asked the Home Secretary how many of the applications for licences or certificates issued in 1934, under the Cruelty of Animals Act, 18V6, were signed by the President of the Royal Veterinary College, London?

No application for a licence and no certificate in 1934 bore the signature of the President of the Royal Veterinary College, London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated number of standard and bulk barrels of beer, proof gallons of spirits, and gallons of wine consumed in Northern Ireland during the calendar year 1934, and the estimated revenue under each head?

The following table shows the estimated quantities of spirits, beer, and wine, retained for consumption in Northern Ireland during the calendar year 1934, and the estimated revenue attributable thereto:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase in smuggling, he will consider introducing legislation to increase the present maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment?

I have noted the suggestion for consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport what grants have been made by his Department during each of the past three years towards the expenditure of the Middlesex County Council in levelling and covering with grass the margins of the Great West Road; and whether, before such grants were made, any steps were taken to ascertain whether such expenditure was undertaken with a view to providing better facilities for pedestrians and riders or merely to render such margins ornamental?

Expenditure on the care and maintenance of grass margins together with other items of work of like character is included in the estimates submitted by county councils in connection with the classification grant under the general head of "Maintenance." County authorities are not required to distinguish the individual items making up the total under this head.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any indication of the extent of the new financial liability which will fall on the State as a result of the remodelling of the administration of unemployment relief assistance?

I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the Financial Memorandum on the Bill which is to be introduced, when such information as is possible will be given in the usual way.

asked the Minister of Labour his estimate of the approximate time needed by the Unemployment Assistance Board to make the necessary examination of the present position and to present its revised proposals to him?

No, Sir, I cannot at this stage make such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Health when the Government expect to be able to submit legislation to Parliament implementing the recommendations of the Willis Report on the Composition and Description of Food, dated March, 1934?

I am keeping the matter in mind, but I cannot at present say when it will be possible to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to outbreaks of a virulent type of influenza in two places in France; and whether, in view of the fact that the influenza epidemic in England two years ago was responsible for the loss of several thousand lives, he can see his way to take steps, either by quarantine restrictions or by other regulations, which may lessen the chance of infection spreading to this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am advised that there are no known practicable means whereby the spread of in- fluenza from one country to another can be prevented, and there are, therefore, no effective steps which I can take for the purpose mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Section of the Poor Law Act, 1934, which deals with wounds and war disability pensions has been put into operation; and, if not, when it is proposed to issue an order to make this Section operative?

An Order fixing 1st March next as the date of the operation of the provision was made on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Health the number and names of local authorities which have not restored the emergency cuts in salaries and wages made in 1931?

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of area war pensions offices; where each is situated; and the area covered by each office?

There are 15 area offices of the Ministry, but as the further information asked for by the hon. Member

I regret that I do not possess the desired information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of mishaps in each of the last two years to home trade and coasting vessels as a result of the shifting of grain cargoes?

So far as I am aware, there have been no such casualties during the past two years.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of hospitals for the treatment of disabled ex-service men now under the administration of the Ministry; where each hospital is situated; the number of patients for which there is accommodation in each hospital; and the number of doctors, sisters and nurses attached to each institution?

The particulars asked for are as follow:

involves a tabulated statement and considerable detail, I am communicating with him on the matter in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of cases of kidnapping of women and children and of dacoitees in the British Indian Provinces, and, separately, in Sind, annually during the last five years?

I am sending my hon. Friend two statements giving the figures from 1929–1933. Figures for 1934 are not yet available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the attention of his Department has been called to the refusal of the Southport Education Committee to pay the travelling expenses of some pupils from St. Patrick's parish to St. Marie's schools, a distance of two miles; and is it within the discretion of the committee to sanction such payment of fares?

The board have not been informed of any such refusal on the part of the Southport local education authority. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Section 88 (1) of the Education Act, 1921.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, the number of children in elementary schools in England and Wales who are receiving meals at school because they are unable to receive proper education through lack of food; the number who received a mid-day dinner; the number who received a second meal either in the morning or afternoon, breakfast or tea, giving England and Wales separately; what is the cost per meal; and the number of days per week it is supplied?

The number of children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales who are receiving ordinary meals under arrangements made by local education authorities is about 108,000, of whom about 98,000 receive free meals. These children have not, however, in all cases been certified by the medical officer to be in need of meals because they are unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of their education, as the basis of selection has hitherto varied considerably in different areas. Figures showing the number of children who receive mid-day dinners and other meals, respectively, are not available, but the number of breakfasts represents about 12½ per cent. of the number of dinners, and the number of teas about 5 per cent. The cost per meal varies considerably, but the average cost is about 4d. Meals are usually given on five days a week only, but some authorities provide meals also on Saturdays or on Saturdays and Sundays. Detailed information on this point will be found in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Don Valley Division (Mr. T. Williams) on 12th April last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of elementary school children who are in receipt of milk, malt and cod-liver oil because they are in need of nourishment; the list of education authorities in England and Wales, separately, who select the children who are in need; and what is the cost per child per day?

