asked the Postmaster-General whether the cost of conveyance of Empire letter mail, other than air mail, is covered entirely from the total postage charged thereon; and, if not, by what means the loss on transport of such mail is made up?

So far as letters and postcards are concerned, the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the review of British air mail policy which is being undertaken by the various Departments concerned at the present time is likely to be completed before the House adjourns for the summer; and whether he anticipates being able to make a statement in connection therewith before such date?

The necessary inquiries are being actively pursued, but I regret that I cannot at present say when it will be possible to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the total payments to British and foreign air companies, respectively, for the carriage of mails for the 12 months prior to the last available date; and whether he can give any corresponding figures for other countries?

The total payments to the British air company concerned or to Imperial postal administrations for the conveyance of mails despatched from this country or carried for other administrations during the year ended 31st March, 1934, was £219,000. The total payments to foreign air companies, or to foreign postal administrations, in respect of the air conveyance of British mails during the same period was £71,000: the great bulk of these payments was in respect of services for which there were no British services. I regret I am not in possession of the information asked for in the second part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many Indian students, repatriated in 1933, were scholarship students or otherwise assisted by the Government; and what steps are taken by the Government of India to ensure that students are likely to benefit by their stay here and not suffer in pocket, health and peace of mind?

In the year ending September, 1933, no Government scholars were repatriated beyond those who returned to India in the normal way with passages provided under the terms of their scholarships. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the latest report on the work of the Education Department of the Office of the High Commissioner for India, a, copy of which I am placing in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for India the latest figures of the exports of Indian cotton to Japan, indicative of the quota of imports of Japanese cotton goods into India?

Exports of raw cotton from India to Japan for the calendar year 1933 were 203,454 tons, or 1,139,342 bales. The exports for the first three months of 1934 were 81,492 tons, or approximately 456,000 bales.

asked the Secretary of State for India the latest available figures of the importation of Japanese cotton goods into India, with the figures for the corresponding period last year?

The latest figures available of cotton piece goods imported into India from Japan are 'as follow:

Month.	1933.	1934.
	Yards.	Yards.
January	44,538,702	21,653,390
February	32,973,243	21,493,506
March	40,177,354	44,021,057
April	32,585,222
May	38,627,096
June	40,141,150
July	44,169,562
August	33,850,089
September	26,435,892
October	21,397,574
November	12,004,301
December	12,621,231
	379,521,416
N.B.—The figures are for imports into India. The agreement between the Government of India and the Japanese Government applies to exports from Japan with effect from 8th January, 1934. The recent figures, which cover the period of the negotiations and the period during which the agreement was beginning to operate, should not be regarded as reflecting normal conditions.

asked the Attorney-General what were the receipts from court fees in the King's Bench Division for the latest convenient year; and what was the total of salaries of the judges of the King's Bench Division for the same period after allowance has been made for the periods during which such judges were engaged on criminal business and on the business of assize?

The amount of court fees in the King's Bench Division for the year ending 31st December, 1933, was approximately £250,000. The estimated proportion of the total salaries of the judges of the King's Bench Division after allowance has been made for the periods during which such judges were engaged on criminal business, in London or at Assizes, in respect of the same period, was £49,468.

asked the Attorney-General the total number of cases which were awaiting trial on 1st July, 1933, and 1st July, 1934, respectively, in the King's Bench Division, giving the non-jury, special jury and common jury lists, separately, the Chancery Division, and the Court of Appeal?

The total number of cases which were awaiting trial in the King's Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Court of Appeal, on 1st July, 1933, and 1st July, 1934, respectively, was as follows:

	1st July, 1933.	1st July, 1934.
King's Bench Division:
Non-jury list	86	404
Special jury list	223	172
Common jury list	389	151
Chancery Division	249	318
Court of Appeal	134	118

asked the Attorney-General the number of county court appeals entered for trial in the divisional court in the legal year which ended on 31st July, 1933, and the total number of days occupied in the hearing of such appeals?

The number of county court appeals entered for triad in the divisional court in the year ending 31st July, 1933, was 123. The total number of days occupied in the hearing of these appeals was 59 days. On five of these days, however, two courts sat for the purpose.

asked the Attorney-General the number of separate occasions on which judges of the King's Bench Division have been away from London on assize duty and at the Central Criminal Court during the legal year ended 31st July, 1933, and during the current legal year up to date; the total number of working days upon which such judges

—	During the year ended 31st July, 1933.	During the current legal year up to and including the Spring Assize.
The number of separate occasions on which judges of the King's Bench Division have been away from London on assize duty.	39	25
The number of separate occasions on which judges of the King's Bench Division have sat at the Central Criminal Court.	12	9
The total number of working days upon which judges of the King's Bench Division were absent from London on assize duty.	1,232	803
The total number of working days upon which judges of the King's Bench Division sat at the Central Criminal Court.	86	84
The number of occasions on which commissioners of assize were appointed.	6	5

In these figures it has been taken as the separate occasion where any one judge has gone a whole circuit, or a part of a circuit, for any particular assize; and as two separate occasions where two judges have gone the same circuit for the same assize.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to institute a survey of the water supplies of the country; whether he is aware that the water authorities throughout the country are prepared to make such measurements and keep such records as are necessary in the national interest; and whether he will establish a central organisation to direct and supervise such survey independent of control by any Government Department?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 18th December last to the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. Levy), of which I am sending him a copy. Water undertakers are always ready to furnish me with information of their supplies. A survey of water supplies is undertaken by the Ministry as part of their ordinary work, and a special organisation is not necessary. I am

The information is as follow:seeing a deputation on the 17th instant on the question of a general water survey.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the effect of the cancellation by the Canadian Government of the arbitrary valuation of imported British hats; and whether the exporters of these hats will be entitled to a refund of the duties paid by reason of this arbitrary valuation?

This is a complicated matter which it is difficult to explain satisfactorily within the limits of a reply to A question. I am, therefore, sending a full statement of the position to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantity of spirits used, respectively, for the manufacture of recognised medical preparations or for scientific purposes in respect of which a rebate of duty was granted under Sec- tion 4 of the Finance Act, 1918, as amended, during the latest available financial year?

The quantity of spirits upon which rebate was paid under Section 4 of the Finance Act, 1918, as amended, during the year ended 31st March, 1934, on the ground that the spirits were used in the manufacture or preparation of recognised medical preparations, or for scientific purposes, was 584,000 proof gallons. Information is not available as to the quantities used under the respective heads.

Vacancies filled* by Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux in Kent during the 12 months ended 26th June, 1934.
Employment Exchange Area.†	Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
Ashford	456	65	63	46	630
Bexley Heath	2,338	169	181	77	2,765
Borough Green†	331	—	237	—	568
Bromley	2,539	329	479	266	3,613
Canterbury	1,390	106	264	110	1,876
Chatham	5,200	830	669	356	7,055
Cranbrook	284	—	163	—	447
Dartford	1,945	750	376	400	3,471
Deal	486	18	76	14	594
Dover	1,422	157	244	261	2,084
Erith	2,664	385	265	135	3,449
Faversham	2,145	23	925	1	3,094
Folkestone	993	250	766	264	2,273
Gravesend	1,082	341	387	345	2,155
Herne Bay	724	25	104	22	875
Hythe†	314		7		321
Maidstone	1,285	299	1,358	242	3,184
Margate	3,065	245	4,085	309	7,704
Orpington†	1,038		89		1,127
Penge	1,293	389	948	243	2,873
Ramsgate	1,343	174	1,631	230	3,378
Sandwich	258	6	79	10	353
Seveuoaks	543	38	23	31	635
Sheerness	1,066	204	52	92	1,414
Sidcup	548	412	445	289	1,694
Sittingbourne	768	30	74	32	904
Snodland†	175	—	2		177
Tonbridge	1,016	124	170	95	1,405
Tunbridge Wells	2,627	239	430	214	3,510
Westerham†	206	—	4	—	210
West Malling†	102	—	7	—	109
Whitstable	299	45	98	19	461
* The figures relate to vacancies, and the number of separate individuals concerned is not known.
† The figures given for each Employment Exchange Area include those for the Juvenile Employment Bureau for the area, except in the cases of Borough Green, Hythe, Orpington, Snodland, Westerham and West Mailing, in which districts vacancies for juveniles are dealt with at Juvenile Employment Bureaux within the areas of other Employment Exchanges included in the list.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, specifying men, women, boys, and girls, have been placed in employment through the medium of each of the Employment Exchanges in the county of Kent during the 12 months prior to the last available date?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys and girls, on each of

Unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux in Kent at 25th June, 1934.
Employment Exchange.*	Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
Ashford	327	6	43	2	378
Bexley Heath	329	23	114	43	509
Borough Green*	23	—	1	—	24
Bromley	487	8	110	6	611
Canterbury	464	8	47	22	541
Chatham	3,776	105	394	192	4,467
Cranbrook	47	—	1	—	48
Dartford	805	56	106	59	1,026
Deal	264	9	49	10	332
Dover	903	70	175	82	1,230
Erith	1,016	33	147	89	1,285
Faversham	205	3	105	5	318
Folkestone	483	12	76	13	584
Gravesend	1,623	115	133	98	1,969
Herne Bay	93	5	18	2	118
Hythe*	91	—	9	—	100
Maidstone	683	17	180	31	911
Margate	491	14	92	8	605
Orpington*	168	—	16	—	184
Penge	1,487	15	165	20	1,687
Ramsgate	666	38	237	37	978
Sandwich	115	1	6	—	122
Sevenoaks	40	5	11	3	59
Sheerness	410	29	50	35	524
Sidcup	296	20	68	21	408
Sittingbourne	159	9	41	16	225
Snodland*	212	—	7	—	219
Tonbridge	455	12	57	17	541
Tunbridge Wells	407	8	131	12	558
Westerham*	40	—	5	—	45
West Mailing*	36	—	3	—	39
Whitstable	176	1	12	—	189
* The figures given for each Employment Exchange includes those for the Juvenile Employment Bureau for the area, except in the cases of Borough Green, Hythe, Orpington, Snodland, Westerham and West 1NIalling, in which districts unemployed juveniles are registered at Juvenile Employment Bureaux within the areas of other Employment Exchanges included in the list.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was am number of bulk barrels of beer retained for consumption in England and Scotland, respectively, during the year ended 31st March, 1934, distinguishing home-made and imported, and the number of barrels exported during the same year?

