asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can furnish figures for the first nine months of the present year compared with the corresponding period of 1931, showing the percentage increase or decrease in the volume of export trade for the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States of America, France, and Italy?

Eliminating the effect of price changes, the volume of the domestic exports of the United Kingdom during the first nine months of 1932 was greater than in the corresponding period of 1931 by under 1 per cent., while that of Germany showed a decrease of about 30 per cent. As compared with the first nine months of 1929, however, there were declines of about 37 and 39 per cent. in the volume of domestic exports from the United Kingdom and Germany respectively. A similar comparison in respect of exports from the United States and Italy for the period in question cannot yet be made. Information in regard to changes in the volume of the export trade of France is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has called the attention of the Canadian and Australian Governments to the prejudicial effect of the use by many of their exporters of subsidised foreign ships; and, if so, what has been the nature of their reply?

I do not feel that it would be practicable to approach His Majesty's Governments in Canada and the Commonwealth of Australia on the lines suggested by my Noble Friend, but the question of the competition of subsidised foreign ships is engaging the con- sideration of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and of the shipping interests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will direct the Official Receiver to make an independent examination, with the assistance of the Government auditors, to ascertain the book-keeping methods by which the profit totals of Waring and Gillow during the five years 1925 to 1930 were arrived at, and to include the result of such investigation in the report to be made to the court, together with a disclosure of the justification for the declaration of dividends by the company during the same period?

The Official Receiver's duties in relation to the affairs of the company mentioned will include such investigations as may be necessary in order to arrive at a decision on the question whether there is any matter relating to the conduct of the business of the company which he should bring to the notice of the Court in accordance with the requirements of Section 182 of the Companies Act, 1929.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the insanitary condition of the houses in the village of Much Hadham; and if he has taken any steps to see that the local authorities remedy that condition?

No representations to the effect suggested have reached me. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.