asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts paid to the the Northern Ireland Government since the reinsurance agreement in regard to unemployment insurance?

The total amount paid to Northern Ireland under the Unemployment Insurance Agreements of 1926 and 1929 in respect of the seven years ended on 31st March, 1932, was £3,415,609. The payment in respect of the last of these years—1931–32—was £200,852.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the full cost to the Imperial Exchequer of the Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings at Belfast; the names of the contractors; and the respective amounts paid to them?

It is estimated that the total sum to be provided by the British Exchequer in accordance with Section 34 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, for the cost of the Parliament Buildings (including the site) for Northern Ireland is £1,150,000. A complete list of the contractors would be very long and I am informed that its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and labour. The main building contract (involving approximately £625,000) was let to Messrs. Stewart & Partners, Limited, of London and Belfast. None of the other contracts exceeded £50,000.

asked the Home Secretary the number of colliery companies that have gone into liquidation in Glamorgan and Monmouth from January, 1924, to the end of 1929; the number of such companies which had fully insured for compensation to be paid to injured workmen; and the number of men affected where no compensation was paid?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information for the period prior to 1927, but it appears from inquiries made by the Home Office that there were 51 cases of liquidation or other forms of winding-up in the coal-mining industry in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire during the three years from January, 1927, to December, 1929. I understand that in nine of these cases the employers were fully insured, and that in 37 others the compensation claims were fully met. In the remaining five cases there has been partial loss of compensation affecting some 750 workmen or their dependants. In one of these cases claims under the present Act were met in full, and the partial loss related only to certain claims outstanding for accidents which occurred before the Act of 1906 came into operation.

asked the Home Secretary if he will inform the House regarding the differences that have arisen between the regular Metropolitan Police and specials; and what steps he proposes to take in order to avert discontent in the force?

There have been a certain number of instances in which members of the regular police have shown resentment at the employment of the Special Constabulary Reserve on ordinary police duties, and representations have been made to me on the subject. The aim of the Special Constabulary—who give their very valuable services for nothing—is to assist the regular police and to act as a reserve in times of difficulty. It seems possible that this fact may have been lost sight of in some instances by the regular police, but I am confident that the good relations which normally exist between the two forces will soon be fully re-established. Steps have been taken to make it perfectly clear that any further instances of improper behaviour in this connection wilt be severely dealt with.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of bankruptcies in respect of farmers recorded in the county of Gloucester for the years 1929, 1930, and 1931 and for the first 10 months of 1932?

I have; been asked to answer. The numbers of bankruptcies of farmers in the districts of the Bankruptcy Courts of Bristol, Cheltenham and Gloucester for the years 1929, 1930, 1931, and the first 10 months of 1932 were one, four, none and three respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what countries give a bounty for the export of wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes to this country; and what action is being taken to counteract the effects of the bounties?

I have no complete information on this subject but I can say, generally, that several European countries give assistance to agriculture which may or may not amount in practice to a bounty on export. As regards counteracting measures, it is not possible to deal adequately with the Government's agricultural policy within the limits of an answer to a question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for figures of the importation of foreign steel for 12 months to the last cenvenient date?

Whilst particulars of the imports of steel and manufactures thereof from all sources are compiled monthly and published in the monthly accounts relating to trade and navigation, separate figures of the imports consigned from foreign countries are not readily available except for calendar years. Full particulars for the year 1931 will be found on pages 139 to 154 of Volume II of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for that year.

asked the Prime Minister if he will assure the House that the British delegates to the Geneva Disarmament Conference will not be empowered or authorised to take any steps that would have the result of placing British aviation under any form of international control or in any way jeopardising its free development in the future?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given to-day in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis).