asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can make any statement as to the results achieved by the British Exhibition at Copenhagen?

I am happy to say that the British Exhibition in Copenhagen which attracted an attendance of about 350,000 persons was exceptionally successful. I am informed by the organisers that the value of actual business transacted within the exhibition was in the neighbourhood of£1,000,000. Inquiries of exhibitors before the close of the exhibition indicated that as a whole they were highly satisfied with the results achieved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, under the new modus vivendi between Portugal and France, the 15 per cent. depreciated currency sur-tax on Portuguese goods entering France has been abolished; and whether, in view of the fact that the Portuguese escudo is linked to sterling, the French Government have similarly abolished the 15 per cent. surtax on British goods entering France?

The answer to the first part is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. A note has been received from the French Government regarding the 15 per cent. sur-tax and the question of the discrimination practised against United Kingdom goods in France both in the matter of the sur-tax and in several other matters of rather smaller importance is under active consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is estimated to have been the income of the United Kingdom drawn from overseas in each of the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, under the following heads: payment for exports of British produce and manufactures, earnings of the shipping industry, income from overseas investments, and receipts from other sources; with the totals?

In the issue of the "Board of Trade Journal" for 18th February last, there is given a table containing estimates of the net national income under the heads and for the years specified in the question. The declared value (f.o.b.) of the exports of British produce and manufactures is published in the Trade Accounts, but the payment made in respect of such exports during the years in question cannot he estimated. The Chamber of Shipping have published the following estimates of the earnings of British ships engaged in the foreign trade, less their expenditure in foreign ports:—1929,£130,000,000, 1930,£105,000,000, and 1931,£70,000,000 Sir Robert Kindersley, in an article in the "Economic Journal" for June, 1932, gave the following figures for the income derived from overseas investments, these figures being subject to the reservations stated in the article and to the qualifications made in the article in the "Board of Trade Journal" referred to above:— 1929,£230,875,000; 1930,£209,005,000; and 1931, a, tentative estimate of£169,561,000.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the annual value in sterling of exports, distinguishing re-exports, from Great Britain to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and of imports into Great Britain from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics in each of the years 1922 to 1931?

The following statement gives the information desired:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of officials, including police and customs officers, employed in the international zone at Tangier; and how many of these are British, French, Spanish and Italian subjects, respectively?

I regret that I am not in possession of the information necessary to answer this question, but I am obtaining it from His Majesty's Consul-General at Tangier, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend on its receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British representatives at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations will make proposals for offering international co-operation to the Chinese Government in restoring internal order, as recommended as a matter of urgency in Recommendation No. 10 of the Report of the Lytton Commission?

Until the report has been considered by the Council of the League of Nations it is not desirable that His Majesty's Government should define their attitude either towards the report as a whole or towards particular proposals contained in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for India the latest figures with regard to the imports of cotton goods into India from Great Britain and Japan, respectively, and the relation to previous imports?

As the answer contains a large number of figures, I am sending it to the hon. Member direct.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any report on the health of Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose; and whether this Indian leader is receiving special medical attention in prison?

Yes, Sir. Mr. Bose has recently been transferred to the King Edward VII sanatorium at Bhowali in the United Provinces. I have this morning received by telegram a report from the sanatorium that the illness is considered to be mainly of a dyspeptic nature and no active lung trouble can be detected. Mr. Bose is expected to become a walking patient in a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the minimum percentage of their expenditure on education which is annually received as a

asked the Secretary of State for India what decisions have been arrived at by the Government of India with regard to the disbandment of certain Indian battalions and corps headquarters, and the estimated saving to Indian revenues?

It has recently been decided to abolish the arm of Pioneers in the Indian Army. This entails the disbandment of three corps headuarters and seven battalions of Pioneers. The saving is estimated at about 22½ lakhs of rupees annually.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of students who entered, for the purposes of training for the teaching profession, the colleges and universities of England and Wales, respectively, for each of the last three years, including the autumn of 1932, stating the number who entered by payment of fees and the number who did not pay fees on admission?

The following table gives the latest available information as to the numbers of students admitted to universities and training colleges under the Regulations for the Training of Teachers. Owing to variation in the amounts of the assistance provided by the Board and by other authorities, it is not possible to furnish the information in the precise form desired.grant from the Exchequer by the counties of Argyll, Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, and Shetland; and what percentage of such expenditure was received, respec- tively., by the other counties of Scotland in the latest financial year for which returns are available?

The education grants referred to in the counties mentioned are not subject to any condition that they shall amount to a minimum percentage of expenditure. Each education authority in Scotland, as the Noble Lady is no doubt aware, receives a grant which is calculated in accordance with the formula applicable to all areas in terms of the Education Authorities (Scotland) Grant Regulations. In addition, the areas named in the question may receive additional sums which are determined on a consideration of the special financial circumstances of the area. As the answer to the last part of the question contains a large number of figures, I will, with the Noble Lady's permission, send her a statement containing the information for all the counties.

asked the Minister of Health whether an inspector of his Department has yet visited Sutton Oak, St. Helens, with a view to suggesting a remedy for the recurrent flooding in the Nook Lane area?

