asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is proposed to instal further plant for low temperature carbonisation in connection with the coal mining industry; and whether any commercial advantage from the treatment of coal by such processes will be taken into account in determining the wages of men employed in the production of coal?

Several statements have appeared in the Press indicating that proposals for the erection of additional low temperature carbonisation plants are under consideration by the owners of processes, but I have no information concerning the number of the plants or the places at which they are likely to be installed. As regards the second part of the question, this is a matter for the two sides of the coal industry to consider.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is contemplated that Welsh troops should be included in the British Contingent to be sent to the Saar on the occasion of the plebiscite?

No Welsh units are included in the British Contingent to be sent to the Saar.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will explain the reason why the air mails from South America to this country are much cheaper than the air mails from this country to South America; and what is the rate paid by the French Government for the carriage of French mails by the German Government and by the German Government for the carriage of German mails by the French air mail as compared with our air mails sent by the French and German air mails, respectively?

The postage charged on air correspondence from South America to this country is based on a unit of 5 grammes, about one-sixth ounce, whereas the fees charged in this country on air correspondence for South America, as for extra-European destinations generally, are based on a unit of half an ounce. I have no precise information as to the actual amounts which the Argentine and Brazilian Post Offices pay to the air companies for the conveyance of their mails to Europe, but their published charges at current rates of exchange are considerably below the charges which the British Post Office has to pay to the French and German Post Offices for the service in the opposite direction. The payments which the French and German Post Offices respectively require from the British and other Post Office Administrations for the conveyance of air letters to South America are as follow:

• France to Brazil—1.53 gold francs per 5 grammes.
• France to Argentina—1.83 gold francs per 5 grammes.
• Germany to Brazil—1.50 gold francs per 5 grammes.
• Germany to Argentina—1.80 gold francs per 5 grammes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Education whether his Department is cognisant of the fact that the Oldbury Education Committee have planned provision for school buildings in their area that will be adequate for all children in the area of school age, including 300 for whom provision might have been expected to be made by the erection of a non-provided school; and has the Board of Education authorised the commencement of building on this principle?

My Noble Friend presumes that the hon. Member refers to the problem of school supply in the Warley district of Oldbury. He understands that a proposal for the provision of a non-provided school in this district for children resident in Birmingham and Smethwick as well as in Oldbury, is under consideration. No public notice, as required by Section 18 of the Education Act, 1921, has yet been issued, however, and in the absence of such notice my Noble Friend is not in a position to form any opinion regarding the provision which might have been or might be expected to be made by the erection of a non-provided school. He has no reason to think, however, that the proposals of the local education authority which he has so far sanctioned for the provision of a new council school for 300 junior children to replace temporary accommodation at present in use, are such as to prejudice the consideration of a proposal for a new non-provided school.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement with regard to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the West Riding of Yorkshire?

The existence of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on 9th December on premises at Clayton West, Huddersfield; at Pogmoor, Barnsley; and at Notton, Wakefield; and on 10th December on premises at Monk Bretton, Barnsley and at Royston, Barnsley. An Order declaring the area within a 15 miles radius of Barnsley an "infected area" was issued on 9th December, and the total stock on the five holdings, comprising 52 cattle and 100 pigs, has been slaughtered. The outbreaks on four of these holdings started among pigs purchased at Barnsley Market on 3rd December, the fifth outbreak, namely that at Notton, Wakefield, being on the farm from which some of these pigs had come. The tracing and examination of all stock exposed in Barnsley Market is in progress. The origin of the initial outbreak in this area has not yet been determined, but inquiries are still proceeding.