asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of children receiving free secondary education at 31st March, 1924, for administrative counties and county boroughs, respectively, in England and Wales, and for London?

The figures are as follow:—

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of children receiving school meals for the latest date conveniently ascertainable; and the number at comparable dates for the past 10 years?

The undermentioned table gives the numbers of public elementary school children who received school meals during the first week of July in the years from 1922 to 1931, and during the month of July, 1932. From 1st May, 1932, monthly returns by local education authorities were substituted for weekly returns. The figure for July, 1932, is therefore not strictly comparable with that for previous years, as owing to additions to and removal from the feeding list, the number of children fed during a month is necessarily greater than the number fed during a single week.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the discrepancy which exists between the provisions made for the treatment of blind persons and those who are deaf and dumb; and whether he will consider taking steps which will ensure that deaf and dumb persons are placed on a level with the blind in respect of assistance given from public sources?

The report recently made to my Department and the Board of Education on an investigation into the conditions of the deaf and dumb in this country will shortly be published. In the meantime it is not possible to contemplate the introduction of legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the follow- ing information with regard to the employés of local authorities in England and Wales for each of the years 1928–29 and 1930–31 for trading and non-trading services, respectively, namely: the total number of officers employed; the total amount of salaries paid to such officers; the total number of servants (workmen) employed; the total amount of wages paid to such servants; and the total revenue expenditure of the local authorities?

The returns furnished to my Department do not enable me to give the information desired by my hon. Friend with regard to the numbers and remuneration of officers and servants of local authorities in England and Wales. The total expenditure, other than capital expenditure, of those authorities in 1928–29 was £405,933,477, of which £103,797,084 was in respect of trading services. The corresponding amounts for 1930-31 are not yet known.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, following upon the agreement arrived at with the Dominions at the Ottawa Conference, he proposes to take immediate action to stop or tax goods from Russia?

I can add nothing to the statement by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on 18th October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there has been extended to British goods the reduction from 1st August last of the turnover tax in respect of Belgian goods entering France; and, if not, what steps have been taken to remove discrimination?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Representations have been made to the French Government with a view to securing the cessation of this discrimination against United Kingdom goods, but no reply has yet been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the retail price of strawberries for July, 1913, and July, 1931 and 1932;(2) the monthly retail price of imported tomatoes and English tomatoes for the months of February to August, 1931 and 1932?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons disqualified in Glasgow under the Anomalies Act and the numbers at each Exchange in that area, giving separate figures for seasonal workers?

Statistics of disallowances of claims to benefit are compiled in respect of the various courts of referees and are not available for individual Employment Exchanges. The following table shows the number of claims disallowed under the Anomalies Regulations by each court of referees in the Glasgow area during the period October, 1931, to 30th September, 1932:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there is widespread resentment against the means test and Anomalies Act regulations among the unemployed and the general public; and whether he will introduce legislation to abolish the means test and repeal the Anomalies Act?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available information about comparative real wages in overseas countries

Statistics on this subject, relating to July, 1930, were compiled by the International Labour Office and published in the "International Labour Review" for October, 1930. A summary of the figures was given on page 404 of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for November, 1930. Since the date to which the statistics relate, changes in wages and cost of living have taken place both in this country and in the various overseas countries, but corresponding figures have not been compiled for any later date.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the expenses incurred in the use of boats engaged on the salvage of M 2 for experiments with amphibious tanks were met from the Admiralty or War Office Vote?

The only expenditure in this connection was the cost of loading and transporting amphibian tanks on board a naval mooring vessel, which was not at the time being used on salvage operations. This expenditure was charged to Admiralty votes.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners what is the acreage of land taken in the County of Glamorgan for afforestation in the last three years; what acreage has been planted and in what areas; and what further areas he contemplates developing in the county?

During the three years ended 30th September last the Forestry Commissioners acquired 6,144 acres in the county of Glamorgan of which 3,954 acres are plantable. The acreage planted at Rheola is 2,128, at Margam is 1,468 and at Llantrisant is 997. In the near future extensions are contemplated in the county amounting to 1,670 acres of which 1,177 acres are plant-able.