the need for any further powers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will grant the privilege of wearing plain clothes to all ratings serving on the Mediterranean stations in Malta whose wives are living in Malta?

If this concession is desired, a, request should be submitted through Service channels, when it will receive consideration.

asked the Home Secretary the number of deaths from street accidents for Great Britain, as distinct from other deaths by violence, in 1931?

The number was 6,690. It is included with figures which I gave for 1931 and earlier years in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Westhoughton Division (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 17th March.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the situation which has arisen in connection with the Sunday Performances (Regulation) Bill, he will consider the advisability of continuing the operation of the Sunday Performances (Temporary Regulation) Act for another year, meanwhile setting up a committee to investigate and report upon the whole question of Sunday performances with a view to obtaining a solution of this question?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 18th April to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Enfield (Colonel Applin), to which there is at present nothing to add.

asked the Home Secretary whether machinery exists for dealing with disciplinary offences by special constables; whether the officer against whom an offence is alleged may be represented by a brother officer or legally; and whether copies of all reports against him are supplied to him, as in the case of the regular police?

Yes, Sir. In the Metropolitan Special Constabulary there is provision for setting up a Discipline Board, consisting of a chairman and other special constables. It is the practice to select those with legal experience. The officer against whom complaint is made may, at his request, be represented by a brother officer. Copies of all reports against him used in the inquiry are supplied to him. The procedure to be followed in the county and borough police forces outside the Metropolitan Police District is a matter for the police authority concerned.

asked the Home Secretary the annual cost of the maintenance of the Metropolitan special constabulary, the number of full- and part-time officers, and their rates of remuneration or emoluments?

The present cost of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve is approximately £18,500 a year. Three officers and three clerks at headquarters and 21 clerks in the offices of the local commandants are paid salaries totalling approximately £5,040 a year. One commandant's clerk is employed part-time only, the officers and the other clerks full-time.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether collective fines in villages are still being levied; how many villages have so far been subject to such fines; whether such fines are levied only in Bengal or in other districts; and whether in every case the villages concerned were connected with terrorist activities?

Power to impose collective fines on the inhabitants of turbulent areas is contained in Section 26 of the Emergency Powers Ordinance, which applies to the Provinces of Bengal, Bombay, the Punjab, the United Provinces, the North-West Frontier Province, Bihar and Orissa and Delhi. Collective fines may be imposed on the inhabitants of any area who are concerned in the commission of acts prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order or are harbouring persons concerned in the commission of such offences. A similar provision is contained in Section 14 of the Bengal Emergency Powers Ordinance, 1931, which applies only to the district of Chittagong and is concerned with terrorist offences. I have no statistics showing the number of such fines imposed, but I believe that these powers have been used in a few cases only.

asked the Secretary of State for India what were the gross monthly pay and allowances of the following ranks of the Indian Army in 1892, and what they are at the present date, giving pay of rank and staff allowances separately: lieut.-colonel, in command of a cavalry regiment or infantry battalion; major, second in command of a cavalry regiment or infantry battalion; captain, in commend of a squadron or double company; and lieutenant, of eight years' service?

As a rather long tabular statement is required in answer to this question, I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of it.

asked the Secretary of State for India if the number of British officers of the Indian Army who have retired since 1st April, 1930, includes all or any of those affected by Army Instruction, India, 132 of 1931; of the new officers appointed during the same period how many were Indians, officers transferred from the British Army, and new entrants from this country, respectively; and how much under strength is the establishment of officers at present?

The figure of 253 given in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 20th April included three officers retired under Army Instructions (India) 132 of 1931. The figure of 227 referred only to British officers. One hundred and seventy-one were new entrants and 66 were transfers from the British Service. The establishment of officers of the Indian Army is not at present under strength.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total Income Tax collected for the last financial year was deducted at the source?

The exact proportion of Income Tax collected at the source is not known, but it is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of 70 per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of annual expenditure under the heading "Frais de representation" at the various diplomatic posts; and will he arrange that in future the amount is separately stated annually, in the Foreign Office accounts presented to Parliament, under the letter S?

I have been asked to reply. The total sum provided for frais de représentation to the Heads of Missions abroad for the year 1932-33 is £127,570. As regards the second part of the question, I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion and communicate with him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mrs. Farnworth, 10, Dorning Street, Blackrod, Chorley, Lancashire, a widow, has been informed by the Buenos Aires Southern Railway Company that unless she proceeds to reside permanently within the confines of the Argentine Republic before May, 1932, she will, under a recent decree of that Republic, lose all her rights to a pension in respect of the long service of her deceased husband in that company; and, if so, will he make representations to the Argentine Government with a view to the modification of the decree?

My Department had not previously heard of the particular case referred to by the hon. Member, but some other instances of the prejudicial effect of this decree have been recently brought to my notice, and I have called for a detailed report from His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have been taken to ensure compensation for the loss suffered by British subjects in the riots in Spain of the 14th and 15th May, 1931?

Yes, Sir. Six claims in all were reported to His Majesty's Ambassador in Madrid, and, after careful investigation, were first brought by His Excellency to the notice of the Ministry of State in Notes dated 5th October and 10th November last respectively, three of them having been previously submitted to the local authorities at Malaga by His Majesty's Consul in that city. In a Note dated the 28th November last the Spanish Ministry of State replied that they would point out, without any prejudice to the question of principle, that it would be advisable, with a view to a satisfactory solution being found in due course, that certain corroboratory information should be supplied. His Majesty's Ambassador complied with this request in a Note dated the 8th December last. No further communication having yet been received from the Spanish Government on the subject, His Excellency is being instructed to inquire of the Ministry of State how matters now stand.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain why, although the State of Rio de Janeiro has deposited Brazilian currency in a South American bank, no payment has yet been made in discharge of the state's obligations to British investors; and will he inform the Brazilian Ambassador in London that the continued delay constitutes a hardship on those British subjects who have invested money in the State of Rio de Janeiro?

I am informed that the State of Rio de Janeiro has made a deposit in its own name of 3,000 contos of milreis with the British Bank of South America as a currency deposit in respect of its 1927 sterling loans, to be held pending the completion of an arrangement with regard to these loans. I am further informed that negotiations are proceeding on this subject, and that any developments will be notified to the bondholders as soon as possible. In view of the proof of good will given by the State of Rio de Janeiro in making this deposit, I do not consider that the action proposed in the second part of my hon. Friend's question could appropriately be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communication be has received from the Egyptian Government with regard to treaty proposals between His Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government?

My right hon. Friend has received no communication from the Egyptian Government on this subject.