asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship caused by the action of his Department in refusing to supply surgical boots to disabled ex-service men who require them; and whether he will reconsider the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on this subject which was given to the hon. Member for the Ince Division of Lancashire (Mr. G. Macdonald) on 16th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the last available unemployment figures for the district of the Gravesend Division of Kent and comparable figures for a similar period in 1924?

At 21st March, 1932, there were 8,992 persons on the registers of the Gravesend and Rochester Employment Exchanges. The corresponding figure at 24th March, 1924, was 6,096.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air when the new machines for the African service will be ready?

I understand that Imperial Airways hope to have the new aircraft ready by the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the acreage under raspberries, and the number of growers, in Scotland and the counties of Perth, Angus, Fife, and Lanark, respectively, in each of the last five years?

The information desired, so far as it is available, is as follows:—

asked the hon. Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether there will be an increase in the price of a cup of tea in this House as a result of the duty on tea as imposed in the Budget?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty being experienced by student teachers in gaining admission to the training colleges owing to the restrictions placed by his Department upon the number of entrants to those colleges; and whether he has recommended local education authorities to take any steps to deal with the situation likely to arise therefrom?

Owing to the diminished prospects of employment in the teaching profession, the Board have felt it necsesary to impose some restriction on the number of students admitted to training colleges, and it is partly on this account that an exceptionally large number of applications for admission have this year been unsuccessful, though in recent years the number of applications for admission has always exceeded the number of vacancies. I am aware that some student teachers may be included among the unsuccessful applicants, but I would remind my hon. Friend that since 1926, following the report of a Departmental Committee, the Board have discouraged the appointment of student teachers, and that they now form a very small proportion of the candidates for admission to training colleges. In the circumstances, I do not think that I can usefully make any suggestions to local education authorities in regard to these or any other cases in which unsuccessful applications have been made.

asked the Secretary for Mines what representations he has received from British coal exporters regarding the issue of import licences for the monthly quota in Belgium en bloc to the association of Belgian importers of British coal; and whether he can make a statement on the matter?

No representations have been received from British coal exporters with regard to the question of taking over en bloc the licences for British coal imported into Belgium. I may explain, however, that this question has recently been under discussion between the Mines Department and British coalowners and exporters, and that the Department arranged for a representative trade delegation from this country to be received last week by the Belgian authorities with regard to the matter. The result of the negotiations is regarded as very satisfactory by all the interests concerned, and I hope that an announcement of the arrangements made will be issued at an early date.

asked the Home Secretary what is the average term actually served by persons committed to Borstal during the past five years; what percentage of those committed have been released on licence before completing 12 months of their sentence; and how many of these have committed a fresh offence while on licence?

Figures have not been taken out in respect of the past five years, but I have figures in respect of the two years ended 31st March, 1932. In that period 1,299 persons were released on licence from Borstal institutions. Thirty out of the 1,299, or 2 per cent., were released before completing 12 months of their sentences; and out of these 30, three are known to have been been convicted and have had their licences revoked, and another licence was revoked for unsatisfactory conduct.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the nominal total amount of the loans supervised by the League of Nations which have been raised in London for the benefit of Greece?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement circulated in reply to his question of 13th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before acquiescing in the flotation in Britain of loans issued in agreement with Frence under the supervision of the League of Nations, he will in future stipulate that the French Government shall allow French issuing houses to float in France League of Nations loans in the same proportion as they are floated here?

While the country gave cordial support to the financial policy of reconstruction, of which these loans form a part, it was thought best to leave it to the markets to decide as to the placing of foreign loans issued in furtherance of that policy. In the circumstances of the present time I think that principles such as my hon. Friend advocates command wide assent, and I shall undertake to convey them to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is proposed that the reduction in the salaries of all the highest employés of the State shall continue throughout the current year; and if not, what exceptions are to be made?

Yes, Sir. The reductions will continue, and no exceptions will be made.