asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to a collision between two motor cars at Trentham on 2nd May, when a saloon car burst into flames and the occupants were only saved form death by a fire extinguisher from a passing car; and whether he will issue regulation that, in addition to public service vehicles, fire extinguishers must be carried on all private motor vehicles?

My attention had no been drawn to this accident, but I have made inquiries and understand that the fire was dealt with after the occupants had left the car. While I agree that in the interest of their owners it may be desirable that motor vehicles should be equipped with fire extinguishers, I do not think there is sufficient justification for me to make this obligatory by regulation.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons were in receipt of Poor Law relief on 1st August, 1931, and the figures for 1st May, 1933?

The total number of persons (men, women and children) in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales (excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals) on Saturday, 1st August, 1931, was 975,616 and on Saturday, 9th April, 1933, was approximately 1,330,100.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the extent of the investment of British Capital in Denmark; and what other circumstances account for that country's large favourable trade balance with us over many years?

I am not able to state the amount of British capital invested in Denmark. The explanation of the causes of the disparity in the balance of trade between this country and Denmark must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but I may point out that, while a considerable proportion of Denmark's imports consists of goods which are not produced in the United Kingdom at all, Denmark's exports consist almost wholly of produce for which there is a ready market in this country.