asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the investigations into the practicability of distinguishing malting from other barley, with a view to an increased duty being placed on the former, have been completed; and, if so, with what result?

This question has been carefully examined by the Ministry, but my right hon. Friend regrets that it has not been possible to find a satisfactory method of differentiating at the ports between barley of malting and feeding quality.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres of land devoted to barley-growing in the years ended in June, 1930, 1931 and 1932, in England and Wales and in the separate counties of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire?

I have been asked to reply. The following statement shows the acreage under barley as returned on 4th June in each of the years 1930, 1931 and 1932, in England and Wales and in the undermentioned counties:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will refrain from pressing the national mark for home-grown wheat, in view of the fact that the wheat quota system now in operation makes such a mark almost unnecessary?

The national mark is not applied to home grown wheat but to all-English flour.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is cognisant of the recent investigations into the appliance known as the electrolethaler for the electric stupefaction of pigs before slaughter; and whether he will inquire into and report on the efficacy and suitability of the appliance in question, with particular reference to the period of unconsciousness produced by its use?

I have received some information about this appliance and shall be interested to receive any further reports from places where it has been tested. I have no funds at my disposal for any such inquiry as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the recent subsidence, due to coal mining, at Quarry Bank, Staffordshire; and what steps the Government propose to take, in view of the Royal Commission report on coal subsidence of 1923, to relieve the position of tenants in the coal-mining areas?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, the problem, as my hon. Friend is aware, raises many issues of a most complicated and contentious nature, and in the present state of Parliamentary business I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of its consideration.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of pits in the county of Lanark where work has been carried on on Sunday in the same way as on any ordinary day of the week since the beginning of the present year; whether his Department is informed of the practice by the owners concerned and approval given; and, if not, whether any action will be taken by his Department to put a stop to the practice?

I have made inquiry, but I cannot find that work has been carried on at any pit in Lanarkshire on Sunday in the same way as on an ordinary week day. I understand that pits in this district have generally been working a full week during the period in question, and that when Saturday is a working day, a considerable number of men are necessarily employed during the week-end to prepare the pit for coal-drawing on Monday. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the third part, I am sorry to say that I have no power to stop the practice to which the hon. Member refers; but I have no reason to think that it exists to any appreciable extent.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is now in a position to give the names of the committee he intends to set up to inquire into and study possible improvements in the equipment and practice for the prevention of accidents from overwinding in mines?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat his ques- tion in a week's time, I hope to be in a position to make an announcement regarding the constitution and terms of reference of the committee to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for India the verdict of the assessors and the judgment in respect of each of the accused in the Meerut conspiracy case, together with a summary of each judgment; for what period each of

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any action by way of appeal has been taken in connection with the sentences passed on the Communist prisoners at Meerut?

The prisoners have 60 days from the date of judgment (16th January) within which they may give notice of appeal. A telegram which I received on Monday stated that notice had not yet been given.

Subjoined is a table giving the sentence, the opinions of the assessors, and the date of arrest, in regard to each accused. I regret it is impossible to summarise briefly the reasons given by the Judge for his decision in each case. The sentences will run from the date of judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, seeing that the tenants of the larger agricultural holdings in Scotland are not assessed separately on their dwelling-houses, he will state the reason why the assessor for the county of Ayr has entered on the valuation roll for separate assessment the dwelling-houses occupied by smallholders under the Ministry of Agriculture?

From inquiries made, I understand that the assessor in making up the County Valuation Roll for the current year came to the conclusion that the dwelling-houses referred to should be separately entered on the ground that such dwelling-houses were not erections or structural improvements made or acquired for agricultural purposes. Five of the smallholders concerned appealed to the County Valuation Committee who upheld the view of the assessor. None of these smallholders exercised their further right of appeal to the Lands Valuation Appeal Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any action has been taken with regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Local Expenditure (Scotland) on the subject of the appointment of a committee to consider the consolidation of police forces in Scotland?

I have appointed a committee, the terms of reference of which are:

"To consider, having regard to the views expressed, and the recommendation made, on this subject by the Committee on Local Expenditure (Scotland), the possibility of dividing Scotland into a smaller number of police administrative areas or of consolidating contiguous forces without increasing the cost to the ratepayers of any area, and to report."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of teachers who left training colleges in July last, and the number who have so far failed to obtain employment as teachers?

According to the returns received from the training college authorities, of the 8,250 teachers who left the colleges last summer, 1,100 were reported, as at 31st December last, as having failed to obtain employment as teachers. This compares with the corresponding number of 743 for the same date in the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of refugees from the penal settlement in French Guiana who have landed in the island of Trinidad during the last two years; and what steps are being taken to protect the Colony against an influx of foreigners of criminal tendencies?

