asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the representations from the National Smoke Abatement Society and local authorities with regard to the emission of grit from chimneys owing to the use of pulverised fuel; and whether he proposes to adopt the recommendation that the Government should set up a committee to investigate the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the question of the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses the constructed of which was ap-

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the representations from different parts of the country with regard to the existing law under the Housing Act, 1930, under which properties scheduled are acquired at only site value, it is proposed to make any amendment in the law to remedy the suffering and loss incurred at the present time by some owners of these houses?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions proposed to be made by Clauses 58 and 59 of the Housing Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses under construction in Scotland with the assistance of a State subsidy at the end of each of the months July to December, 1934, inclusive, and the number approved, but not begun, in each of the same months, distinguishing between the figures for slum clearance and other State-assisted houses?

The following statement contains the information asked for:

proved in each of the months June to December, 1934, inclusive, distinguishing between slum-clearance houses, 1924 Act houses, 1931 Act houses, and 1933 Act £3 subsidy houses?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses constructed with the help of a State guarantee under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1933; the number under construction; the number approved but not begun; the rents at which they are let; the total number of houses constructed with the help of the £3 subsidy under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1933; the number under construction; and the number approved but not begun?

As at 31st December, 1934, the number of houses completed with the help of a guarantee under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1933, was 260, for which rents of £27 per annum (exclusive of occupier's rates) have been approved. There are no houses under construction or approved but not begun, under the guarantee provisions of the Act. At the same date, 427 houses had been completed with the help of the £3 subsidy under the 1933 Act, 1,159 were under construction, and 146 were approved but not begun.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that his employés behind the counters of the public post offices are familiar with the Post Office Regulations generally; and whether he has considered the propriety of holding occasional examinations

The following statement contains the information asked for:

to see whether their knowledge is up-to-date?

I am satisfied that the staff of the Department employed on counter work are, generally speaking, familiar with the Post Office Regulations. Schools for training counter staff are being developed, and I do not consider a system of periodical examinations to be necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether British industries have benefited by the construction of the Iraq oil pipe-line; and, if so, what are the chief materials supplied from this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The principal materials supplied by the United Kingdom consisted of pipes and Diesel engines.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what are the present proposals for building the aerodrome in the neighbourhood of Louth; when the building is likely to be finished; and will he endeavour to ensure the employment of local men, especially ex-service men, as far as possible?

Work on the aerodrome will commence later this year and extend over a period of some four years. The engagement of labour will be a matter for the contractor, who will be urged to engage any labour required through the National Employment Exchange service. In meeting the contractor's requirements the Employment Exchange will pay full regard to the claims of the local unemployed, and in particular of those who are ex-service men.

The figures for 1934 are not yet available

In addition to the above figures there were 27 cases in 1929 and 23 cases in 1930 which are recorded as suicides by non-civilians in England and Wales, but were not separated into English and Welsh cases respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education which education authorities in England and Wales do not employ organisers of physical training?

Of the 316 local education authorities in England and Wales, the following 205 do not employ organisers of physical training.

asked the Home Secretary the number of suicides in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, respectively, in each of the last five years?

The numbers of deaths from suicide returned by the Registrars-General of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, during the years 1929 to 1933 are as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any statement to make in regard to the step it is proposed to take to protect the barley-growing industry of this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 31st January to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Louth (Lieut.-Colonel Heneage).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the depression in the British fruit and vegetable canning industry; and whether he can state the nature of the increasing imports from America and Empire countries which have produced such a depression?

I am aware that in 1934 there was some decrease in the output of English canneries, and that at the same time there was an increase in the imports of canned fruits from the Empire and from foreign countries. Details are given in "Canned and Dried Fruit Notes" for the current month, published by the Imperial Economic Committee, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farm workers in Great Britain and in Scotland, respectively, in the years 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934, including casuals but exclusive of occupiers of holdings, their wives, and domestic servants?

The total numbers of male and female workers (excluding the occupier, his wife and domestic servants, but including casual workers) employed on agricultural holdings above one acre in extent as shown in the agricultural returns collected in June in each of the years 1931–1934 in Great Britain and in Scotland, respectively, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the disparity which exists between the taxation on private motor cars and tradesmen's small delivery vans, which have been granted no reduction of tax similar to that conferred on private cars; and whether he will consider some revision in legislation to dispose of this anomaly?

Parliament has enacted different bases of taxation for private motor cars and for vehicles used for the carriage of burden, and I am not aware that the recent reduction in the horse-power tax has created any anomaly in regard to the licence duties payable on tradesmen's delivery vans.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were killed in road accidents in England and Wales in each of the years 1926–34, inclusive; and how many of those were engaged in driving motor vehicles?

The number of persons killed in road accidents in England and Wales in each of the years 1926 to 1934 (inclusive) and the numbers so killed on motor vehicles (including motor cycles and tramcars) were as follow:

A large proportion of the persons included in the last column were riding on motor cycles or in sidecars. It is not possible to say how many of the persons killed were engaged in driving motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have been caused by cars mounting pavements; and how many persons were injured in such accidents during 1933 and 1934?

I am not in a position to state the number of accidents involving injury caused by cars mounting the footpaths, but the fatal accidents, the main or contributory cause of which was reported to be a vehicle mounting a footpath, numbered 70 in 1933.