asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the imports into British West Africa of Russian cotton-piece goods have expanded from 81,000 square yards in January-June, 1933, to 3,693,000 square yards in January-June, 1934; that Russian grey cloth, the value of which per yard is only about three-quarters of that of British grey cloth, constitutes more than one-third of these imports; and whether, in these circumstances, there are steps which he is able and prepared to take for the purpose of stopping or diminishing this new source of supply?

The subject of imports of Russian textile goods into British West Africa is at present receiving consideration. I do not think it is possible to make an accurate comparison of the figures for January to June, 1933, with those for January to June, 1934, since in 1933 the import statistics of Nigeria and the Gold Coast were classified according to country of consignment, while since 1st January, 1934, they have been classified according to country of origin.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the retained imports of crude unrefined petroleum into Great Britain (gallons) for the years 1920, 1925, 1930 and 1933, and their respective values?

The information is as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is very difficult to hear the Belfast station of the British Broadcasting Corporation owing to weakness of transmission and the interference of Continental stations of similar wave-length; and whether he will endeavour to secure the allocation to this country by international agreement of other wave-lengths which would give to our weaker transmitting stations greater freedom from interference?

The power of the British Broadcasting Corporation's station at Belfast is 1 kilowatt; but the corporation propose to replace it by a station of 50 kilowatts, thus improving reception over a considerable area. The construction of the new station has been begun; but it is not yet possible to state on what date it will be brought into use.

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured persons are classified as engaged in the fishing industry in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively; and, approximately, what number in each case are wholly or mainly dependent upon the herring fishery?

The estimated number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, in the fishing industry classification at July, 1934, in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, were as shown below. The figures are exclusive of share fisher- men, who are excepted from the unemployment insurance scheme:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the fishermen of Campbeltown, Carradale, Tarbert, Loch Fyne, Ardrishaig, Minard, Arran, Bute, and Ayrshire strongly disapprove of by-law No. 42 promulgated by the Fishery Board, whereby these fishermen, as well as fishermen from many East Coast ports who are also hostile to the said by-law, will be excluded from fishing grounds over which they have exercised their calling from remote times; and whether, as this proposed by-law will not only be injurious to these fishing communities but also to the public interest, he will refuse to confirm it?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. H. Stewart) on this subject on 6th November. The representations made by the Clyde fishermen will be considered along with the other representations in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in a report (R.E. 174) recently issued by the Health Section of the League of Nations that in Nigeria small-pox is considered to be endemic and frequently gives rise to epidemics, especially in the Northern Provinces; whether vaccination is compulsory in all provinces; and whether any other measures, apart from vaccination, are being taken to cope with the disease?

I have seen the report to which the hon. Member refers. In Nigeria vaccination is compulsory in the Colony and in the Southern Provinces of the Protectorate; in the Northern Provinces it can be made compulsory in any area by order of the Governor in Council, and so far it has been made compulsory in the townships of Minna and Idah. In the Colony and the Southern Provinces cases of smallpox in the larger centres are isolated and immediate steps are taken to vaccinate all contacts; in the Northern Provinces isolation is not at present generally practicable, and preventive measures have been mainly confined to vaccination, to which the people, by careful propaganda and education, are being gradually persuaded to submit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the order published in the Malta Government Gazette, making it possible for European girls of 16 years of age to be employed in shops regarded as anterooms of establishments of ill-fame; how long such order was in force; whether he was aware of the order; and at whose instance the order was revoked?

The text of the notice to which the hon. Member is presumably referring is appended. It will be seen that the regulation referred to in the notice empowered the commissioner of police to give permission to licensees of wine and spirits shops to allow their daughters to help them in their shops after they had attained the age of 16. I subsequently became aware of the existence of the notice, but I ought to point out that at that time the administration of the Island was in the hands of Ministers responsible to the local legislature, that the regulation in question was made on the advice of Ministers and that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom had no authority with regard to the matter. On the suspension of Parliamentary Government towards the end of 1933, the Governor gave consideration to the matter and, on 2nd January, 1934, directed the repeal of the order.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Government are examining the possibility of utilising seadromes in connection with the development of Imperial and foreign communications?

Yes, Sir, this question is being carefully studied, and a close watch is being kept on possible developments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the French Government has yet granted its permission for regular flights over France to connect up our Empire air services?

Negotiations are still proceeding, but I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Widnes (Mr. Robinson) on 7th November.