asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any alterations in the tariffs of the Dominions have been made for the advantage of the trade of the United Kingdom since the Ottawa Conference other than those scheduled in the Ottawa Agreements?

Yes, Sir. Reductions in the duties levied in the Commonwealth of Australia on certain United Kingdom goods which were not covered by the Agreement made at Ottawa between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, were made in September last. I should add that, as I pointed out yesterday, the Canadian Tariff Board has only recently been constituted.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has made any representation to the Government of New Zealand as to the adverse effect on trade between this country and that Dominion of the additional 15 per cent. added to the exchange by a special Government decree?

No, Sir. The question of the exchange rates is not one in which representations could appropriately be made by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to His Majesty's Government in New Zealand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that German oats are being sold in this country at prices very prejudicial to home farmers: if these prices are due in part to any form of State action; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

I am informed that the prices ruling here for imports of oats from Germany (which are now relatively small in proportion to imports from other sources) have recently been somewhat higher than those ruling for imports from elsewhere. The second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that some of the largest timber firms in Finland pay their workmen a wage of less than 1s. 6d. a day; and will he take this fact into consideration when negotiating a treaty which aims at facilitating the import of Finnish goods into this country?

Our object in these negotiations will be to promote the export trade of the United Kingdom and so to safeguard or improve the standard of living of our own workers. All facts relevant to this will be taken into consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade as to the progress being made in the negotiations now taking place between the British Government and the Government of Finland, with a view to making a trade agreement between the two countries?

Statements have been exchanged outlining the Finnish and the United Kingdom points of view respectively, but detailed negotiations have not yet begun.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of those British Colonies which may, and yet do not, grant preferences to the United Kingdom?

The Colonies in question are Saint Helena and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, where the principle of Imperial Preference has been accepted and the legislation is in process of being drafted, the Cayman Islands, where the matter is now being examined, and Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether and, if so, how he proposes to consult, in each case, direct representatives of the adult population of those British Colonies which are precluded by international treaty from granting preferences, before any decision is come to with regard to the abrogation of such treaties?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to overrule the Ceylon State Council whose action in refusing preference to the chief imports from Britain has resulted in the export trade in Lancashire cotton piece-goods to Ceylon being threatened with extinction?

Under the constitution, the decision of the State Council of Ceylon in this matter could only be overridden if the Governor of the Island considered such action to be "of paramount importance to the public interest." As announced in a communication issued to the Press on 6th February, I have informed the Governor that, in view of the action of the State Council, His Majesty's Government must reserve their right to reconsider the scope and scale of the preferences granted to Ceylon by the United Kingdom during the past year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and description in the trade of the United Kingdom of imports from, exports (domestic produce), and re-exports of merchandise to, each colony of foreign Powers in Africa, excluding mandated territories, which are precluded by international treaty from granting preferences, for 1929, 1930 and 1931, respectively; and the corresponding total values for such Colonies in the trade of the United Kingdom?

The colonies of foreign Powers in Africa (excluding mandated territories) which are precluded by international treaty from granting preferences are the Belgian Congo, the French Ivory Coast, Dahomey and the following parts of French Equatorial Africa and Portuguese West Africa: the Middle Congo, part of Ubangi-Shari, part of Gaboon, Cabinda and part of Angola. Except in respect of the Belgian Congo, it is not possible to furnish details of the trade of the United Kingdom with these territories, as separate particulars in respect of each territory are not recorded in the trade returns of this country. The hon. Member will find in Volume IV of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for 1931 detailed particulars of our import, export and re-export trade during 1929, 1930 and 1931 with French West and Equatorial Africa as a whole, Portuguese West Africa as a whole, and the Belgian Congo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will communicate to the House the replies of the Governments of Holland and Belgium to communications of His Majesty's Government with reference to the tariff convention concluded by the Governments of Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg in July last?

Both the Belgian and Netherlands Governments expressed regret that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom felt unable to accept the invitation to become a party to the Convention. Further, both Governments made the suggestion that the representatives of His Majesty's Government and of the parties to the Convention might with advantage exchange views regarding alternative methods of achieving a reduction in tariff barriers. His Majesty's Government did not feel able to adopt this method of procedure, as the whole question of the steps which may be taken for this purpose and for securing generally a freer flow of trade was being discussed at Geneva by the Preparatory Commission of Experts for the Monetary and Economic Conference, and will be further discussed by Governments when the Conference meets.

asked the Secretary for Mines what has been the cost for the last 12 months of the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission; and what results have been achieved?

I have been asked to reply. The cost of the Commission, during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1933, was £17,618. With regard to the second part of the question, the hon. and gallant Member will be aware that the task with which the Commission has been charged by Parliament is an extremely complex one, and there is, as yet, no objective test by which it is possible to measure the value of the Commission's work.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has any information available for the public as to the relative heating value of different types of coal and coke?

I have been asked to reply. In considering the heating value of the fuels mentioned it is necessary to have regard not only to the class of coal or coke, but also to the conditions under which these fuels are used. So far as these factors concern domestic heating, and I assume my hon. Friend has this more particularly in mind, they are dealt with in certain publications issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. My hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines is sending him a list of these publications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the existing water supply of the Colony of Trinidad; and whether, in view of the importance of adequate water supply to the health of the community, he will consider putting into force the Quare River scheme or some similar scheme for the amelioration of the water supply?

