asked the Secretary for Mines the present position regarding the proposed merging of the firms of Wilson and Clyde Coal Company, Limited, and Brand and Company, Woodside Colliery; if previous merging took place with these firms; and if any further merging is proposed in Scotland, and is this taking place under the Mines Reorganisation Committee?

I have no information on this subject beyond what has appeared in the Press, which is to the effect that negotiations for the acquisition of Messrs. Brand and Company's Woodside Colliery by Messrs. Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company are nearing completion. With regard to the second part of the question, I understand, also from Press reports, that Messrs. Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company have recently acquired the Darngavil Coal Company, Limited, and Messrs. Robert Addie and Sons Collieries, Limited. The mergers referred to have been carried out privately and not under the provisions of the Mining Industry Act, 1926. With regard to the last part of the question, I am informed that the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission are preparing, for submission to the Railway and Canal Commission, a scheme of amalgamation of collieries in Fifeshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reasons for the compulsory retirement of the governor of Blinkbonny Home, Falkirk, Mr. Gordon Paterson; and if he intends to hold a public inquiry into the administration of the institution as requested by the Falkirk Town Council?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The appointment and dismissal of governors of poorhouses is entirely a matter for the local authority, and is not one in which the Department have any power to intervene. With regard to the second part, the Department have no information at present before them to indicate the necessity for any inquiry into the administration of the poorhouse. I understand, however, that a report on the matter will be submitted to the Deparment by the Falkirk Town Council at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any prisoners were punished for alleged offences in the recent trouble at Barlinnie Prison who were not tried before a judicial court; the names of each person punished; whether the prisoners sentenced have been removed to other prisons; and, if so, to what prison?

Seventeen prisoners who were not tried in the sheriff court were awarded punishment by forfeiture of marks by the statutory visiting committee of Barlinnie Prison for participating in the recent disturbances at that prison. In the interests of these prisoners, I do not think it desirable to publish their names. One of them has been removed to Edinburgh Prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the present position with respect to the importation of sheet glass of Belgian and British manufacture, respectively, into the Commonwealth of Australia?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a White Paper recently issued in Australia which gives full information respecting the present position in regard to the importation of sheet glass of Belgian and United Kingdom manufacture, respectively, into the Commonwealth of Australia. A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to accompany the next census of production with a parallel census of distribution?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government are considering the question of a permanent trade agreement with the Soviet Government, in view of the fact that as long as the so-called temporary trade agreement is in operation the Soviet Government will not be likely to make any constructive suggestion as to the repayment of debts due to British nationals?

I cannot at present add anything to the statement which I made in the House of this subject on 1st March, 1934.

asked the Minister of Health whether the standard of merit formerly fixed as the basis of the awards to public vaccinators, namely, that the scars produced by the vaccinator must be well marked in their foveation, and must have collectively at least a half square inch total area is still in force; and if not, what standard of merit has been substituted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The present instruction to public vaccinators in this matter is contained in paragraph 7 of the Third Schedule to the Vaccination Order, 1930, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been proceeded against under the Vaccination Acts, how many of such persons were fined, and how many of the latter were subsequently imprisoned in default of paying the fines inflicted since and including the year 1915?

The number of persons proceeded against and the number fined are given in the subjoined table:

Year.			No. of Persons proceeded against.	Number fined.
1915	…	…	155	94
1916	…	…	117	70
1917	…	…	64	46
1918	…	…	68	57
1919	…	…	83	45
1920	…	…	118	90
1921	…	…	91	69
1922	…	…	74	56
1923	…	…	149	91
1924	…	…	246	155
1925	…	…	221	143
1926	…	…	176	118
1927	…	…	148	114
1928	…	…	182	131
1929	…	…	129	100
1930	…	…	119	85
1931	…	…	73	52
1932	…	…	87	65
1933	…	…	118	100

Corresponding figures for 1934 are not yet complete. I regret that no information is available as to the number of persons included in the table who were imprisoned in default of payment of the fines imposed.

asked the Minister of Health the number of blind persons in each county area for England and Wales; the cost per thousand of the population; and whether any special grant is made to any county which is recognised as a necessitous area?

I will send the hon. Member a statement showing the number of blind persons registered in each county area in England and Wales on 31st March, 1934, according to particulars supplied by the Counties Associations for the Blind. No complete information is available as to the cost per thousand of the population of the various services rendered for the blind. As regards the last part of the question, there is now no special grant from the Exchequer for this service. The grant formerly paid was merged in the General Exchequer Grant payable to local authorities under the Local Government Act, 1929, which is in part calculated on a formula designed to afford the greatest measure of relief to the poorest areas.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of totally unemployed persons for the years 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934, respectively, signing at the Pontypridd, Pontyclun and Tonyrefail Exchanges?

The following statement gives the information desired:Wholly Unemployed persons on the registers of the undermentioned Employment Exchanges; averages of the numbers registered at Quarterly dates (March, June, September, December) during the years 1930–1934.

Date.		Pontypridd.	Pontyclun.	Tonyrefail.
1930	…	3,794	719	953
1931	…	4,836	1,074	972
1932	…	5,710	907	1,196
1933	…	5,950	982	1,406
1934	…	6,324	900	1,383

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the cost of redeeming the Local Loan stock raised to finance the Agricultural Credits Act or to pay the difference between an equitable rate of exchange of say 4 per cent. instead of the present high rate of 5 per cent. exacted from the farmers?

The total amount of advances made under the Agricultural Credits Acts (England and Scotland) and outstanding on 31st March, 1934, was £3,404,613. The loans were made in the years 1923 to 1928 at 5 per cent. interest and the corresponding amount of Local Loans stock issued was presumably about £5,500,000. A reduction of the rate of interest to 4 per cent, would necessitate an annual subsidy from the Exchequer to the Local Loans Fund of £34,046 for, say, 50 years, the present value of which would be approximately £876,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total receipts from import duties on foodstuffs for the financial year ended 31st March, 1934?

