asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will be able to make a personal visit to the Levant Fair which is being held this year; and, if not, whether he will be able to send any representative or representatives from his Department?

I regret that it will be impossible for me to visit the forthcoming Levant Fair. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his question of 7th February, to the effect that the newly-appointed Commercial Agent at Haifa will visit Tel-Aviv as occasion arises, and will be at his post in time to attend the forthcoming Levant Fair.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will arrange for special facilities, such as free admission, to be given to shop assistants to visit the British Industries Fair?

I am afraid that the answer must be in the negative. The British Industries Fair being organised on a self-supporting basis, the revenue obtained from visitors is as necessary to the proper conduct of the Fair as is that obtained from exhibitors. It is, moreover, doubtful whether such a scheme as my hon. and gallant Friend proposes would be practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the number of law suits brought in this country against Japanese representatives in connection with infringement of trade marks and representation of Japanese goods as British; and whether he will protest to the Japanese Government with regard to this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, instructions have recently been sent to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo to make renewed representations to the Japanese Government with a view to the suppression of acts of unfair trade competition.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dis- content among tenants of corporation (1919) houses in Manchester at the lower rents charged to tenants of better houses built by the corporation under later Acts; and if any steps can be taken by which their desire for a rent tribunal under the 1919 Act or, alternatively, for a consideration by the Ministry of Health as to the reasonableness or otherwise of their rents may be complied with?

I have received representations in regard to this matter. The provisions applicable to the rents of subsidised houses provided under the Act of 1919 differ fundamentally from those governing the rents of houses built under later Acts. For the purpose of determining the amount of Exchequer subsidy, the regulations made under the Act of 1919 provide for reference to a rent tribunal where there is a difference of opinion between the Minister and the local authority with regard to any deficiency of income of the assisted scheme due to the insufficiency of rents charged. I have had a full investigation made on the subject of the rents of the houses built in Manchester under the Act of 1919 and I am satisfied that, having regard to the provisions applicable to these houses, the rents are reasonable.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have taken advantage of the Town and Country Planning Act; and whether he is taking any steps to expedite action in the case of those which have not made use of the provisions of this measure?

Resolutions to prepare schemes under the new Act have been passed for areas in the districts of 117 authorities and cover over 1,500,000 acres of land. There are, in addition, schemes covering over 10,000,000 acres being prepared for areas in the districts of 726 authorities on resolutions passed under the old Acts. Fourteen new joint planning committees have been formed under the new Act, of which 13 are executive; the Greater London Regional Planning Committee, which is advisory, has been reconstituted under the new Act. In the circumstances, I do not think steps are necessary to expedite action in cases where use has not yet been made of the new Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether any portion of the £9,485 recovered or in process of recovery by the Huddersfield Corporation on account of housing subsidies wrongfully obtained will be or can be returned to the purchasers of the houses for which the subsidy was wrongfully obtained?

No portion of the subsidies wrongfully obtained by the builders and subsequently recovered from them can be paid over to the purchasers of the houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to empower residents in districts where the normal water supply has failed to call on the appropriate local authority to provide them with an alternative supply; and what steps of a special nature are being taken to ensure that none of the water being consumed in these days of drought is subject to contamination?

It would be an unfair burden on local authorities to give any resident whose water supply has failed, even a private supply, a right to call on the local authority to supply him. My right hon. Friend has impressed on local authorities the need of taking special measures where necessary. There are few towns where up to the present there have been serious difficulties. From information received from over 300 rural district councils to an inquiry sent to each of them, it appears that in most rural areas either supplies are at present sufficient or special measures have been taken; my right hon. Friend is looking into cases of difficulty reported to him. He has also impressed on water undertakers in the recent memorandum sent to them the need of watching the purity of supplies and has indicated measures to be taken where necessary.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can ascertain, through the Industrial Insurance Commissioner, what the respective costs of the annual meetings for 1932–33 have been for the Royal London Mutual Insurance Society, Limited, the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society, and the Royal Liver Friendly Society?

I understand that the information asked for is not available from the returns furnished by these bodies.

asked the Postmaster-General what action, if any, he proposes to take with regard to the adoption by the Post Office of the 24-hour system of expressing time, as recommended by a Departmental Committee in 1919?

I understand that the British Broadcasting Corporation intend at an early date to adopt the 24-hour system of expressing time for general use and on an experimental basis. This will afford an opportunity for testing the attitude of public opinion, and I propose therefore to await the result of the experiment before coming to a decision.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Committee of the Economic Advisory Council, which was appointed in 1932 to consider what practical measures should be taken to secure a reduction in disease among milk cattle in this country, has yet reported; and when its recommendations will be published?

I understand that the committee hope to be able to submit their report at an early date; as regards the second part of the question, reports of committees of the Economic Advisory Council are normally confidential, and I cannot say whether this report will be published until I have seen it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will approach the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with a view to ascertaining whether the latter Government would be willing to join the League of Nations; and, if so, on what conditions?

The question whether the Soviet Government would be willing to join the League of Nations is a matter for that Government to whom it is open at any time to apply for membership, subject only to the conditions laid down in the Covenant of the League.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to safeguarding British trade interests in China, he will take an early opportunity to press upon the League of Nations the desirability of taking every possible step to ensure that the League policy as to the undesirability of recognising the new State of Manchukuo is generally maintained, despite the recent political developments in that territory?

I have nothing to add to the reply given in writing on 1st March in answer to a similar question put by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Blackpool (Captain Erskine-Bolst).