asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India are considering, or will consider, the advisability of consulting Provincial Governments with a view to remedying rural indebtedness?

I do not know what steps, if any, the Government of India are taking. The matter is one primarily for the Provincial Governments. The Legislature of the Central Provinces have recently passed an Act to provide for the setting up of Debt Conciliation Committees. I will, however, communicate the hon. Member's suggestion to the Government of India.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total of the rates levied in Wales and Monmouthshire by local authorities and the sums received by the Department of Customs and Excise during each of the last five completed years?

The income of local authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire from local rates during the last five years is as follows:

				£
1928–29	…	…	…	10,363,127
1929–30	…	…	…	9,142,659
1930–31	…	…	…	7,859,807
1931–32	…	…	…	7,741,000*
1932–33	…	…	…	7,721,000*
* Estimated figures.

I regret that figures of the receipts by the Department of Customs and Excise in respect of Wales and Monmouthshire are not available, and that I should not feel justified in present circumstances of giving instructions for the large volume of detailed work which would be required for their preparation.

asked the Minister of Transport the cause of the delay in improving the dangerous bends on the main road between Corbridge and Haltwhistle, in Northumberland; and if, in view of the lack of employment in this area, he will take steps to hasten on this work?

The proposals of the county council for the improvement of this road were recently brought to my notice. The scheme is a new one and the work is estimated to cost approximately £170,000. I regret that I feel bound to apply the very limited funds at my disposal in the first instance to the completion of works suspended in 1931.