Information is not available as to quantities of beer retained for consumption in England and Scotland respectively, but the quantities upon which duty was paid in the year ending 31st March, 1934, were as follow:

The following table gives the information desired:

—	England (wigh Northern Ireland).	Scotland
	(Bulk Barrels).	(Bulk Barrels)
Home-made	18,645,000	1,256,000
Imported	1,264,000	12,000

Figures of exports of beer in bulk barrels are not available earlier than May, 1933; the exports during the 11 months May, 1933, to March, 1934 (both inclusive), were 204,851 bulk barrels of home-made beer exported and 17,602 bulk barrels of imported beer re-exported.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of the Treasury grant for agricultural research for the years 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33 and 1933–34?

—	1929.	1930.	1931.	1932.	1933.
	£	£	£	£	£
Research Subheads	302,210	335,400	314,612	290,807	286,448
Flax (Subhead O. 2.)	6,959	26,053	15,342	—	5
Contributions to Imperial Institutions (Sub head O. 1.)	3,125	3,125	5,375	5,125	5,125
	312,294	364,578	335,329	295,932	291,578
Lest Receipts	1,059	6,585	1,932	1,010	822†
Net Expenditure on Ministry's Vote	311,235	357,993	333,397	294,922	290,756
Add Empire Marketing Fund Grants "through" the Ministry.	7,724	7,421	5,598	542	Receipts 178
Direct grants from Empire Marketing Fund.*	—	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000
Totals	318,959	375,414	348,995	305,464	300,578
* Grants towards the general scheme for development of Agricultural Sciences at Cambridge University.
† In addition a sum of £6,486 WAS received in this year for credit of the Development Fund in connection with the winding-up of the flax scheme. This sum was ia respect of proceeds of sales of land and buildings acquired prior to 1929 and of accumulated stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of slum-clearance houses under construction and approved on the first day of each month

STATEMENT showing the number of houses under construction, and the number approved but not begun, at certain dates for the replacement of unfit houses in Scotland.
Date.	Number of houses under construction.			Number of houses approved for erection but not begun.
	50 per cent. Slum Clearance Schemes (1923 Act).	Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930.	Total.	50 per cent. Slum Clearance Schemes (1923 Act).	Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930.	Total.
1933.
At 1st November	834	7,960	8,794	36	2,557	2,593
At 1st December	780	8,081	8,861	24	2,402	2,426
1934.
At 1st January	750	8,021	8,771	24	2,398	2,422
At 1st February	716	8,324	9,040	300	2,206	2,506
At 1st March	714	8,118	9,132	264	2,584	2,848
At 1st April	678	8,388	9,066	248	3,035	3,283
At 1st May	608	8,857	9,465	122	4,113	4,235
At 1st June	560	9,239	9,799	72	3,534	3,606

The following statement gives the desired figures as regards England and Wales for the financial years indicated. If similar information is desired as regards Scotland, a question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.from November, 1933, to June, 1934, inclusive?

The following statement contains the information asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses built in 1931, 1932, and 1933, respectively, to replace uninhabitable houses in county areas?

The following statement contains the information asked for:

STATEMENT showing the total number of houses built with State assistance in each of the years 1931, 1932, and 1933 for the replacement of uninhabitable houses in county areas in Scotland (exclusive of burghs).
Year.	50 per cent. Slum Clearance Scheme (1923 Act).	Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930.	Total.
1931	54	79	133
1932	24	1,138	1,162
1933	—	2,047	2,047

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Any and, if so, how many local authorities have not yet complied with their statutory obligation to submit statements as to housing requirements before the end of 1933; and the total amount of houses required according to the statements received?

Five local authorities, namely, the town councils of Coupar Angus, Kirkcudbright, Lochmaben, Portsoy and Prestwick, have not yet submitted statements as to their housing requirements in terms of Subsection (2) of Section 22 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930. The total number of houses estimated to be required for all purposes during the five years 1934 to 1938 to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the districts of the 223 local authorities from whom statements have been received is 127,540.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been completed in rural areas in each county of Scotland in each of the months April and June, 1934, under the provisions of the Housing (Slum Clear- ance) Act, 1930; and how many have been completed up to the same date in county areas, excluding burghs, in each county?

The figures desired for June, 1934, are not yet available. The following statement contains particulars for the months of April And May, 1934.Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930.Number of houses (