I have no figures for 1931, but the Governor of Trinidad has reported that 78 fugitives from French Guiana landed in the Colony in 1932. I am in communication with the Governor as to the most suitable way of dealing with the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give a list of all leases and licences granted under the Kenya Native Lands Trust Ordinance in 1930, 1931 and 1932, as submitted to him under Section 8, Subsection (4), of the Ordinance?

No return was received by my predecessor in respect of 1930. The return for 1932 has not yet reached me. As regards 1931, from the copy of the return which I am causing to be placed in the Library of the House, the hon. Member will see that about half the leases were granted to missionary societies; a few to the owners of saw mills and similar plant, and two or three areas were leased for the purposes of a sugar estate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Bill to amend the Kenya Native Lands Trust Ordinance was submitted to him by the local government; whether he suggested any amendments to the draft Bill and, if so, the nature of the amendments; on what date he approved of the introduction of the Bill; and what was the date of the introduction of the Bill in the local legislature?

The difficulties which ultimately gave rise to the Amending Ordinance were brought to my attention by the Governor in November, 1931. In February of last year I expressed the view to the Governor that, assuming procedure by way of lease under Sections 7 and 8 of the Ordinance was impracticable, I should be prepared to consider an amendment providing for temporary excision as an interim measure without prejudice to any recommendations which might be made by the Land Commission which was then about to be appointed. During the ensuing months much correspondence was exchanged between the Governor and myself as to the form and wording of the Ordinance. On 14th November last I telegraphed my approval of the Draft Bill, which was then printed and published locally on 6th December. It was introduced into the Kenya Legislative Council on 19th December and on the following day I announced in the House of Commons that I had approved the introduction of the Bill and explained its provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, under the Kenya Mining Ordinance (No. 1, of 1931) minerals obtained in the course of prospecting under a prospecting right are the property of the Government and may not be removed or disposed of except with the consent of the commissioner of mines; whether the proceeds of gold prospecting since April, 1932, in virtue of prospecting rights issued by the local government, still remain the property of the Government; if not, whether they have been disposed of with the consent of the commissioner of mines and under what conditions; and what is the total value of the gold in question?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. As regards the third part, I have no doubt that the gold has been disposed of in accordance with Section 23 of the Mining Ordinance, 1931. I have no very recent figures of the value of the gold won; the total output in Kenya during the first 10 months of 1932 was 8,112 ounces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many prospecting rights were issued monthly in Kenya between July, 1931, and 21st December, 1932; whether consent to the issue of these prospecting rights was given by the Native Lands Trust Board; by whom the applications were made; the dates of the meetings of the Native Lands Trust Board when such applications were considered and consent given; whether any African members were co-opted as members of tire board to consider such applications; and whether 'any conditions were attached to the grant of these prospecting rights by the Native Lands Trust Board and the nature of the conditions?

I do not know the number of prospecting rights issued month by month. But according to the most recent estimate there are about 800 Europeans in the goldfield, including a considerable number of women and children. All prospecting rights are accompanied by a permit issued by the Native Lands Trust Board. A copy of this permit is appended. I should add, however, that the terms of the form of permit are now under review by the Native Lands Trust Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he will publish, as a White Paper, the correspondence which has passed between him and the officer administering the government of the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya with regard to the discovery and working of gold in Kenya, and the measures to be taken in relation thereto with a view to the development of the gold-field and the protection of native rights?

No, Sir. In my statement yesterday, I informed the House very fully of the measures which have been taken, and the circumstances in which those measures were taken. I am sure the House will appreciate that it would be contrary to precedent and most inexpedient that correspondence between the Secretary of State and a Governor, much of which must be confidential, should be liable to publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Governor of the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya has co-opted one or more Africans as members of the Native Lands Trust Board (Central Board), in accordance with Section 3 (2) of the Native Lands Trust Ordinance, 1930; and, if not, on what grounds?

No, Sir. As I explained to the House yesterday, there are obvious difficulties in appointing to a board which is responsible for all the native reserves in the colony and which must take into account possible conflicts of native interest within a reserve a native who might be held to represent one particular tribe, or one sectional interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the sale of land to Jews by Amir Abdullah in Transjordan and, in particular, whether the administration, whether in Transjordan or Palestine, has offered any objection to the proposal?

It appears that negotiations have taken place between the Amir Abdullah and a Jewish group for a lease of certain land in Transjordan. I am now considering the matter, and I am not in a position at present to make any further statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of gallons of foreign cider imported into Great Britain during the six months ended 31st December, 1932, and the corresponding figure for the 31st December, 1931?

The total imports into the United Kingdom of cider or perry, not containing added spirit, registered as consigned from foreign countries during the six months July to December, 1932 and 1931, amounted to 1,958,000 gallons and 161,000 gallons, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the balance of trade for this country for the year 1932, distinguishing the value of imports, exports, interest on foreign investments, earnings of British shipping, and any other substantial item?

An estimate of the balance of trade for the year 1932 is being prepared and will be published in the "Board of Trade Journal," as usual, about the end of this month.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that Russia has placed an order with Germany for steel tubes to the value of £2,000,000; and further orders have been placed with German firms for machinery, boring apparatus, etc., value £1,250,000; that the German Government is giving long-term credit of 48 months dating from the day of delivery and not as hitherto from the day on which the order was placed; and whether he will arrange to give long-term credit so that we may get orders for heavy engineering?

I have seen reports to much the same effect as the statements quoted by the hon. Member in the first and second parts of his question, but I am unable to confirm them. As regards the last part of the question, I can only repeat that for the present the Advisory Committee to the Export Credits Guarantee Department are prepared to consider proposals involving a maximum of 18 months credit in connection with exports to Russia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to state to the House when work is likely to be resumed on the new Cunarder 534 in john Brown's yard in Clydebank

I cannot add anything to what was said on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the committee of British ship-owning interests called together at h is initiative to study the manufacture of non-inflammable varnish for use in ships; and when the committee is likely to issue its report?

I am informed that the committee referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, which contains representatives of shipowners, shipbuilders, underwriters and classification societies, has made various investigations into all aspects of the question of fires in passenger liners, including that of non-inflammable varnishes, and that the results are at present under consideration by a technical sub-committee. The wide scope of the question has involved extensive examination, but I understand that this is being expedited with a view to the preparation of a report at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider a proportionate reduction in the cost of parcel post rates, as it is found that goods sent through the post weighing from one to two pounds with packing increase the price of the commodity in some cases beyond the value of the goods and thereby restrict trade?

I regret that I am not in a position to reduce the charges for parcels at any point of the scale, as a reduction would unfortunately increase the loss which is at present incurred on the parcel post.

asked the Minister of Health the amount repaid for the last 12 months for which the figures are available on account of loans made to unemployed on test work?

During the year ending 31st March, 1931, the repayments of out-door poor relief given on loan in England and Wales amounted to £203,609. Separate figure; are not available in regard to the different classes of persons in receipt of out-relief.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the reso- lutions he has received from several rural district councils in Essex suggesting that a revalution, under the Rating and Valuation Act, every 10 or 15 years would be sufficient, he proposes to take any action or make any inquiry into the matter?

Local authorities are now preparing the second of the new valuation lists required by the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, to be made at intervals of five years, and it is desirable that consideration of the suggestion made in the resolutions referred to, which would involve legislation, should be deferred until it is possible to form some estimate of the results achieved by the new lists. I propose, however, to ask the Central Valuation Committee to furnish me in due course with their views upon the suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health whether his returns from the provinces show any increase in or any appreciable numbers of women or girl tramps?

Such information as is available does not suggest that there has been any considerable increase in the number of women and girl casuals. They do not ordinarily account for more than 5 per cent. of the total number of tramps.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is prepared to advise the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to use Gibraltar as a naval base for at least part of the Mediterranean Fleet; and if, in view of the amount spent on the dockyard and port of Gibraltar, he will extend its use rather than concentrate His Majesty's ships so much at Malta?

This question has been very recently investigated. Gibraltar cannot in present circumstances be used with advantage or economy as a naval base for part of the Mediterranean Fleet, nor would it be economical to extend the use of the dockyard, which is at present utilised for the repair of naval and mercantile vessels to the limit of its restricted capacity. The present Mediterranean Fleet is very much smaller than the fleets maintained in these waters before the War, when Gibraltar was developed to its fullest capacity. To divide the fleet into two parts, at its present strength, would seriously hinder the necessary programme of exercises and training as well as considerably increase the cost of maintenance.

asked the Home Secretary whether the National Film Institute has been set up; if so, what form it is to take; and whether any money has been handed over to it in connection with the Sunday opening of cinemas?

The Government have no responsibility for the formation of the proposed film institute; but I understand that arrangements for the establishment of such an institute are nearing completion. No sums will be paid into the cinematograph fund until the end of March next, and the answer to the second part of the question is accordingly in the negative.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will undertake that no grant will be made from the cinematograph fund towards the proposed national film institute or similar body until full and impartial inquiry has been made into the whole basis of the scheme on behalf of the cinema-going public and the numerous interests concerned?

