asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Petroleum Department of the Board of Trade was established; what were the establishment and the cost of this Department during its first complete financial year and the last; and what are the functions of the Department?

The Department was established in 1919, and was transferred to the Board of Trade in 1921. The estimates in that year provided for a staff of about 20 at a total cost of about £12,000. The staff now consists of three full-time officers and the part services of three others, with assistance from the common services of the Mines Department. The total estimated annual cost is now about £3,800. The functions of the Petroleum Department are to advise on matters of policy in connection with petroleum in which His Majesty's Government are interested, to co-ordinate action and information, and to assist the various Government Departments interested on technical, commercial and political questions. Important commercial and technical questions affecting petroleum, of considerable interest to this country, are frequently raised in connection with the grant of oil concessions, the transport and marketing of petroleum, taxation of petroleum products, both in this and other countries, the making of regulations in British territories overseas, and the negotiation of trade agreements with foreign countries. It is the duty of the Department to keep in touch with petroleum questions in all parts of the world. This is done partly by maintaining contact with His Majesty's representatives abroad, and partly by the collection of material from published literature, as well as by maintaining a close touch with the principal British oil companies. The Department is responsible for the administration of the Petroleum Production Act, 1918.

asked the Secretary for Mines the names of the five applicants for licences to bore for petroleum whose applications have been held up pending legislation; the dates of applications; the areas to which the applications applied; and why the applications could not be granted pending legislation?

All applications for licences under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1918, were treated as confidential until the licence was issued, and I regret that I am not, therefore, in a position to furnish the particulars asked for in the first and third parts of the question. In reply to the second part, the dates of the applications were between January, 1931, and February, 1933. As regards the last part, the Government decided that as the whole situation in regard to the development of oil in this country is brought under review in the legislation now before Parlament, it was undesirable that any further licences should be granted until Parliament had had an opportunity of reaching a decision on the new legislation. Before a licence was issued under the 1918 Act, certain conditions and formalities had to be complied with, the more important of which were the furnishing of evidence that the applicants had acquired rights to enter on at least a portion of the area in respect of which a licence was sought, ability and willingness to undertake a certain amount of drilling, and the shape and dimensions of the area to be licesed. In each of the five cases some of these matters were outstanding when the Government announced their decision.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that children are compelled to travel to school in Rothbury in a hired omnibus of over five tons unloaded over two bridges between Netherton and Harbottle scheduled to carry only three tons; and will he take immediate steps to protect the children from such a risk?

My Noble Friend's attention had not previously been called to this matter, but it appears from inquiries which have been made that the facts are as stated in the question. My Noble Friend is also informed that a licensed public omnibus service of similar vehicles is permitted to run regularly over the same bridges. The local education authority are responsible for the safety of the children, and my Noble Friend proposes to draw their attention to this matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is proposed to make any alteration in the rates of grant to schools or other educational institutions receiving direct grant from the Board of Education as a result of the remission of half the cut in teachers' salaries?

It is proposed to issue immediately regulations making an appropriate increase in the rates of capitation grant in the case of such institutions. These changes will operate from 1st July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what alterations it is proposed to make in the grant regulations in respect of elementary education as a result of the remission of half the cut in teachers' salaries?

It is proposed to issue immediately regulations amending the grant formula for elementary education by substituting 55 per cent. for 50 per cent. as the rate of grant on expenditure in respect of teachers' salaries, and 41s. for 45s. as the rate of capitation grant per unit of average attendance. The general effect of these changes will be to secure that the increase in salary expenditure consequent on the remission of the cut will fall upon Exchequer funds. These changes will operate from 1st July.

asked the Home Secretary in which Empire countries any penalties whatsoever are imposed on persons who neglect to exercise the franchise at elections; and if he will furnish particulars of such systems of penalty?

I have no information except as regards the Commonwealth of Australia, where an elector who fails to vote at an election without a valid and sufficient reason is guilty of an offence for which the penalty is not less than ten shillings, and not more than £2. Proceedings for an offence can be instituted only by the chief electoral officer, or with his authority.