I have arranged for one of my inspectors to visit this area on the 27th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General when the stamp-vending machine, proposed to be placed at Box Hill Station, Dorking, is likely to be erected?

I hope the machine will be erected in the course of a few days.

asked the Postmaster-General the average cost of construction and maintenance of the ordinary street pillar box?

I regret that I cannot depart from the established practice of regarding contract prices as confidential.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the proportion of postcards bearing insufficient stamps addressed to Empire destinations is unduly large, he will take steps to ensure that the instructions that a three-halfpenny stamp is necessary on a postcard with an Empire destination are made more clear to the public?

Notices are already exhibited in post offices clearly stating that the postage to be prepaid on postcards addressed to Empire destinations is 1½d. per card. This information is also given wherever Imperial and foreign postage rates are set out (as, for example, books of stamps, and the Post Office Guide). I will consider whether any further steps are practicable to bring this matter still further to the notice of the public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any advance interim payments will be made to farmers by the Wheat Commission before Christmas; and, if so, on what basis the payments will be made?

The question of making advance payments to wheat growers on account of the deficiency payments to which they will become entitled under the Wheat Act is at present receiving the consideration of the Wheat Commission. An announcement on the subject will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average price of strawberries for each year since 1920 and the average price in 1913, showing for each year the percentage increase or decrease over 1913?

The seasonal average wholesale price of strawberries for each year since 1920, the average price in 1913, and the percentage increase for each year over 1913, are shown in the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour whether the policy of His Majesty's Government respecting preference for ex-Service men for posts in the Civil Service extends to instructors employed in the Ministry of Labour training centres; and whether he is satisfied that this preference is being observed in the spirit and the letter?

For posts as instructors at the training centres, my right hon. Friend's policy, which has been steadily pursued, is to give preference to ex-Service candidates provided that their qualifications and capabilities are approximately equal to those of non-ex-Service candidates.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive a report from the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan) on 20th October.

asked the Minister of Labour, if, in view of the varying standards for administering the means test set up by local authorities and the discontent caused thereby, His Majesty's Government will consider introducing legislation laying down guiding principles with a view to establishing uniformity so far as may be possible?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister on Friday last.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to a scheme adopted by a group of collieries in Durham whereby young boys intended for the employment of pony-driving below ground are given some preliminary training on the surface of the kind of work they will be required to do; whether he considers this training to be adequate and the example of this group of collieries in this matter likely to be followed; and whether the training scheme is continued below ground before the boys take charge of the ponies?

This scheme was described and warmly commended by the Chief Inspector of Mines arid Divisional Inspector in their annual reports for 1931, and is shortly to be the subject of discussion by the North of England branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers. The scheme, which, I understand, is supplemented by a month's training underground, is experimental, and it is too soon to express a final opinion as to its adequacy or ultimate results. The company deserves commendation for what is undoubtedly a big step in the right direction, and I sincerely hope the movement will achieve its object and spread throughout the coalfields.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has had further reports in regard to the utility of the experimental electric battery lamps fixed to the harness of the horses below ground; whether these lamps enable the horses to work with greater confidence and tend to reduce the liability to accidents; and whether he hopes to be able to issue recommendations as to their more general adoption in the near future?

Three types of pony lamps have been approved as safe for use in mines and a fourth type is about to be approved. The inspectors of mines are using their influence to encourage the more extended trial of such lamps, but further practical experience is necessary before it can be decided how far their general adoption would be desirable. The reports so far received, however, are favourable to the view that such lamps may assist in the reduction of accidents both to horses and drivers.

asked the Secretary for Mines the tonnage of coal conveyed by mechanical means in each of the 22 districts that are given in his annual report at the end of June, 1932; the percentage of each district's output that is thus conveyed below ground; and the general technical reasons that are responsible for any great disparity in the percentage rates among the various districts?

The latest information available relates to the year 1931 and is published in the last annual report of the Secretary for Mines. I am afraid it is impossible to deal adequately by way of question and answer with the very

asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of horses and ponies employed below ground in mines at the end of June, 1932; the number of horses used per million tons of coal raised in each of the eight divisions; the number of horses and ponies so employed in 1922; the number used per million tons of coal raised in each division in that year; and the general causes for the reduction in the number of ponies used in the several divisions?

The figures are given in the following table:complex problem raised by the last part of this question, but varying conditions of coal seams have a bearing on the point.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mechanical conveyors and gate-end loaders in use underground at or near the coal face at the end of June, 1932; the number of tons as well as the percentage of the total coal output transported by these mechanical conveyors and loaders at the same date; and the number of tons as well as the percentage of the total output transported in the same way in 1926, 1927, and 1928, respectively?

The latest information collected relates to the year 1931 and the information asked for, so far as it is available, is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of horses and other animals killed and injured, respectively, as a result of accidents in coal mines during the three months prior to 30th September, 1932?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the sum total of the Crown law costs in the Lord Kylsant case; and how much the Attorney-General then in office personally received?

The answer is as follows: