asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the present position of the settlers under the New Brunswick 500 family scheme; and how many of those who emigrated under the scheme from this country are still living on and cultivating their holdings?

The number of families who settled under the scheme was 350. Although the scheme has been adversely affected by the prevailing economic depression, 265 of the families are still on their holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Arab leaders in Palestine have received sentences of imprisonment; what these sentences are; and whether the Arab leaders are being treated as political prisoners?

Fifteen Arab leaders have received sentences of imprisonment, with hard labour; 10 receiving 10 months, and five, five months. Appeals have been lodged in every instance and, pending the hearing of the appeals, bail has been granted. In Palestine, as in this country, the classification suggested by the term "political prisoner" is not recognised by the law.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that the existing civil aviation policy of this country will enable British commercial air services to meet the increasing competition from foreign sources; and, if not, what steps are under contemplation to deal with this?

Competition in air transport services depends on a number of factors such as comparative safety, comfort, regularity, speed and cost. The results achieved to date establish that, in the combination of these factors, our commercial air services are at present holding their own against foreign competition. For example, they carried a larger number of passengers to and from the Continent in 1933 than all their foreign competitors combined; and their operations as a whole were more nearly on a self-supporting financial basis than those of any other European country. Civil aviation policy is, however, and will continue to be, kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total amount paid in wages in the mining industry for each year since 1919?

The information is as follows:

Year	Estimated Total Wages Bill (excluding the value of allowances in kind).	Average Earnings per annum per person employed (excluding the value of allowances in kind).
	Million £.	£
1919	214	191
1920	265	223
1921*	167	150
1922	138	125
1923	156	134
1924	162	138
1925	143	132
1926	Not available.
1927	123	123
1928	104	114
1929	110	118
1930	105	114
1931	93	112
1932	87	109
1933	84	110
* Affected by a national stoppage.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many private individuals since the War have been given money to assist them in planting conifers and hardwoods; and what conditions are attached to these grants?

1,030 private individuals have been given money to assist them in planting conifers and hardwoods since 1925. The numbers prior to that year are not readily available, but may be put at say 300. The conditions now attached to these grants are as follow:

1. No scheme will be eligible for grant unless it has been approved in writing by the Forestry Commissioners before the commencement of operations. No application for a Grant for planting during the current season will, as a rule, be considered unless the application is submitted before the 1st January.

2. Grants are for commercial planting only.

3. All work under the Scheme shall be subject to inspection from time to time by the Commissioners or their authorised representatives.

4. Any contracts for or incidental to the work shall be placed in Great Britain.

5. As soon as the Commissioners are satisfied by inspection and otherwise that the planting has been satisfactorily completed, they will certify accordingly. The certificate will state the amount of the grant, 75 per cent. of which will then be due and payable. The balance will be paid four years later provided the Commissioners are satisfied that any necessary beating up has been carried out and the plantation properly established and maintained in terms of Regulation 8.

• As regards continuing schemes, payments as above stated will be made annually on completion of the year's work, subject to inspection and certification.

6. Approval of schemes and payment of grants are subject to the work being done within the period or periods stated in the Scheme or such extended time as the Commissioners may in writing authorise.

7. Any question whether the method of establishing the plantation and the proposed treatment of any area is such as will lead to the establishment of a hardwood crop (for which work Grant No. 2 will be payable) shall be decided by the Commissioners whose decision shall be final.

8. The recipient of a grant or of 75 per cent. thereof shall establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioners the plantation in respect of which such grant has been made, and shall maintain the same to the satisfaction of the Commissioners for four years from the planting thereof. In the event of the plantation being destroyed or damaged by fire during the four years the recipient shall forthwith replant to the satisfaction of the Commissioners the whole or such parts of the plantation as are destroyed or damaged.

In the event of any recipient of a grant failing to comply with this Regulation such recipient or his legal personal representatives 6hall on demand repay to the Commissioners the amount of the grant with simple interest at 5 per cent. per annum from the date of payment of such grant to the date of repayment. This obligation continues notwithstanding the sale of the property.