About 200,000 children in public elementary schools are receiving free milk under arrangements made by 151 local education authorities in England and 20 in Wales. The number of children who receive milk because they have been certified by the medical officer to be in need of supplementary nourishment cannot be stated, as the method of selection has hitherto varied considerably in different areas. The cost of the milk under the Milk in Schools Scheme is ½d. for a third of a pint; some children receive a third of a pint daily, and others two-thirds of a pint or one pint. The number of children receiving malt and cod liver oil is not available, as these are given in some areas as part of the authority's arrangements for the provision of meals, and in others as a form of medical treatment under Section 80 of the Education Act, 1921.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what number of local education authorities in England and Wales have had permission from the Board of Education to erect dining halls and cooking facilities to provide a hot meal for children in elementary schools; and whether the board is prepared to grant these facilities in the building of all future schools?

The board have no figures which would enable them to answer the first part of the question, but I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 22 of the board's annual report for 1932. Where the need for dining accommodation in connection with a new public elementary school is shown, the board are prepared to consider proposals for its provision sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his Department has had an opportunity to consider the report by Dr. Allan, Captain Burrows, and Drs. Matthews and Wilcocks, presented to the Medical Research Council on Tuberculosis in Africans; and has any preliminary line of action been decided upon?

Yes, Sir. The investigations on which this report is based were undertaken in consultation with the Colonial Office. The reports of Dr. Allan and Captain Burrows, while naturally of general interest in connection with the problem of tuberculosis in Africa, do not relate to territories dealt with by the Colonial Office. As regards the report by Dr. Matthews on tuberculosis in Zanzibar (which was first submitted in 1932), the local government has naturally given full consideration to the recommendations which Dr. Matthews put forward. A tuberculosis clinic was established in Zanzibar township, two new tuberculosis wards were built at Welezo infirmary, and special accommodation for tuberculosis cases was provided at the general hospital. Arrangements have also been made for the establishment of a home treatment service. It may be mentioned that the number of deaths notified in Zanzibar town as due to tuberculosis feli from 185 in 1923 to 52 in 1933. Dr. Wilcocks's report is in the nature of an interim report on an investigation financed from the Colonial Development Fund which began in 1931. An application has been submitted by the Tanganyika Government for the grant of further assistance from the fund to enable the investigation to be continued, on the lines indicated by Dr. Wilcocks, until May, 1937. The Tanganyika Government is fully alive to the importance of taking measures against the disease. Special instructions have been issued to all medical officers, administrative officers, schools, missions and native authorities in order to check its spread and to bring home to all concerned the danger which it presents.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the representations from the county council of the Isle of Ely as to the prevalence of eel-worm in Scotch seed potatoes; and whether he proposes to take any steps to ensure that such infected potatoes do not find their way into this administrative district or other parts of the British Isles?

The representations referred to in the first part of the question are receiving the Ministry's attention. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to-day to a question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Howdenshire Division (Major Carver), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the hon. Member for Bosworth, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether his Department have considered the representations from societies or people resident in Stepney, Mile End, or Bow, calling his attention to the fact that it is four years since the Queen's Hall of the Peoples' Palace was burnt down, and whether his Department has funds in hand which, if released, would enable an approved rebuilding plan to be put in hand forthwith?

The commissioners have received such representations as are referred to in the question from a single local political association and are aware that complaints are being made by residents in the neighbourhood as to the delay in the rebuilding of the Peoples' Palace. Plans for rebuilding have now been submitted by the governors and are under consideration. In considering the question of expenditure it is necessary for the commissioners to have regard to the financial stability of the charity as well as to the desirability of the provision of adequate and suitable buildings. Only two representations such as are referred to in the question have been received, but the charity commissioners are aware from what they have seen in newspapers that it is desired that the rebuilding of the Queen's Hall should not be delayed. The plans of the proposed new hall were received by the commissioners on the 28th ultimo and they and the financial position of the charity were considered at a meeting between representatives of the governors and the commissioners on the 5th instant. The plans will be sent forthwith to the commissioners' architect for approval, and if the result of the tenders when received justifies an immediate start the rebuilding will be commenced without delay. It is almost certain, however, that an appeal to the public for further funds will be necessary for the completion of the whole scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the recommendations for early action contained in the interim report of the Committee on Scottish Health Services have yet been carried out?

The Department of Health for Scotland are at present actively co-operating with local authori- ties and water undertakers in examining the whole position of water resources and supplies in Scotland with a view to a comprehensive consideration of the best use of those resources and supplies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Bill to deal with superannuation provisions affecting civil servants will be laid before this House?

The Financial Resolution upon which the Bill will be founded has been placed upon the Order Paper. I cannot at present say when it will be taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have gone off the Gold Standard since 1st October, 1931, and 1st January, 1932, respectively?

It is not possible to say precisely what measures constitute a departure from the Gold Standard. A table showing the dates at which the principal measures affecting currencies have been taken in recent years up to May, 1934, appears in the League of Nations Statistical Year Book for 1933–34 (page 206), and in a more up-to-date form in the October number (No. 10) of the League's Monthly Bulletin of Statistics (page 436).