asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, on 2nd April last, two assistant sub-police inspectors, accompanied by a dozen police constables and a number of Muslim Jangahis, when visiting a village in Lyallpur district for the purpose of effecting arrests, demanded the surrender of Kirparis from the wanted men; that a man named Kishin Singh, who had stepped forward in response to a command to stand up and accompany the police, was fired upon at a distance of five yards; that a volley of fire was opened upon the remaining persons, seven in number, of whom some were wounded and two were killed; that after the firing the Jangahis were ordered to assault the injured people; that indiscriminate beating was then resorted to, even the dead not being spared; and whether those responsible for this incident have been dealt with by the responsible authorities?

I have received a report to the effect that a police party under an assistant sub-inspector met with resistance when trying to serve warrants on seven Sikhs in a village in Lyallpur district and had to open fire in self-defence. Five of the Sikhs were wounded and two succumbed to their injuries. My information is limited to these facts, and I am not prepared to accept the accuracy of the allegations contained in the hon. Member's question.

asked the Postmaster-General what remuneration is received by boys employed by the Post Office in London and the provinces, respectively?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the boys who are employed to deliver telegrams. The remuneration of these boys varies according to their age and the locality in which they are employed. The rates range in London from 12s. a week at 14 years of age to 28s. 6d. a week at. 19 years of age, and in provincial towns from 10s. 6d. or 9s. a week at 14 years of age to 27s., 25s. 6d. or 24s. at 19 years of age.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that the coroner who held an inquest on 6th April, 1933, on two of the 168 persons killed by an explosion at West Stanley Colliery, Durham, on 16th February, 1909, refused to allow a retired inspector of mines to be sworn and give evidence as to the cause of the explosion, which a coroner's court at a previous inquest held on the other 166 victims had been unable to find; that the coroner allowed the retired inspector to read to the jury a portion of his written statement but did not include it in the depositions, and suggested to the newspaper reporters present not to notice the inspector's intervention; and whether, in view of the coroner's conduct in this matter, he will take action under Section 6 of the Coroners' Act, 1887, and apply to the High Court to order a further inquest?

After consideration of the circumstances referred to, all of which were brought to my notice in August last, I found no reason to grant my authority to take proceedings or to take any action myself under Section 6 (1) of the Coroners' Act, 1887.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that he has now authorised the Kenya Government to open an additional 1,000 square miles of Kavirondo reserve to gold prospectors on 17th May, 1934, he is committed to granting exclusive prospective licences in any part of this area, or whether the entry of general prospectors is to be regulated; and, if so, up to what maximum number at one time?

There is no commitment to grant exclusive prospecting licences over any part of this area, which will be thrown open to general prospecting. The arrangements made by the Government of Kenya for supervising this area are such as to render unnecessary any regulation of the number of prospectors who enter it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the sums paid to Persia as royalties on oil secured by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for the preceding five years?

The latest information available is that which was given on 12th December, 1932, in the reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Plaistow Division (Mr. Thorne) of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the respective numbers of registered unemployed in the Chatham and Gillingham district, Kent, on 30th

The following table shows the total number and declared value of the domestic exports from the United Kingdom of electric lighting carbons consigned to foreign countries during the years 1931, 1932 and 1933, distinguishing the principal countries of consignment.June, 1931, and the last available date this year?

The following Table gives the information desired :

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the numbers of coloured men stowing away in ports in the British Colonies in order to find work in this country, he is able to state whether, after their periods of imprisonment have treminated, they are sent back home or whether they remain in this country as a charge to the ratepayers?

There is no evidence that any considerable number of coloured persons arrive in the United Kingdom as stowawys. If a stowaway is an the owners master of the ship on which be arrived are required to remove him from tile United Kingdom

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres of land in England and Wales at present under cultivation and the number under cultivation in 1927, 1929, 1931, and 1933; and the number of agricultural workers employed in England and Wales at the same periods?

As the information referred to in the question is collected in June each year, the figures for 1934 are not yet available. The information for the earlier years is contained in the following statement :