asked the Postmaster-General whether he contemplates making any general reduction of charges for the transmission of telegrams?

T would refer my hen. Friend to the answer I gave in the House on Thursday last to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull East (Brigadier-General Nation).

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can make a statement as to the results of the recent reductions in night telephone charges for trunk calls?

The recent reductions in the charges for night trunk calls were an immediate and striking success, and it is already clear that a substantial public demand for the regular social use of the long-distance telephone service is being met under financially sound conditions. Over the longest distances the increase of traffic was so large and so sudden that on a limited number of routes abnormal delays were inevitable. Urgent measures were at once taken to remedy the initial difficulties, and I am glad to say that these measures, though not yet complete, have already resulted in the restoration of demand working on all but the longest routes on which delays are now considerably reduced. I should like to take this opportunity to refer to the excellent way in which the operating staff have responded to the situation, and to the public-spiritedness of the business men who so readily acceded to the request of the Post Office to be allowed to use their private wires during the evening hours.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, with a view to giving all possible assistance to the development of British air mail services without incurring more expense than is essential, he will adopt a policy of reserving to British air services the entire British air mail for destinations to which such services are in operation?

The present general practice of the Post Office is that indicated by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any evidence as to the success of the experiments with silence zones; whether there is any information as to the increased safety of road transport resulting from this experiment; and if it is sufficient to justify the general prohibition of the use of motor horns and other noisy indications of approach?

Yes, Sir. The institution of the silent zone has met with overwhelming approval. It was not primarily instituted to promote safety, but to increase the opportunities for rest and recuperation of workers and the sick respectively. Evidence goes to show that this purpose has been achieved without any increase in the number of accidents being attributable to the new regulation. In reply to the last part of the question, I am not at the moment prepared to make the prohibition general.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people have been convicted during the last three years of failing to give audible warning of their approach or failing to have their vehicles fitted with a proper instrument enabling them to do so; and whether, in view of the new orders regarding silence on the roads, it is proposed to repeal Section 59 (b) of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and to withdraw Nos. 15 and 72 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1931, which prescribe these offences?

The figures for which the hon. Member asks are not available. The Regulations prohibiting the use of motor horns during the night hours make the necessary modifications in existing Regulations. Section 59 (1) (b) of the Road Traffic Act does not relate to motor vehicles at all, and no question of its repeal therefore arises.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of persons killed or injured at pedestrian crossing-places in London in each month which has elapsed since the introduction of crossing-places, distinguishing, as far as practicable, the several areas in which the crossings have been marked and the number of crossings in each area, and the numbers for the corresponding months of last year?

From 11th June, the date on which pedestrian crossing-places were first laid down in London, to 31st October, inclusive, four persons were killed and 341 injured on the crossing-places in the City of London and the Metropolitan Police district. The number of crossing-places laid down in London up to the end of October was approximately 5,000. The question of comparable figures for last year does not arise, as there were no statutory crossing-places.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of persons who have been killed and injured by motor vehicles on uncontrolled pedestrian crossings; and whether the police have taken proceedings against the drivers involved in the accidents referred to?

From 9th July, 1934, the date on which uncontrolled pedestrian crossing-places were first laid down in the Metropolitan Police district, to 31st October, inclusive, four persons were killed and 194 injured on uncontrolled crossings in this area. I am unable to state in how many of these cases motor vehicles were involved. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs that police proceedings have been authorised in 26 of these cases up to the present.

asked the Minister of Transport who is responsible for fixing the position of the pedestrian crossing-places now in force in London; and whether there is any previous consultation with any representative body of road users with the object of selecting suitable crossing-places?

The actual location of each crossing-place laid down was settled in consultation between representatives of the local authority concerned, of the police, and of my Department in accordance with principles which have commended themselves the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether instructions have been issued to the police to prosecute pedal cyclists who ride cycles at night without having attached to the back of their cycles the red reflector and white disc or strip required by the Regulations?

Offenders are, of course, liable to prosecution, but in order to allow time for the Regulations to become better known, I have suggested to the police, with the concurrence of the Minister of Transport, that for a short time contraventions should be dealt with by way of caution rather than by prosecution.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of persons killed and injured on the roads during 1934 to the end of September, and the same totals since 1st January, 1929?

For a variety of reasons it is not possible to give exact figures of road accidents for incomplete periods of the year, and the following figures have therefore been estimated:

asked the Home Secretary whether his Department is considering the restriction or regulation of the carriage of acids and other dangerous fluids and gases upon the highways?

Yes, Sir; and I hope to be in a position before long to take definite action in the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is' the present total of official and semi-official weekly, monthly, and quarterly journals published by His Majesty's Stationery Office; and how such number compares with those published by this office in 1920 and 1910, respectively?

The total numbers of official and semi-official weekly, monthly and quarterly journals published by His Majesty's Stationery Office for the years mentioned are:—

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of horses and ponies employed below ground at the end of June, 1934, in the respective districts referred to in his annual report; the total

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there is a maximum load for horses on varying gradients of roads in the mines of South Wales; and if he will consider issuing a recommendation regarding the kind and size of horse which should be employed on gradients

The information is as followsgoing to the rise, having regard to the steepness of the rise and its length and the load that is within the capacity of horses used in such circumstances?

The loads assigned to horses are not subject to regulation, ex- cept in so far as the Coal Mines Act prohibits any form of overworking, and in my opinion it is neither practicable nor desirable to make regulations on the subject or even to issue a general recommendation as suggested. The proper adjustment of the task of a horse to its capacity is essentially a matter which calls for care and judgment according to the circumstances of each individual case, and I have no reason to doubt that such care and judgment are being exercised.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any further information as to the boycott of British goods by the Bombay Corporation; and, if such boycott is still continuing, what steps has he taken or proposes to take with a view to obtaining its removal?

I have no further information on this subject beyond that which I gave the House on 22nd and 29th May, 1933, in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend and to the hon. Member for Kensington, South (Sir W. Davison) respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Iraq Government have yet enacted legislation to give effect to the undertaking intended in the treaty of alliance between.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of conveyors in use at the coal face in South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, respectively, the number driven by compressed air, and the number driven by electrical power; and what proportion of the outputs of these two areas, respectively, has been carried by conveyors during the past five years?

The information is as follows:the United Kingdom and Iraq under which the ownership of the Iraq railways would be transferred to the Iraq Government and vested in a corporation before 3rd October, 1933, which date was subsequently deferred by agreement to 3rd October, 1934?

The answer is in the negative. The period for the enactment of this legislation has, however, recently been extended by mutual agreement for a further year, that is up to 3rd October, 1935.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to the case of Mr. Lenox-Simpson and his claim for compensation as a result of treatment received in Manchuria?

After consultation with Mr. Lenox-Simpson, His Majesty's Con- sul-General at Harbin has been instructed to lodge a claim with the Manchurian authorities in connection with this case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended that compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts shall be payable in the case of an accident occurring to a trainee at an occupational centre established under the Unemployment Act?

Trainees at Government training centres and instructional centres are not employed persons within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Acts, but it is the practice to make ex gratia payments when claims for compensation are made by, or on behalf of, a trainee in respect of injury sustained in circumstances which would have created a liability under the Workmen's Compensation Acts had the trainee been an employed person within the meaning of these Acts. In the case of occupational centres for which voluntary bodies are responsible, I understand that arrangements have been made under which centres registering with the National Council of Social Service for the purpose can obtain the advantages of a special policy covering liability for compensation for injuries or accidents sustained by those making use of the centres.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the great changes in population since 1918 and the consequent anomalies, he will introduce a Redistribution of Seats Bill before the next General Election?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Hutchison) on 31st July.

asked the Home Secretary if he has considered relaxing the passport regulations for the visit of an Italian football team to this country on 14th November; and whether he can announce his decision?

Yes, Sir. I have decided that the usual regulations cannot be relaxed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has made inquiries into the case of David Malone and Edward Mills (two youths aged respectively, 16 and 19) who on 14th September, 1934, were charged at the Blaenau Festiniog Police Court, in the County of Merioneth, with malicious damage caused by the breaking of the windows of a disused building adjoining a slate quarry, and were sentenced to two months' imprisonment; and whether, having regard to the fact that this was their first offence and that they had hitherto borne a good character, he will consider the possibility of reducing the sentence and ordering their immediate release?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to-day to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson).

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Poultry Re-organisation Commission will report; and whether he is prepared to take emergency action to relieve the present situation in the poultry industry?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on Thursday last to questions by my hon. Friends the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. R. J. Russell) and the Member for Penistone (Mr. Glossop). As regards the second part, emergency action to assist the poultry industry was taken as long ago as March last, when the Governments of exporting countries were asked, in the general interest, to make every effort to ensure that their exports of eggs in shell to this market in the six months to 14th September would not exceed the figures for the corresponding period of 1933. The standstill was subsequently extended to the end of September. This arrangement has been fully carried out and total imports of eggs in shell in the period 15th March to 30th September were slightly less than the figure for the corresponding period of last year. After further consideration of the supply position, in the light of a report from the Market Supply Committee, the Government decided that it was desirable to secure a reduction in imports in the six months ending 31st March next. Proposals designed to effect a reduction of 5 per cent. in imports of eggs in shell from foreign sources during the quarter 1st October to 31st December, 1934, have been placed before the Governments concerned. They have also been informed that it is desired to effect a 10 per cent. reduction in the quarter 1st January to 31st March, 1935, and discussions on these lines are proceeding. Arrangements have been made to secure a reduction in imports from the Irish Free State during the current quarter and discussions have been initiated with the other Dominions interested in the supply of eggs to the United Kingdom market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in the light of subsequent experience and under existing conditions, his Department has seen any reason to modify its recommendation, in Miscellaneous Publication No. 22 of 1918, page 34, of the gin, or steel trap, as the best means of maintaining a plentiful stock of rabbits?

The publication in question is no longer in circulation. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of an advisory leaflet issued by the Ministry as regards the prevention of cruelty to animals, from which he will see that the spring trap is described as an exceedingly unsatisfactory and undesirable means of catching ground game, and in the Ministry's opinion should not be used.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many local education authorities have applied during the past year for permission to make by-laws requiring attendance at school up to the age of 15?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow West (Mr. McEntee) on 1st November, of which I am sending her a copy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of children at present in non-provided schools; and what proportion of these are in reorganised schools?

On 31st March, 1934, the total number of children on the books of non-provided maintained public elementary schools in England and Wales was 1,760,110. 766,123 of these children, or approximately 44 per cent., were in schools organised in accordance with the principles of the Hadow Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he has considered the possibility of opening the reading room at the British Museum for several hours each evening; and what would be the additional cost of such a step?

I have been asked to reply. The cost of opening the British Museum Library, with a restricted service, from six to ten in the evenings is estimated at approximately £7,500 a year. I cannot hold out any hope of additional expenditure of this order being incurred for the purpose indicated.