The approximate amount of customs duties collected on foodstuffs, including feeding stuffs for animals (which cannot be separately distinguished) and tea, coffee and cocoa, during the financial year 1933–34 was £33,263,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement as to the circumstances in which certain Zubeidat Arabs have recently been evicted by force from their lands and an Arab was killed; and will he say what were the numbers wounded?

I have received the following information from the High Commissioner for Palestine:On 30th January, the execution officer at Haifa proceeded to execute an order of the courts issued in favour of the Palestine Land Development Company, giving the latter possession of lands known as the Hartieh Lands, which were formerly cultivated by the Arab El Zubeidat. In view of threatened opposition by the Arab El Zubeidat, he requested police protection and a strong force of police was detailed to accompany hime, namely:

2	Assistant Superintendent of Police,
1	British Inspector,
3	Palestinian Inspectors,
2	Non-Commissioned Officers.
10	British Foot Constables,
2	Mounted British Constables,
3	Mounted Non-Commissioned Officers,
20	Mounted Palestinian Constables.

The technical procedure of walking round the boundaries was commenced by the execution officer at 10 a.m., but he and his escort had only travelled some 200 yards when they were forced to retreat under a hail of stones flung by hand and from slings by Arabs distributed among the hills. Two Palestinian constables and two horses were injured by stones. The situation was reported by telephone to the district superintendent of police at 11.5 a.m. by the assistant superintendents. The district superintendent issued instructions that in no circumstances must the police resort to fire unless the lives of the escort and the execution officer were in danger, and that no further action should be taken pending the arrival of the district superintendent.The district superintendent and his deputy arrived at 11.30 a.m. and were quickly convinced that a very serious situation confronted the police. The land to be handed over consisted chiefly of steep hills and deep "wadis." The hillsides were occupied by parties of Arabs, whose numbers it was impossible to estimate, as many were under cover of high scrub and bushes. The execution officer and his escort again advanced, but, on entering a "wadi," they were met with showers of stones. It was found impossible to dislodge the attackers on the left flank of the "wadi," since neither foot nor mounted police could reach them. Stone-throwing was incessant and well-directed and stones were flung by the aid of slings. Having made several vain attempts to clear the Arabs on the left flank, estimated at some 50 or 60 in number, the district superintendent blew his whistle and instructed one of the assistant superintendents to issue a clear warning in Arabic, calling on the attackers to desist and disperse. This warning and whistle-blowing was repeated several times, but without effect. The district superintendent then drew up three British constables armed with rifles and again blew his whistle and directed the assistant superintendent to give the order for dispersal in Arabic and to make the attackers understand that, if they did not, he would be compelled to open fire on them. This warning had no effect whatever and the district superintendent thereupon ordered one of the British constables to load and fire one round at the knees in the prescribed manner. He fired and hit one of the attackers on the right leg. This was the only shot fired. First aid was immediately rendered, and in very difficult circumstances the wounded Arab was carried down the steep hillside to the road. Two mounted constables were despatched for a police tender which arrived promptly, and the wounded man was removed in charge of a British non-commissioned officer qualified in first aid, but unfortunately he died on the way to the hospital. A sling was removed from the right hand of the victim.The handing over of the land then proceeded without further incident, although it was found necessary to issue repeated warnings to the mobs assembled on the hillsides. Seven British police, five Palestinian police and five horses were injured by stones. In reporting this occurrence, the High Commissioner expresses his regret that the single round which was fired should have resulted in the death of one of the Arabs, but he is satisfied that in the circumstances no other coarse was open to the district superintendent. He considers that the district superintendent acted with restraint and good judgment and the police with great forbearance, and I have informed him that I concur in that view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the members of the Tin Production Regulation Committee at the time of the negotiations for the restriction scheme; the date of approval by the Colonial Office of such scheme; and the names at such date of the members of the Tin Production Regulation Committee?

No Tin Production Regulation Committee was constituted before the scheme was adopted. The following persons were invited by Lord Passfield to attend the meeting at the Colonial Office on 27th February, 1931, at which the details of the scheme were provisionally agreed:

• Sir John Campbell (Chairman).
• Senor Antenor Patino and Senor R. Martinez Vargas (representing Bolivia).
• Messieurs A. Groothoff, F. Houwert and J. van den Broek (representing the Netherlands East Indies).
• Mr. H. W. Thomson (representing the Malay States).
• Sir Frank Baddeley (representing Nigeria).

The following were invited to attend in an advisory capacity:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the House any information in regard to the secret tests of a, high-speed French rail-car at Tilbury?

At the request of an English firm, and in accordance with their practice of keeping themselves informed of the latest developments, the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company have agreed to give the car in question trials to see whether or not there is a field for its operation on the London Midland and Scottish system, and to test out its technical and commercial possibilities. There is, however, no question of secret tests being made, or of special high speed operation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the Mid-Southern Utility Company have failed to supply Slinfold with electricity though they obtained authority to do so in 1929, he will now grant authority to the Horsham Urban District Council to supply electricity to Slinfold, in accordance with a request made to the Electricity Commissioners in 'October, 1934, by the Slinfold Parish Council?

I am aware that there has been delay on the part of the company in providing a supply of electricity to Slinfold. This delay is in part accounted for by the difficulties experienced by the company in settling the route for the proposed high tension line to supply this place, and in obtaining the necessary wayleaves. I understand that the company have already placed a contract for the work, and anticipate that in the absence of unforeseen difficulties the line should be completed in three or four months' time. In all the circumstances, it would hardly be reasonable not to afford the company an opportunity of carrying out the work in accordance with the consents they have now obtained.