asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to conditions imposed by the Bombay Corporation in inviting tenders for contracts wherein they stipulate that intending contractors should use no articles manufactured in any part of the British Empire except where they are not available in any other part of the world; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this discrimination against British manufacturers and workpeople?

For the past 10 years the forms of tender used by the Bombay Corporation have contained a note that the corporation have expressed the opinion in the sense stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. The Bombay Corporation is autonomous in such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Government of India has been called to the action of the Madras Government in withdrawing the recognition accorded by them to the non-gazetted Government Officers' Association; and what action they propose to take with a view to regularising policy relating to labour and other employés' organisations in the public services?

I will make inquiries on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to state whether he has any information regarding the intention of the United States Government to pay interest on Liberty Bonds in other than gold currency; and what representations he proposes to make to the American Government to safeguard the interests of British holders of Liberty Bonds?

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 8th May.

asked the Home Secretary when the last Selection Board met to recommend candidates for posts as governors and deputy-governors in the prison service; and who composed the board?

The last Selection Board met at the Home Office on 24th March, 1933, and comprised:

• Captain C. A. L. Irvine, O.B.E., M.V.O. (Chairman), Miss H. C. Escreet, nominated by the Civil Service Commission.
• Mr. H. R. Scott, Chairman of the Prison Commission.
• Mr. A. Paterson, M.C., Prison Commissioner.
• Major M. H. M. Lamb, M.C., O.B.E., Assistant Prison Commissioner.

asked the Home Secretary the average age of members of the Metropolitan Police Force below the rank of sergeant; the average age on retirement; and the average pension awarded?

The average age of members of the Metropolitan Police Force below the rank of sergeant is approximately 34 years; the average age on retirement for the financial year 1932–33 was 46; the average pension for the same year was £146 5s. 7d.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has issued a warning, or will consider the issue of a warning, to British traders with North China and Manchuria indicating the extent to which trade is possible?

It is not considered necessary to issue a warning on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend. But the Department of Overseas Trade is always prepared to answer inquiries from United Kingdom firms regarding trade with North China and Manchuria.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the large increase in the imports of flour from France as a consequence of the indirect subsidy system which prevails in that country; and what steps he proposes taking to protect the British milling industry against this form of competition?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mrs. Runge) on Thursday last.