asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the development of British air mail services and their ability to meet foreign competition depends primarily on the expansion of air mails allocated thereto for transport, he will give early consideration to the desirability of adopting a policy which will ensure such expansion?

As I indicated in reply to my hon. Friend on 11th June, the policy to be adopted in connection with the Empire air mail services is at present under consideration by the Departments concerned, but I am not yet in a position to make an announcement on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether during the summer season any steps are taken for the improvement of postal and telegraphic facilities at those Welsh seaside and kindred resorts where normally the volume of business is not large; and what is the policy of his Department in reviewing existing arrangements of the kind?

The postal and telegraphic arrangements at season resorts are reviewed each year and new facilities likely to be justified by the business expected are introduced. If my hon. Friend has any particular place in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many coastguards are at present employed; and what is their weekly remuneration?

The Coastguard Service consists of 540 coastguardsmen on a scale rising from 41s. 8d. to 49s. 4d. a week, of whom 60 receive additional allowances of 1s. 6d. or is. 7d. a week, and 160 station officers on a scale rising from 50s. 10d. to 55s. 1d. a week. All these men receive free unfurnished housing accommodation and uniform, and in certain isolated stations special allowances ranging from 4s. to 14s. a week are paid. For supervisory and controlling duties there are 43 district officers on a scale rising from £212 3s. to £274 6s. a year, with free accommodation and uniform, two of whom receive special allowances of £10 a year, and 12 inspectors on a scale rising from £451 11s. to £534 5s. a year, plus £10 uniform allowance. In addition, there are two inspecting officers stationed at headquarters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount collected in Northern Ireland in Income Tax, Customs and Excise; what are the receipts of the Post Office there for the year ended 31st March, 1934: what was the cost of collection and how much was returned to the Northern Ireland Exchequer; and on What basis have these figures been made out?

For the year ended 31st March, 1934, the Northern Ireland share of Income Tax was £2,512,400, and the Northern Ireland share of Customs and Excise was £4,746,000. The cost of collection is estimated at £93,000 in the case of Income Tax and at 75,000 in the case of Customs and Excise. The net receipts of the Post Office were £1,600. The provisional Northern Ireland residuary share of all Reserved Taxes was £6,159,000. The calculations have been made on the basis laid down by Sections 22 to 24 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, as amended by the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of ex-gratin grants have been made to Northern Ireland during the last 10 years?

The financial relations between Northern Ireland and the Exchequer a-re determined by the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. and the Unemployment Insurance (Northern Ireland) Agreement Acts, 1926 and 1929. The only grants made to Northern Ireland during the last 10 years outside the terms of those Statutes were the grants-in-aid of £1,250,000 and of £1,200,000 made in 1924–5 and 1925–6 respectively in connection with the Special Constabulary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that in certain states of America animal welfare is a compulsory subject in elementary schools; and whether he will consider the desirability of making it similarly compulsory in elementary schools in this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the board do not prescribe the subjects to be included in the curriculum of public

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what percentage of the total number of writing assistants employed in each Department of State, respectively, obtained promotion to the Treasury clerical class, and to the Departmental clerical classes during the year 1st April, 1933, to 31st March, 1934?

The following is the information desired by the hon. Member in respect of the period 1st April, 1933, to 31st March, 1934: