asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made by the Prime Minister of Canada to the effect that decisions of the Canadian Tariff Board, to be set up under the Ottawa Agreements, will not be considered as binding on the Canadian Government; and whether, having regard to Articles 13 and 14 of the Agreement, he will make representations to His Majesty's Government in Canada?

I have read Press reports of statements made by the Prime Minister of Canada on 22nd November, but so far have not, received the official report of what he said. I feel sure, however, that His Majesty's Government in Canada will carry out fully the terms of Articles 13 and 14 of the Ottawa Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the export bond system is still in existence in Germany for rolled oats and pearled barley, and the periods for which this system has been in existence for these products and oatmeal; and at what prices rolled oats, pearled barley, and oatmeal are now being sold in Germany?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The order introducing the system for the products mentioned came into force on 26th October last. I have no information as to the prices of these products in Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of rabbits, living and dead, imported from Belgium during the last completed period of 12 months?

The total declared value of dead rabbits imported into the United Kingdom and registered during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1932, as consigned from Belgium was £101,633. Particulars of the imports of live rabbits into the United Kingdom are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when a foaling mare has been sent from England to the service of a stallion standing in Ireland, on her return to England with her foal (born in Ireland) at foot, both animals are allowed to be landed duty free?

In the circumstances stated, assuming that the question refers to the Irish Free State and not to Northern Ireland, the mare would be admitted duty free, but the foal would be liable to duty under the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Act, 1932.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the postmistress of Sheepscombe, Gloucestershire, is retiring; whether he will state the number of years she has been employed by his Department; and whether she will be eligible for a pension on her retirement?

The sub-postmistress of Sheepscombe is retiring at the end of the year after 23 years' service. She is not a full-time employé of the Post Office, and she will therefore not be eligible for a pension under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, when the proper authority on appeal reverses a decision of the Ministry of Pensions depriving the appellant of his pension and consequently of his discretionary allowances, the Minister will ensure that the appellant is paid such arrears of these allowances as may have accrued pending the hearing of such appeal?

My hon. and gallant Friend has, I understand, in mind certain grants made by the Special Grants Committee at their discretion under their Regulations by way of supplement to a pension awarded under the Royal Warrant. It is not the practice of the Special Grants Committee to make their grants retrospectively, though in exceptional circumstances they have on occasion made some concession.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can make any statement as to the reason for the delay in presenting to his Department the egg marketing scheme which is being prepared by the National Poultry Council and the National Farmers' Union?

The scheme to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was received by my Department on 3rd December.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement upon the raiding of a, gunsmith's shop in the West End by motor bandits who grievously injured a police-constable who tried to stop them; and whether, in view of the frequency of these offences, the Government can give facilities for the passing of the Banditry Bill?

I cannot usefully add anything to reports 'as to the facts of this case which have already appeared in the Press, and it would obviously be undesirable that I should make any statement as to the progress of police inquiries. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot express any opinion on the Bill referred to, which, I understand, has not yet been printed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, taking the whole Civil Service, he will give the number of persons employed who receive less than £2 a week (salary and bonus included); the number receiving less than £4 a week; the number receiving less than £5 a week; and those over £5 a week?

It is estimated that the numbers of whole-time non-industrial employés in the Civil Service (including men, women, and juveniles) within the various limits referred to are approximately as follow:

£2 per week or less	…	35,000
£4 per week or less	…	183,000
£5 per week or less	…	219,000
Over £5 per week	…	52,000

The totals in the second and third category include those in the category preceding them. I regret that similar information is not available as regards industrial staffs numbering approximately 115,500 on 1st October, 1932.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the report received in 1930 from the British Ambassador in Moscow in regard to the persecution of religion in Soviet Russia; and if he will ask for a report from the Ambassador on the further steps taken since the date of the 1930 report in regard to the persecution of religion?

I would refer the Noble Lady to the answer returned by the then Foreign Secretary to my right hon. Friend the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) on 5th March, 1930, stating the grounds on which it was decided not to publish the report in question. I am sending the Noble Lady a copy of this reply. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to change the decision then taken. As regards the last part of the question, we have been kept fully informed of all subsequent developments by His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries have, up to the present, failed to ratify the protocol of 14th September, 1929, concerning the revision of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, and when it is likely to enter into force?

The Governments of the following countries have signed, but have not yet ratified, the Protocol for the revision of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, which was opened for signature at Geneva on 14th September, 1929:

Bolivia.	Nicaragua.
Brazil.	Panama.
Chile.	Paraguay.
Dominican Republic.	Peru.
	United States.
Ethiopia.	Uruguay.
Guatemala.	Venezuela.
Lithuania.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries have ratified and what countries have failed to ratify the Convention for limiting the manufacture and regulating the distribution of narcotic drugs; and when it is likely to enter into force?

The following countries have ratified the Convention:

Canada.	Sweden.
India.	United States of America.
Persia.
Portugal.

The following countries have acceded to the Convention:

Nicaragua.	Sudan.
Peru.

The following countries, in respect of which the Convention was signed, have not yet ratified:

Argentina.	Hejaz and Nejd.
Austria.	Italy.
Belgium.	Japan.
Bolivia.	Liberia.
Brazil.	Lithuania.
Chile.	Luxembourg.
Costa Rica.	Mexico.
Cuba.	Monaco.
Czechoslovakia.	Netherlands.
Danzig.	Panama.
Denmark.	Paraguay.
Dominican Republic.	Poland.
	Rumania.
Egypt.	San Marino.
Ethiopia.	Siam.
France.	Spain.
Germany.	Switzerland.
Greece.	Uruguay.
Guatemala.	Venezuela.

At the meeting of the Fifth Committee to the Assembly in October last, the delegates of a number of these countries announced the intention of their Governments to ratify shortly. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have taken all necessary legislative action to enable the Convention to be ratified within the stipulated time limit, and have announced their decision to proceed to ratification. In view of the announcements made at the Fifth Committee, referred to above, it is hoped that a sufficient number of ratifications will have been deposited to enable the Convention to come into force before the date stipulated in the Protocol of Signature, namely, 13th July, 1933.

asked the Minister of Health whether the application from Southampton Corporation for a loan has been sanctioned; and whether he intends receiving a deputation from the corporation about the matter?

A deputation was received on the 28th ultimo. The, corporation have just applied for sanction to a loan to enable them to proceed with their scheme for the erection of a town hall, and the matter is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the number of reconditioned houses approved by his Department during 1931–32 for the county of Essex which, after alteration, have been possible of a maximum rental of £36 per annum; and the districts concerned?

The number of dwellings in the county of Essex reconditioned under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts, 1926 and 1931, during the 12 months ended 30th September last was 27. My right hon. Friend has no information as to the rents of these dwellings or as to the districts in which they are situated. The rents, however, are controlled by the provisions of Section 3 (1) (b) of the Act of 1926, and would not ordinarily approach the limit which my hon. Friend names.