asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reason for the refusal of the Treasury to receive a deputation from the Association of ex-Service Civil Servants on the subject of promotion procedure referred to in their letter of 31st October, 1934, and in their memorandum dated April, 1934; and whether, in view of the fact that it is desirable for the Treasury to have the benefit of the views of all concerned in such an important matter, he will waive the objection already raised and permit them to send their deputation to the Treasury?

The memorandum referred to was brought to the notice of the official side of the appropriate Whitley Committee. In reply to their letter of 31st October, the association were informed that as their views were placed before the Treasury in April last, and as the question of promotion procedure was also dealt with by the deputation received by my predecessor in June, 1932, no useful purpose would be served by the reception of a further deputation at the present time. It was added that any further representations which the association might desire to make should take the form of a supplementary memorandum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of British ships that have been lost through defective steering gear; whether the British steamer "Blairgowrie" was lost through this cause; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

During the present winter two British ships, the s.s. "Usworth" and the s.s. "Blairgowrie," have been lost following a breakdown of steering gear, but as other serious damage was sustained by these vessels during exceptionally heavy weather, it cannot be held that their loss was due directly to this cause. Special inquiry is being made in my Department into the general question of steering gear on merchant vessels, as well as into the particular casualties mentioned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that no letters are delivered on Sundays and telegrams are the only means of communication of which record is kept, he will now remit the extra charge of 6d. upon inland telegrams transmitted on Sundays?

The Sunday surcharge is one of the questions which are being considered by a departmental committee on the Telegraph Service which I have set up. I regret that I am unable to make any further statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's representative in Mexico Possesses any record of church property owned by British subjects in Mexico; and is his Department aware whether or no such property may at any time by law be appropriated by the Mexican Government?

While I have no definite information, I feel confident that His Majesty's Legation at Mexico City is in possession of records of English churches in Mexico. The position of church property is governed by Article 27 II of the Mexican Constitution, which reads as follows:

"The religious institutions known as churches, irrespective of creed, may in no case acquire, hold or administer real property nor hold mortgages thereon; property so held at present, either directly or through third parties, shall revert to the Nation, any person whatsoever being authorised to denounce property so held. Strong presumptive proof shall suffice to declare the denunciation well-founded. Places of public worship are the property of the Nation, as represented by the Federal Government, which shall determine which of them may continue to be devoted to their present purposes. Bishoprics, rectories, seminaries, orphan asylums and schools belonging to religious orders, convents and any other buildings built or intended for the administration, propagation or teaching of any religious creed shall at once become, by inherent right, the property of the Nation, to be used exclusively for the public services of the Federal or State Governments, within their respective jurisdictions. All places of public worship hereinafter erected shall be the property of the Nation."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of employes of the League of Nations at Geneva of British nationality, and the aggregate salaries paid to them?

I am obtaining the latest figures, and will communicate them to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the proposed members of the Herring Industry Board?

The names of the proposed members of the Herring Industry Board are as follow:

• Mr. James Watt, LL.D., W.S., Edinburgh (Chairman).
• Mr. H. S. Moss Blundell, C.B.E. (Deputy Chairman).
• Mr. Walter Smith, formerly Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and to the Board of Trade.
• Mr. Eric Brander, Chairman of the Scottish Herring Producers Association, Limited.
• Mr. G. N. Davidson, Kipperer and Herring Merchant.
• Mr. Neil Mackay, Managing Director of Mac Fisheries, Limited.
• Mr. J. H. Mitchell, Chairman of the British Herring Trade Association, Limited.
• Mr. G. F. Spashett, Boatowner and Salesman.

The first three are the independent members, that is to say, persons not engaged in the herring industry or trades connected with it. The other five are the persons having special knowledge of the industry in terms of Section 1 of the Bill. On his appointment Mr. Moss Blundell will resign his existing post as Chief Inspector of Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many authorities have not yet complied with their statutory obligation to submit statements as to housing requirements before the end of 1933; and the total amount of houses required according to the statements received?

With regard to the first part of the Question, only one local authority has not yet submitted a statement as to its housing requirements in terms of Sub-section 2 of Section 22 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930. With regard to the second part, the total number of houses estimated to be required for all purposes during the five years 1934 to 1938 to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the districts of the 227 local authorities from whom statements have been received is 128,784.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been completed in rural areas in each county of Scotland in each of the months June to September, 1934, inclusive, under the provisions of the Housing (Slum Clearance) Act, 1930; and how many have been completed up to the same date in county areas, excluding burghs, in each county?

The information desired is contained in the following statement which shows (a) the number of houses completed during each of the months Jun1e to September, 1934, in counties (excluding burghs) under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, and (b) the number of houses shown in Column (a) which were completed during these

County.		June.		July.		August.		September.
		(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Aberdeen	…	—	—	—	—	4	4	—	—
Angus	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Argyll	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ayr	…	32	4	20	—	26	—	—	—
Banff	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Berwick	…	—	—	12	12	—	—	—	—
Bute	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Caithness	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Clackmannan	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dumfries	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dunbarton	…	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
East Lothian	…	24	8	12	4	12	12	26	10
Fife	…	44	—	8	—	—	—	8	—
Inverness	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kincardine	…	—	—	—	—	4	4	—	—
Kinross	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kirkcudbright	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Lanark	…	16	—	28	—	12	—	16	—
Midlothian	…	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Moray	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Nairn	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Orkney	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Peebles	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Perth	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Renfrew	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ross and Cromarty	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Roxburgh	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Selkirk	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Stirling	…	16	—	14	—	6	—	16	—
Sutherland	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
West Lothian	…	16	—	22	—	—	—	6	—
Wigtown	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Zetland	…	—	—	14	14	2	2	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses, other than slum-clearance houses, were built with State assistance in Scotland during the year ended 31st January, 1935; how many of these houses were let at gents, excluding occupiers' rates, of less than £30, £25, and £17, respectively; how many of these houses were provided under each of the Housing Acts; and

The number of houses other than houses built under slum clearance schemes, completed with State assistance in Scotland during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1935, was 9,522. Of these, 3,792 houses were completed by private enterprise, but no information is available as to the rents charged for them, if let, except in the case of 260 houses provided under a guarantee scheme in terms of Section 3 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1933, where the rents are

Enabling Act.	Total number of assisted houses (other than houses built under Slum Clearance Schemes) completed during 12 months ended 31st January, 1935.	Number of assisted houses (other than houses built under Slum Clearance Schemes) completed by local authorities and having annual rents (exclusive of occupiers' rates) of—			Total of three preceding columns.
		Less than £30 but not less than £25.	Less than £25 but not less than £17.	Less than £17.
Housing, etc., Act, 1923.
By local authorities	6	Not available.
By private enterprise	1,273	Not available.
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
By local authorities	6,003*	920	3,471	1,059	5,450*
By private enterprise	2,259	Not available.
Housing (Mural Authorities) Act, 1931.
By local authorities	322	—	—	322	322
Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1933.
By local authorities (Section 1)	399	—	—	399	399
By private enterprise (Section 3)	260	260	—	—	260
Totals	9,522	1,180	3,471	1,780	6,431
*Note.—-Returns as to rents are not obtained until the whole development is completed. Of the 5,003 houses completed in the period, however, while some rents are in excess of £30 the majority are under this figure. The figure of 5,450 includes a number of houses completed prior to 1st February, 1934.