Under the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, the duty of making grants from the cinematograph fund falls upon the Privy Council, who will take such steps as they think necessary to ensure that the object for which the fund was constituted is achieved.

asked the Home Secretary the scope of the investigations to be conducted by his Department into the imprisonment for non-payment of fines and for arrears under orders of the courts; and whether he will consider the question of imprisonment for debt and commitments made by the county courts; and, if not, what is the reason for the differentiation of policy?

The committee of inquiry which my right hon. Friend is arranging to appoint will be concerned with the subject of imprisonments ordered by courts of summary jurisdiction for non-payment of fines, of rates and of sums due under wife maintenance and affiliation orders. This subject is quite distinct from the subject of committals by county courts for non-payment of debts; and the law, procedure and general considerations affecting the police court cases are so different from those affecting the county court cases that it would be inexpedient to bring these two separate problems within the purview of one committee of investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, for the convenience of motor drivers, he will reconsider his previous decision and issue fresh instructions to the authorities issuing licences to arrange that motor drivers shall be advised in advance of the date on which their licences expire?

This question has been carefully reviewed from time to time, and I see no sufficient reason for altering my previous decision. I understand that the majority of licensing authorities are not in favour of the issue of reminders.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will be in a position to publish the statistics which his Department are collecting as to the causes of road accidents?

It is too early to make any statement on this subject, but I will consider whether it will be possible to issue preliminary statistics covering the first six months of 1933.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received a report from the traffic commissioner covering the Bradford area in respect to a breach of the Road Traffic Act by the Ryburn United Transport Company, Limited, Bradford, in failing to allow a lorry driver the necessary rest between journeys; and, if so, what action was taken in the matter?

The traffic commissioners are concerned only with motor omnibuses and coaches, and I have not received any report from them in this matter. It is reported in the Press that fines amounting to £45 with £10 10s. costs were imposed at. the Clerkenwell Police Court on this firm last month for offences under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, in connection with the running of a lorry between London and Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will be prepared, as stated in the preamble of the Humber Bridge Bill, to make a grant of 75 per cent. of the net cost of the Humber Bridge scheme?

As I informed the House a year ago, in the altered financial circumstances it is not possible for the Government to make a grant to the cost of constructing this bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what parts of the new East Lancashire road, Liverpool to Manchester, are completed and in use for vehicular traffic; and when the whole will be completed and in use?

In addition to two miles within the city of Liverpool, 18 miles out of a total of 26 miles in the county area have been opened to traffic, and it is hoped that the whole road will be in use by the middle of this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount by which receipts from Beer Duty for the nine months ended 31st December, 1932, fell below the receipts for the corresponding period in 1931?

My hon. Friend is evidently under a misapprehension. The receipts from the Beer Duty in the last nine months of 1932 exceeded those for the same period of 1931 by £1,039,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of standard barrels of beer charged with duty in the months of December, 1931 and 1932, respectively, together with the amount of duty charged thereon?

The number of standard barrels of home-made beer assessed to duty and the amount of duty so assessed in the month of December in each of the years 1931 and 1932 were as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give figures showing the total receipts from duty paid upon cider imported from foreign countries for the six months ended 31st December, 1932?

The amount of duty paid on cider and perry not containing added spirit imported into the United Kingdom during the six months ended 31st December, 1932, was approximately £7,670. Separate figures are not available for cider alone or for cider and perry containing added spirit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress has recently been made in the negotiations for the abolition of visa fees between Great Britain and the United States of America?

The number of visitors from the United States to this country in 1932 was about 85,000. I have no information on which the average expenditure per head can be accurately estimated; I regret in any case that, having regard to the present financial situation, it is not possible for His Majesty's Government to reduce the present visa charge. The matter is a complicated one and will continue to be watched. In this connection I would mention that, although the charge for a French visa for United States citizens is only two dollars there are further charges which raise the total fees in connection with embarkation and disembarkation at Cherbourg to approximately 10 dollars for first-class passengers. As the House is aware, United States citizens taking part in an organised tour to this country and staying not more than 14 days are charged a reduced fee of two dollars for visas.

asked the hon. Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will consider the desirability of establishing some pension system for the staff which will obviate appeals for charity on behalf of its old servants?

The Kitchen Committee will gladly consider any practicable scheme of insurance for the benefit of its staff; but up till now the temporary nature of the employment of almost all of the staff together with the age of so many of its members has proved an insuperable obstacle.