Yes, Sir. The Governor of Trinidad has been authorised to proceed with the scheme, and the necessary arrangments for beginning the works are in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will issue as a White Paper the Kenya Native Lands Trust Ordinance, 1930, and rules thereunder, and the amending Ordinance, 1932?

No, Sir. Copies of these Ordinances are available for reference in the Library of the House in accordance with the undertaking I gave. They are also available in the Colonial Office Library; they may also be purchased from the Crown Agents for the Colonies. I do not think the expense of reprinting them as a White Paper would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that no lease or licence will be approved under the Native Lands Trust Ordinance, 1930, Section 7, which has been objected to by the local native council or by any African member of the local board concerned?

:No, Sir. The section to which the hon. Member refers provides that a lease or licence so objected to shall not be granted without the prior approval of the Secretary of State. I propose to retain the discretion which is vested in me by the Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the observations by Sir Sydney Armitage-Smith in his report on a financial mission to Tanganyika, presented to Parliament, on the consequences to Tanganyika of the Customs agreement with Kenya and Uganda, and his conclusion that Tanganyika should cease to deplete her revenue by protecting the products of her neighbours; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Before coming to any decision, I propose to await the recommendations of the East African Governors' Conference, which meets at Entebbe on the 20th of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a concession for the development of the iron-ore deposits at Mirampa, Sierra Leone, has been granted by the paramount chief; if he will state the name of the concessionaire; and whether the concession was granted after consultation with, upon the advice of, and in full agreement with His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir. The concession was granted in 1927 with the knowledge and consent of His Majesty's Government. It is held by the Sierra Leone Development Company, who are now engaged on the exploitation of the deposits.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the amounts expended to date on Empire settlement by the British Government and the Governments of the Dominions and Colonies under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, giving each year separately?

:The expenditure by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, to 31st December, 1932, the latest convenient date, is as follows:

Financial Year.	£
1922–3	35,464
1923–4	424,479
1924–5	423,622
1925–6	569,875
1926–7	1,128,896
1927–8	1,282,906
1928–9	1,139,620
1929–30	884,238
1930–31	485,228
1931–32	149,056
1932–33 (nine months to 31st December, 1932)	50,287

Detailed information is not available as to the amount of the expenditure incurred by other Governments, but the hon. and gallant Member will be aware that under the terms of the Act, any expenditure by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom must be incurred in respect of agreed schemes and must not exceed in any case half the expenses of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the arrest of two Indonesian political refugees, Jemal-ed-Din Tamin and Tan Malakka, in Singapore and Hong Kong, respectively; on what charge these Indonesians were arrested; and whether their extradition was duly applied for by the Netherlands authorities before they were handed over to the Netherlands Indian authorities?

The Governor of Hong Kong has reported that he issued a summary deportation order against Tan Malakka, who was arrested under the powers conferred on the Governor-in-Council under the Deportation (Amendment) Ordinance, 1931, in the case of aliens. Tan Malakka was not extradited, nor was he handed over to the Netherlands East Indian authorities, but he left Hong Kong for Foochow in China. I have no information regarding any deportation in the case of Jemal-ed-Din Tamin, but I will make inquiries regarding him.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the amount borne on the War Office Votes that has been spent on the Singapore base to the latest available date?

The amount expended up to date from Army funds on the Singapore base defences is approximately £600,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of industrial employés engaged in the various departments of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, on 1st January, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933?

The numbers of employés of industrial grades, male and female, employed by the various War Department establishments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, on 1st January in each of the years 1929–33 were:

1929	…	…	…	…	9,121
1930	…	…	…	…	9,044
1931	…	…	…	…	8,817
1932	…	…	…	…	8,703
1933	…	…	…	…	8,260

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now any further information regarding an improvement in relations between Poland and Lithuania likely to result in the reopening of the Polish-Lithuanian frontier?

The question of the resumption of timber floating on the River Niemen, which is, I presume, the matter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, continues to engage the attention of the two Governments concerned. I regret, however, that so far as I am aware no agreement is yet in sight.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total amount of expenses incurred by the Government in connection with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's concession?

The only special expenditure incurred by His Majesty's Government in connection with the dispute with the Persian Government regarding the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's concession amounted to approximately £200, being the expenses of sending officials to Geneva in connection with the presentation of the ease of His Majesty's Government to the Council of the League of Nations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will agree, in view of the general establishment of the long-service members of the typing staff, that the four typists employed on House of Commons work in connection with the OFFICIAL REPORT, all of whom have had considerable periods of service, should be established in their work?

The position of these typists in relation to paragraph 26 of the report of the Temporary Staffs Committee (1932) is under consideration, and I will in due course inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of standard barrels of beer brewed upon which duty is payable for the years ended 30th September, 1931, and 30th September, 1932?

The numbers of standard barrels brewed and charged with Excise Duty in the period ended 30th September, 1931, were and in the corresponding period ended 30th September, 1932, 13,642,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total receipts from Beer Duty for the 12 months ended 30th September, 1932, compared with the corresponding receipts for the 12 months ended 30th September, 1931?

