asked the President of the Board of Trade when the necessary Bill to give effect to the convention relating to limitation of shipowners' liability and maritime mortgages and liens will be introduced?

The Bill is still in course of preparation and I cannot indicate when it will be introduced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the supplementary agreement, which was stated by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade on 11th March, 1931, to be necessary before the convention on immunity of state-owned ships could be ratified, has yet been signed by the Powers concerned; and whether a Bill to give effect to this convention will be introduced this Session?

Of the 19 Governments whose representatives signed this Convention, eight have not yet signified their approval of the supplementary agreement, and in these circumstances it will not be possible to introduce a Bill this Session to give effect to the Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can now make any statement as to whether the Empire Marketing Board is to be continued or not?

The future of this body and its work formed one of the subjects considered by the Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation, set up as the result of the Ottawa Conference. This committee has recently submitted its report to the several Governments of the British Commonwealth, by whom the report will be considered. Pending the result of this consideration, I am not in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can now make a statement with regard to the proposals under consideration for erecting new Government office buildings in Whitehall, with a view to concentrating the work of departments?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 22nd March in the Debate on the Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects have been arrested in Germany since 5th March, 1933; how many have been released without explanation; how many are at present in custody; and whether he is satisfied that proper action with regard to defence, compensation, and appeal of the accused persons has been taken in all cases by the local British representatives?

In reply to the first, second and third parts of this question, nine British subjects have been arrested in Germany since 5th March last; six have been released—in one case without explanation, namely, that of Mr. Mann, as regards which I have nothing to add to the reply given on the 1st May to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks); three are at present in custody, of whom one, Mr. Howard, is expected to be released on 6th May, and another, Mr. Gupta, who was arrested on 21st April, is expected to leave Germany on 5th May; while as regards the third, Mr. Fraser, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st May to the hon. Member for Broxtowe. The reply to the fourth part of this question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for India if the Government of India still levies the Import Duty on band instruments and officers' mess silver taken into India by British regiments ordered thither on His Majesty's service; if so, what action he proposes to take; and if he can arrange for a return of duty paid to be given to those units which have paid such duties during the last seven years?

Mess plate and band instruments are exempt from Import Duty when imported into India by a British regiment on the occasion of its arrival in that country. The exemption of mess plate dates from 1927 and that of band instruments from 1932. The question of granting a refund of duty presents con-

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Sir Alan Pim, in his report upon the finances of Zanzibar, put forward a connected scheme combining proposals for economy and further taxation; siderable difficulty and I cannot give any undertaking in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the standardised death-rates from diabetes per million living at ages of 0–15, 15–25, 25–35, 35–45, 45–55, 55–65, and 65–75, for each of the years 1900 to 1922?

The following table gives the best figures available on this subject:—what steps are being taken in respect of the proposals for economy; and whether, until such steps are taken, he will postpone the proposals for extra taxation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder, the majority of Sir Alan Pim's recommendations for economies have already been put into effect, and the remainder are under consideration. In the circumstances I see no reason to postpone the adoption of his proposals for additional taxation, most of which have also in fact already been introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his Department is taking any steps, and, if so, of what nature, to introduce the large-scale cultivation in Malaya of alternative crops to rubber, such as rice and foodstuffs generally?

The question of rice cultivation in Malaya formed the subject of a report presented to the High Commissioner by a special Rice Cultivation Committee in 1931. The most important recommendation of the committee, that a separate drainage and irrigation department should be established, was put into effect last year. The new department is reported to be doing excellent work in improving conditions in existing rice areas and in rendering new areas available for rice growing. The essence of the problem consists in the establishment of water control schemes, and the matter is engaging the continual attention of the High Commissioner. Efforts are also being made to encourage the cultivation of foodstuffs generally, and considerable extension of the areas devoted to such cultivation has resulted. Large quantities of planting material have been distributed from the agricultural stations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish his proposals, referred to his Excel-lency the Governor of Northern Rhodesia,

I have informed the Governor of Northern Rhodesia that in my opinion it is not possible economically and efficiently to administer a country the population of which is 99 per cent. native by means of a predominantly European Administration, and that I therefore attach the first importance to the training and use of native clerks and artisans. I have suggested for consideration an increased use of native clerks and constables.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been convicted in the United Kingdom during the last five years and sentenced to terms of imprisonment in excess of one year?

For England and Wales I think that the hon. Member will find the information he desires in appendices to the Annual Reports of the Prison Commissioners, which show in some detail the number of convicted prisoners received under sentences of varying lengths. The latest available report is that for 1931, which it is hoped will be issued to-morrow. As regards Scotland, I understand that the information desired will be found on page 6 of the Annual Report of the Prisons Department for Scotland for 1931.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered for employment at the Stratford and Canning Town Labour Exchanges for December, 1932, 1931, and 1930, and give figures for men and women separately?

The following table gives the information desired: