asked the Secretary for Mines whether the coalowners of this country provide pulverised coal for sale for commercial purposes; and, if so, in what districts are quantities available?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is possible to purchase in this country quantities of pulverised coal other than that which is produced in a foreign country?

It is the usual practice in this country for coal to be pulverised on the consumers' premises, and until recently there was no plant installed in this country for supplying coal already pulverised. One such plant has, however, been installed experimentally by a firm acting in co-operation with a colliery in Yorkshire. The plant commenced operations in September, 1933, and I am informed that already there is a fairly considerable demand for the fuel. As regards the second part of the question of the hon. Member for Abertillery (Mr. Daggar), so far as I can ascertain, no pulverised coal has been imported into this country.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total cost of the Coal Mines Re-organisation Commission to the latest date for which the information is available, and how much of this expenditure arises from the cost of preparing the recent schemes proposed by the Commission; and whether any part of the latter expenditure will fall upon the State in respect of those schemes which do not come into operation?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer that I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for North Lanark (Mr. Anstruther-Gray) on Tuesday last. As regards the second part, nothing has yet actually been paid in respect of inquiries which have been initiated since March last, although some expense has been incurred. I am not able to say how much. As regards the last part of the question, Section 12 (3) of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, only provides for the repayment of the cost of employing technical agents in those cases where amalgamations are effected.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total amount of the tonnage levy for the Miners' Welfare Fund from its inception to the latest available date, with the amount of owners' royalty for the same period?

From the inception of the fund to 31st January, 1934, the total amount paid into the Miners' Welfare Fund was £12,793,625. This amount is made up of £11,378,036 in respect of output levy and £1,415,589 in respect of royalties levy. From the same date up to 30th September, 1933, the latest date for which information is available (but excluding the year 1926 for which figures are not available) the amount paid in royalties and wayleaves (including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietors) was £69,796,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines, employing more than 30 persons, producing coal in 1920 and 1933, with the total output of coal in each of those years?

The total output of coal in Great Britain in 1920 was 229,500,000 tons, and in 1933, 207,000,000 tons. I am having the other information extracted, and will forward it to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he contemplates changing the old iron bedsteads and hard biscuit mattresses, at present in use in barracks, for more modern types?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Broadmoor Asylum Attendants' Representative Board will be consulted before any decisions are arrived at in connection with the possibility of stabilising the remuneration of the attendants' pay in the near future, when the general remuneration of civil servants is considered?

Discussions on the general question of Civil Service remuneration are at present in progress between the parties to the existing Stabilisation Agreement. Any representations on the subject which the Broad-moor Asylum Attendants' Representative Board may desire to make to me on behalf of their members will receive full consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider giving private milk traders in Scotland the same right to give rebate on milk purchases as is enjoyed by private traders in England and Wales?

This matter is primarily one for the Scottish Milk Marketing Board who, like the English Board, can, under the scheme, permit the rebate mentioned to be given. The existing contract under which the terms and conditions of retail sales of milk are prescribed by the Scottish Milk Marketing Board expires at the end of next month, and I understand that this question is now being considered by the board, in consultation with representatives of distributors, in connection with the next contract period which begins on 1st April. Meantime the situation is being very carefully watched.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reduction in the number of private traders carrying on the business of retail dairying in Scotland during the past five years and the number which have been displaced or absorbed by co-operative trading in this field?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of ex-Officer A. Honey, late of Wandsworth Prison; on what grounds was he dismissed; was he shown the papers or evidence against him in accordance with the regulation; who gave the information which led to his dismissal and was it supported by other evidence; and on what grounds was Mr. Honey not tried by a civil court?

Officer Honey was dismissed in August last for being in unauthorised communication with a friend of a prisoner, and for receiving money from this person. Letters addressed to the officer were received at the prison, and there is no room for doubt that they duly reached him. Two of the letters in question were read out to officer Honey at the inquiry, and the writer gave evidence in his presence. It would not be in the public interest that I should state the source of the information that led to disciplinary proceedings. The usual method of dealing with an alleged offence by a prison officer is by a disciplinary inquiry, and a criminal prosecution is generally reserved for cases where this course is considered necessary in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the amount of unpaid ground rent due to the Crown lessors from their Regent Street lessees up to September quarter day, 1932?

Ground rents accrued due at 10th October, 1932, and still unpaid in respect of premises in Regent Street, amount to £35,223 17s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Transport, if, in view of his refusal to accede to the appeal made by Motor Coaches, Limited, on 12th October last, because of their failure on that occasion to show different circumstances from those considered by the inspector at the inquiry on the previous appeal on 29th May and 1st June, 1933, he will publish the Report and recommendation of the inspector based upon that inquiry in May and June, so that these applicants for licences may know upon what circumstances and matters the inspector did report to the Minister of Transport?

I shall be glad to afford to any party facilities for inspecting the verbatim reports of the inquiry proceedings on 29th May and 1st June, 1933, which were before me when I gave my decision. It was, however, only in regard to inquiries held after 1st October, 1933, that I undertook to publish the recommendations of inspectors, and I am not prepared to treat exceptionally the reports of particular inquiries held before that date.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the use of the phrase, "No proprietary rights are claimed in this preparation other than the exclusive right to the trade mark," has the effect of avoiding payment of the Patent Medicine Duty on made-up medicinal goods; if he can give any estimate of the loss of revenue due to this practice; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a ld. stamp for such packages if of small value?

As regards the first part of the question, I would explain that the law provides for exemption from Medicine Stamp Duty in favour of known, admitted and approved remedies when sold under certain conditions by duly qualified chemists and druggists. I am aware that certain manufacturers have taken steps, one of which is a disclaimer of proprietary rights, to bring their preparations within the scope of that exemption, but I am afraid it would not be possible to estimate the amount of revenue involved. As regards the last part of the question, I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps are taken to secure that co-operative societies meet the provisions of Section 39 (4) of the Income Tax Act, 1918; whether any breaches of this provision have been found during the past two years; and what action has been taken in respect of them?

Sub-section (4) of Section 39 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, under which industrial and provident societies were granted exemption from Income Tax under Schedules C and D subject to certain conditions, was repealed by the Finance Act, 1933. As regards the year 1932–33 and prior years, for which the Sub-section was operative, the exemption was not, of course, granted to any society which was found not to satisfy the prescribed conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Czechoslovakian Government to devaluate the Czechoslovak Crown, with a view to increasing the exports of their country; and whether he will consider changes in the present system of drawing up British tariff scales in order to provide for protection against manufactured imports from countries thus depreciating their currencies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which was given to the hon. Member for the Dorset East Division (Mr. Hall-Caine) on 1st February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the latest figures showing any malnutrition in school children in the London area?

My Noble Friend understands that complete, figures showing the number of school children found to be suffering from malnutrition in the London area, during 1933, are not yet available. He can, therefore, only refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th December last to the hon. Member for North Kensington (Mr. Duncan), regarding the results of a special inquiry by the London County Council into this question. My Noble Friend will be happy to send the hon. Member later figures when they become available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of aircraft allotted for embarkation with the Fleet; how many of these are now abroad and where; and what is the number and allotment of the remaining aircraft of this country exclusive of the Home Defence Force?

159 aircraft are allotted for embarkation with the Fleet, of which 75 are at foreign stations—Mediterranean, China, East Indies, Africa, America and West Indies. The number of the remaining first-line aircraft of the Royal Air Force, exclusive of the Home Defence Force and aircraft in India, is 244, of which 169 are stationed overseas—in Egypt and the Sudan, Palestine and Transjordan, Iraq, Malta, Aden and Singapore.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a number of temporary clerical assistants of the highest efficiency who have been engaged on transitional payments work have been dismissed because of the expiration of the time limit for their service agreements; and whether he will now consider the advisability of these officers being taken over by the Unemployment Assistance Board as and when the change-over takes effect?

As regards the first part of the question, so long as the transitional payments scheme continues in operation, the engagement and dismissal of the temporary staff referred to is a matter entirely within the discretion of the local authorities by whom they are engaged, and who, no doubt, have due regard to fluctuations in the volume of work. As regards the second part of the question, I hope to have an opportunity of making a statement at an appropriate stage in the consideration of Part II of the Unemployment Bill.