asked the Secretary for Mines what restrictions are at present imposed against British coal by the various countries importing such coal; which of such restrictions he considers discriminatory against this country; and what response has there been to his latest representations with a view to having such discriminatory measures removed at an early date?

Particulars of the restrictions imposed by foreign countries on imports of British coal were given on 13th May by my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. G. Nicholson). A modification has since been made in the case of France, the quotas having been reduced as from 15th May to 50 per cent. plus a further 10 per cent. which is held in reserve to be utilised if there is a demand for the coal. In reply to the second part of the question, the restrictions imposed on the importation of British coal by Germany are regarded as discriminatory. A further reply from the German Government has just been received and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is able to give any information as to the work during the past six months of the amalgamation commissioners appointed under the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and, in particular, whether the commissioners have during that period prepared or approved any schemes for amalgamation?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 3rd May to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain Macdonald) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of motor cat-drivers, insurance policy holders, who have been killed or fatally injured in motor accidents since the passing of the Road Traffic Act, 1930 and the number of cases in which the third party has legally been unable to claim compensation or damages from the insurance company owing to the death, through the accident, of the policy holder?

I regret that the information asked for is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many pensions on account of tuberculosis were discontinued for leasons other than the death of the sufferer between the years 1924 and 1931; and what is the number of pensioners in this category who have been certified as cured of tuberculosis during that period?

I regret that the records of the Ministry do not enable me to give the particulars asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the question of the adoption of a metric system of weights and measures for the Empire is to be discussed at the Ottawa Conference?

The whole question of the agenda, is now under consideration between the Governments concerned, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the India Tyre and Rubber Company, Inchinnan, is on the list of Government contractors?

I understand that each Department which purchases materials has its own list, and I am not aware of any general list of Government contractors. The company mentioned by the hon. Member is not on the list of firms from which the Board of Trade make purchases.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what was the cost of maintaining the activities of the Empire Marketing Board for the year 1931?

Until the Appropriation Account for 1931 is closed, the cost of maintaining the activities of the Empire Marketing Board for that year cannot be stated with complete accuracy. It is calculated, however, that the total expenditure will be about £455,000. This figure excludes a sum of £59,000 provided

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the cost of maintaining the legation guard in Peking, including the cost of the battalion at Tientsin from which the guard is drawn?

The estimated effective cost of the infantry battalion at Tientsin in 1932 is approximately £125,000. About one-fourth of that sum may be attributed to the legation guard in Peking.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office for what reason it is contemplated to transfer the Record and Pay Office of the Royal Tank

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of insolvencies for each of the periods 1st February to 30th April, 1931, and 1st February to 30th April, 1932, as far as evidenced by the aggregate number during each of these periods of the orders for the compulsory winding-up of companies, resolutions for the voluntary winding-up of companies on the grounds of inability to meet liabilities, receiving orders made in bankruptcy, and deeds of arrangement and deeds of composition?

The following table gives the number ofCorps from the barracks at Barnet where it is at present situated; and to what district the office is to be transferred?

The staff of the Record and Pay Office of the Royal Tank Corps are the sole occupants of the barracks at Barnet, and the question whether they can be accommodated elsewhere is being investigated. No decision has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the reports of the Board of Health for Scotland and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland?

These reports have now been published, and copies are available for Members at the Vote Office.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in connection with the scheme for giving training in sailing ships to naval officers and ratings, it is proposed to draw the instructional staff from those merchant naval officers who have had recent experience in sailing ships, or whether adequate experts for the purpose are obtainable from the present personnel of His Majesty's Navy?

The names of officers and men of the Royal Navy who have had experience in sailing ships or who volunteer for service in them have been called for. Applications have been received from Merchant Navy officers and ex service officers and ratings and are being noted.

asked the Minister of Labour the present statistical position with regard to the administration of the means test in Wednesfield, Willenhall, and Short Heath?

Statistics of the work of public assistance authorities in connection with applications for transitional payments are available only in respect of county boroughs and administrative counties, and figures therefore cannot be given for the districts referred to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the outstanding balance of £ 18,500,000 arising from the liquidation of German property has been paid into revenue accounts, and how much still remains unallotted and in suspense; and in what account does such unexpended balance appear?

Of the amount of £ 18,500,000, representing the outstanding balance of liquidated property credited to Germany, £ 15,750,000 had been paid into the Exchequer up to 31st March last. The balance of £ 2,750,000 is at present held by the Administrator of German Property and will be paid to the Exchequer under the head of Miscellaneous Revenue. There is no part of this balance which is unallotted or available for any other purpose than payment into the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum would be required to complete payment in full to the claimants admitted by the Sumner Commission, who have received only a portion of their assessments taking into account the extent to which they have received, or are receiving, compensation from other sources, including compensation in the case of claims for damage in France now being settled by the French Government and preserving a maximum limit to awards of £ 50,000 as suggested by the Commission?

The sum required is estimated at approximately £ 5,500,000.

asked the Postmaster-General the reason why the cost of sending letters by air mail from London to Brazil is 3s. 6d. per half ounce and only about Is., in terms of sterling, for the same weight from Rio de Janeiro to London?

The fee on air mail letters from this country to Brazil is based on the charges payable to the French Post Office, which maintains the air mail service to South America, and has been fixed at the lowest figure consistent with maintaining the service on a self-supporting basis. The minimum charge of 3.200 milreis (about Is. 3½ d on an air mail letter from Brazil covers the transmission only of an article weighing 5 grammes (about⅙ oz.). For a letter weighing ½ oz. the charge is 8.200 milreis, or roughly 3s. 4d. at the present rate of exchange.