The total receipts from the Beer Duty in the two periods mentioned were respectively £77,606,000 in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1932, and £73,401,000 in the corresponding period ended 30th September, 1931.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses which have been put in hand since he announced the cessation of subsidies; and how this figure compares with the total of such houses put in hand in the corresponding period of 1931–32?

I regret that figures in the form desired by my hon. Friend are not available, but the number of State-assisted houses included in contracts let and in direct labour schemes commenced by local authorities in England and Wales during the month of December, 1932, the last month for which such figures are at present available, was 4,576. The corresponding figure for the month of December, 1931, was 4,223. My right hon. Friend has no information as to the number of houses put in hand for erection without State assistance.

asked the Minister of Health the average estimated construction price of working-class dwellings which have been, commenced by local authorities since the announcement that the subsidy would be no longer forthcoming?

I regret that information in the form desired by my hon. Friend is not available, but the average building cost of State-assisted non-parlour houses included in contracts let and in direct labour schemes commenced by local authorities in England and Wales during the month of December last was £296. The corresponding cost for January is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total amount of loans applied for and granted, respectively, for public works in each of the six North Wales counties for each of the last 10 years?

The figures for loans applied for cannot be given without much labour. My right hon. Friend will supply to the hon. Member the figures for loans sanctioned.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total sum disbursed in public assistance in each of the six North Wales counties for each month in 1932?

I will send the hon. Member a statement giving the information desired.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to certain operations of the National Health Insurance Act, 1932, whereby those Contributors who were actuarily sound from 1911 up to that time now suffer owing to the regulations on Form AS 230 relating to stamping of cards during unemployment; and whether he will consider giving some special consideration to those contributors who have paid for many years and have only received nominal benefit up to the time of their unemployment?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the effect of the National Health Insurance Act, 1932, to which my hon. Friend refers, but he is afraid that he cannot see his way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, which would be contrary to the insurance principles on which the scheme of National Health Insurance is based.

asked the Minister of Health the figures of the standard year 1931–32, or any previous year, of losses on account of rates of the borough of Bradford aris- ing from the de-rating provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, and the amount of grant for the same period?

The amount of the "losses on account of rates" under the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, of the county borough of Bradford as at present known is £310,888. The general Exchequer grant payable to the county borough in respect of the year 1931–32 is, as provisionally calculated, £431,500.

asked the Minister of Health what action he intends to take with regard to the resolution from the Bellingham (Northumberland) Rural District Council asking him to amend the Rating and Valuation Acts of 1925 and 1932, in order to extend the periods between revaluation and thereby to reduce the expense thereof?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave last week to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Sir V. Henderson).

asked the Minister of Health the total amount of moneys paid out from post offices in Widnes, Lancashire, in the year ended 31st December, 1932, in respect of War pensions, contributory widows', orphans', and old age pensions, non-contributory old age pensions, and other payments under his control, including blind pensions?

I have been asked to answer this question. The amounts paid out in respect of Army and Navy and Air Force pensions and allowances was £45,070, and in respect of old age pensions and widows' and orphans' pensions (including blind pensions) £110,440.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any statement to make on the proposed Scottish Raspberry Marketing Board; and whether any modifications suggested by the commissioner have been communicated to the opponents, as well as to the promoters, of the scheme?

The scheme is being dealt with in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931. As the nominees of the promoters have intimated their assent to modifications made in the scheme, I am now considering, in consultation with the Board of Trade, the laying of the draft of the scheme before each House of Parliament. The modifications made in the scheme have not been communicated to the opponents of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of Scottish farmers who in 1932 were declared bankrupt or who signed a trust deed?

The number of Scottish farmers who in 1932 were declared bankrupt was 26. Information as to the number of trust deeds is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce any Order in Council implementing the recent decisions of the Scottish Educational Endowment Commission regarding the Marr Trust; and, if so, at what date he proposes to lay it?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the provisions of Section 21 of the Educational Endowments (Scotland) Act, 1928, which indicates the procedure to be followed prior to the submission of the scheme for approval by His Majesty in Council. I am now considering the views of my advisers on the Commissioners' proposals, and I hope soon to reach a decision in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India what was the index figure of the cost-of-living in India when the Lee Commission recommended the present salaries of the superior services, the index figure when the 10 per cent. cut was imposed, and the index figure at the present time?

The working class cost-of-living index figure for Bombay at the required dates was as follows (July, 1914=100):

April, 1924	150
January, 1932	110
December, 1932 (latest figure)	110

This Bombay index figure is on the whole the most satisfactory figure maintained in India, but it is unaffected by variations in the cost of imported stores and cannot be applied without qualification to the case of members of the Superior Civil Services in Bombay or elsewhere.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how the prices obtained by the Forestry Commissioners for British standing timber of the different ordinary kinds of marketable quality at the present time compare with the average prices obtained during the first seven months of 1932?

Sales of standing timber by the Forestry Commissioners are negligible. The prices obtained by them for felled timber at the present time do not vary appreciably from those obtained during the first seven months of 1932