asked the Home Secretary the cost involved in providing special police assistance in connection with the transport by road from Walton-on-Thames to Barking of a piece of machinery weighing 116 tons; and whether the cost of such assistance is being charged to the road user?

It is not anticipated that any special police assistance will be required when the machinery mentioned in the question comes to be moved, and no question of cost therefore arises.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that in the motor accidents during the months of July and August last two-thirds of the motor drivers concerned were of ages between 16 and 19, he will take the necessary steps to protect the public against the dangers arising from the inexperience of motor drivers of under 19 years of age?

My hon. Friend is misinformed. The ages mentioned in the National Safety First Association pamphlet, to which no doubt he refers, were 16 and 29. It is stated in the same pamphlet that half of the motor drivers involved bad over five years' driving experience, and one-third had between one and five years.

asked the Minister of Transport what precautions to prevent accidents were taken by the representatives of the Ministry present at the opening of the new western boulevard at Nottingham on 21st November last, when a motor cyclist named Andrew Knight was rendered unconscious by being thrown from his cycle as a result of an accident between two other motor vehicles in the Minister of Transport's procession?

The arrangements were in the hands of the corporation, whose guest the Minister was. They were satisfactory, and I am also informed that the vehicle with which the motor cycle collided was not connected in any way with the official proceedings. I am happy to add that the motor cyclist is reported to have suffered only minor injuries and to be quite recovered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that many farmers returned their wheat quota certificates before they were aware that a percentage of the grant would be paid on 31st December; and what is the procedure for farmers who require a grant on that day and who have not given notice?

Every registered grower who has lodged with the Wheat Commission, on or before Wednesday next, 30th November, a wheat certificate (having signed the form of claim on the back of the certificate) becomes automatically eligible for the advance on account of the deficiency payment to be made on 31st December. I am aware that many registered growers forwarded their certificates before the Commission announced its intention of making this advance, but that will not affect their eligibility to receive the advance if their certificates are in order.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentage of the grant under the wheat quota will be paid to farmers by 31st December?

The Wheat Commission have decided that the amount of the advance on account of the deficiency payment to be paid on wheat certificates delivered to the Commission by 30th November shall be 3s. per cwt., equal to 13s. 6d. per quarter of 504 lbs. This payment will be made by the Commission not later than 31st December.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can reconsider his decision in the case of Mr. Arkey and reinstate him or, in the alternative, authorise proceedings so that the matters arising out of his dismissal can be judicially investigated?

I have given careful and repeated consideration to this case. I regret that I cannot alter my previous decision which was given after Mr. Arkey had been given a full opportunity of replying to a detailed statement of the case against him, and that I should not be justified in the public interest in reinstating him. I must continue to reserve to myself the right to decide in this and similar cases whether proceedings are commenced or not.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in recent cases the Post Office has refused to accept parcels addressed to Manchuria; and whether, seeing that such a restriction is likely to occasion inconvenience to British subjects resident in Manchuria, he will take steps to have this restriction removed?

I regret that it was necessary for reasons outside the control of the Post Office to suspend for a short time the acceptance of parcels for certain places in Manchuria. The service was restored on the 17th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Chamber of Princes is represented at the Round Table Conference now proceeding; and, if not, whether the Government will consider the views of that Chamber before putting their own proposals before the Joint Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament?

The Chamber of Princes is not represented as such at the present Conference, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, the Indian delegation includes a number of delegates from the States which are active members of the Chamber. He may rest assured that His Majesty's Government are always ready to take account of the views of the Chamber as well as those of other States which do not take part in its work.

asked the Secretary of State for India when it is expected that the telephone service between England and India will be in operation?

The completion of the installation in India for this service is dependent on certain apparatus now on its way from this country. The installation at this end has been ready for some time. If the necessary tests of the completed installations on both sides prove satisfactory, it is anticipated that the service may be in operation in the early part of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for India what proportion of the civil disobedience prisoners in gaol at the end of last month were in A, B and C class, respectively; whether it has been found possible to separate the C class political prisoners from ordinary criminals; whether young prisoners and first offenders are kept from other prisoners; how many of those in prison have been convicted of acts of violence; whether boys convicted of offences against civil disobedience are still to be sentenced to whipping or flogging; and how many such sentences have been inflicted?

At the end of April last 0.6 per cent. of the persons undergoing imprisonment for offences connected with the civil disobedience movement were in Class A, 4.7 per cent. in Class B and 94.7 per cent. in Class C. I have no later information. Except in Bombay and Ajmer-Merwara, where segregation is not possible owing to the structural conditions of the jails, civil disobedience prisoners are kept apart from the ordinary jail population as far as possible. When practicable juvenile offenders are also separated from adult prisoners. As regards the fourth part of the question, I have no information, and as regards the fifth part I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Bristol (Mr. Bernays) on 21st March. I am not in possession of figures showing the number of sentences of whipping inflicted, but I will obtain them.

asked the Secretary of State for India if, in connection with the recent election in Burma, he will state what percentage of the electorate voted; the number of votes recorded for separationist and anti-separationist candidates, respectively; the names of the constituencies in which anti-separationist candidates were returned; what percentage of the electorate is Indian; and what action His Majesty's Government now propose to take as a result of the election?

I hope shortly to receive the statistical information sought by my hon. and gallant Friend and will communicate with him when I have it. His Majesty's Government will await the outcome of the Debate in the newly-elected Legislative Council in Burma on the separation issue before taking any action.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the large sums of public money placed in the hands of the Radium Trust and Commission, and in view of the public concern that the money shall be expended to the best advantage, he will take steps to hasten the publication of the report of the technical committee appointed early this year by the presidents of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons?

The committee, to which my hon. Friend refers, was, as he himself observes, not appointed by me, and I do not think it would be proper for me to undertake to interfere with its procedure.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider making a grant from the Exchequer, such as was made to the Lord Mayor's Fund, towards assisting distressed areas to provide boots for school children during this winter?

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir; public assistance authorities have power when destitution exists to provide relief either in money or in kind.