asked the Postmaster-General, if, in view of the surplus made by the Post Office during the financial year of 1932 he will consider a reduction in the present hire charge for the telephone and also a general reduction in the parcel post rates?

The surplus on the telephone account is small in relation to the turnover, affording litle more than a safe working margin, and I regret that it does not permit of any general reduction in the installation rents for telephones. The parcel post rates are at present unremunerative; and I regret that I am not in a position to reduce them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider a general reduction in the cost of telephone trunk calls or, alternatively, increase the present three-minute period to six minutes after 7 p.m.?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on the 7th of November, 1932.

asked the Postmaster-General what expenditure is to be allocated by his Department to the advertisement of British air-mail services in 1933?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply given on 28th March, to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on the same subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the latest situation regarding the officers of the s.s. "Nanchang"?

Since the answer given on the 26th of April to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. O. Lewis) news has reached my right hon. Friend that a further letter from the captives, dated 21st April, was received in Newchwang on the 25th April, stating that supplies sent to them had been received and that they were all well. A further letter, dated 24th April, has also been received from the chief of the brigands. Both letters have been communicated to the Japanese officer who has been deputed to deal with the case.

asked the Minister of Health the reason for the reductions in the expected sickness experience of spinsters and widows, as outlined in Table 2 of the Valuation Regulations of 14th April, 1933, in view of the fact that the National Health Insurance Act, 1932, does not reduce the sickness benefits of this class and that the Government actuary, in his report on the third valuation of approved societies, emphasises the serious nature of the increasing sickness experience of this class?

The financial basis of the National Health Insurance system, as amended by the Act of 1932, is explained in the Government Actuary's Report on the Bill (Cmd. 4073), a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. As indicated therein, it was estimated that on the basis of the rates of sickness and disablement experienced by unmarried and married women respectively during the period 1928–30 which were substantially in excess of the rates hitherto adopted a total contribution of 9d. a week would be required to support the benefits, as amended by the Act, thus involving an increase of a halfpenny a week. On the assumption, however, that the rates of sickness would decrease to, and be maintained at, a level of 10 per cent. below the average of these years it was computed that the existing contribution, namely, 8½d., could be retained.In the Table of the Valuation Regulations, to which the hon. Member refers, an overall improvement of 10 per cent. from the level of 1928–30 has accordingly been assumed, taking sickness and disablement benefits together, and the anticipated total saving has been appropriately apportioned between the two benefits. The hon. Member will observe, on comparing the rates in the new table with the corresponding figures in the Valuation Regulations of 1929, that while in the case of sickness benefit the new rates show small reductions, very substantial increases have been made in the number of weeks provided for in the case of disablement benefit.

asked the Minister of Health why he proposes to compel an approved society, under paragraph 2 (2) of the regulations of 14th April, 1933 (Approved Societies' Amendment Regulations), to inflate its benefit fund for current valuation purposes with the original cost of offices purchased in some cases out of small annual savings on administration account before the third valuation; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to see that such pro- perty in any case shall not be included at a figure in excess of its valuation market value?

The purpose of the Article of the Regulations to which the bon. Member refers is to enable the valuer to include in the assets of an approved society the value of any office property which belongs to the society. The Valuation Regulations, 1933, provide that in making the valuation, such effect shall be given to any depreciation in the value of the property as the circumstances require.

asked the Minister of Health the reason for the compulsory transfer to the benefit funds of approved societies, under paragraph 3 of the regulations of 14th April, 1933, of balances on administration account in excess of 1s. per member at valuation date; and whether he has had full regard to the limitations already imposed upon societies by paragraph 47 of Statutory Rules and Orders, 523, of 1930, and the absence in numerous cases of provision for superannuation of officers and staffs of approved societies on the lines of the statutory provisions applicable to officers and staffs of insurance committees?

The purpose of the provision to which the hon. Member refers is to render available for benefit purposes such balances in the administration accounts of approved societies as are in excess of their reasonable requirements for administrative purposes. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office in how many cases a Guardsman is acting as sergeant-instructor to a Territorial unit, inside and outside the London area, respectively?

There are at present 15 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the Foot Guards who are acting as Permanent Staff Instructors to Territorial Army units in the London area, and 23 who are with units outside the London area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the estimated amount of butter to be imported into this country per year under the quota restriction?

The Anglo-Danish Trade Agreement contains provisions which come into effect in the event of quantitative regulation of imports of butter, but it has not yet been found practicable to make arrangements for regulating butter supplies on these lines.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India will consider the advisability of removing the 15 per cent. surcharge on coal levied in 1931, having regard to the industrial depression in India?

I will inquire from the Government of India as to their views on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India if the Government of India propose to negotiate a trade agreement with the Government of Ceylon; and, if so, whether the Government of India will consider the advisability of including in such agreement a settlement of outstanding matters relating to immigration of Indian labourers, minimum, wages, and the status of Indians generally in the island?

I was informed at the beginning of April that the Government of Ceylon wished to send a deputation to the Government of India on the subject of preferential duties, and I understand that the Government of India will be glad to receive it. I am not aware of any matters outstanding between India and Ceylon of the kind referred to in the latter part of the question which are not capable of settlement through the ordinary channels. In any ease, I prefer to leave it to the Government of India to form their conclusions as to the appropriate methods of procedure in such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for India when it is expected that the report of the committee of experts appointed by the first Round Table Conference to inquire into the question of the reduction of British troops in India will be available?

I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the present strength of each of the university training corps in India; and what action the Government of India propose to take with a view to bringing companies up to their proper strength or, where necessary, arranging for the provision of additional companies?

The figures below show that satisfactory progress has been maintained since the reorganisation of 1927, and I am not aware that the Government of India consider that special measures are necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the League of Nations has invited the Christian Churches to express their opinions before 30th April, 1933, on the question of Easter stabilisation; and whether he will consider the issue of a statement with respect to the attitude of this country as expressed by an Act placed on the Statute Book in 1928 and by His Majesty's Government's representative at the Calendar Reform Conference at Geneva in 1931?

The communication from the League of Nations and the religious authorities was, I understand, sent in May, 1932, and His Majesty's Government are now awaiting a notification from the League of the results of that communication. His Majesty's Government have already made their position known by notifying the League of Nations that they endorse the declaration of the Calendar Reform Conference of October, 1931, in favour of the stabilisation of movable feasts.

asked the Home Secretary what is the position in regard to the Easter Act which was passed in 1928?

I can only refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Leeds (Sir J. Birchall) on the 9th December, 1932, to which I am not in a position to add anything at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the position regarding the taxation of co-operative societies, he will now consider publishing the minutes of evidence given before the Raeburn Committee on Taxation of Co-operative Societies?

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the disclosures in the evidence at the Guildhall, on 13th April, respecting the manipulations of Chosen shares by agreement, dated 26th June, 1929, with brokers and jobbers under the rules of the London Stock Exchange; and will he take steps to oblige the committee of the Stock Exchange either to construct safeguards to protect the public against the results of pool and syndicate price fabrications such as were disclosed in evidence or to accept a charter?

My right hon. Friend cannot deal with the hon. Member's suggestion while the case is before the courts.

asked the Attorney General whether he will now consider setting the law in motion against those members of the London Stock Exchange who were concerned in the Chosen-Harman-Rock agreement of June, 1929?

The agreement referred to in the question is one of the matters in issue in criminal proceedings which are at present pending. I am not, therefore, prepared to express any opinion as to the propriety of taking the suggested action while these matters are sub judice.