asked the Secretary of State for India whether a fair-wages clause is insisted on in connection with all contracts entered into with his Department?

All contracts for the supply of goods entered into by the India Office include a fair-wages clause, but there is no such clause in contracts entered into by the High Commissioner. As the Government of India would be unable in practice to enforce a clause of the kind in respect of contracts placed abroad by the Indian Store Department in India, the insertion of a clause in contracts placed in this country by the London Stores Department would be undesirable. The High Commissioner, however, keeps himself informed of all firms which have been struck off the British Government approved list on account of the non-observance of the clause, with a view to refusing to countenance serious objectionable practices followed by tenderers.

If I submit a case to the hon. Gentleman, will he look into it?

Certainly.

Is the fair-wages clause similar to what we have in this country?

I will certainly investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there are any retired officers of the British Army part of whose pensions are chargeable to Indian revenues?

Yes, Sir. A share of the retired pay of all British Army officers who have served in India, proportionate to the length of their service in that country, is borne by Indian revenues.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will publish a statement giving the total amount payable as pensions in the United Kingdom out of Indian revenues, also a list of the pensioners, ecclesiastical, military, civil, and others, receiving these pensions, and the amount in each case?

The amounts paid in this country to the various classes of pensioner are at present shown in the published accounts of the Government of India. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 6th and 10th December last to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith). As the officers drawing pension number between eight and nine thousand, the compilation and publication of a detailed list would involve considerable Labour which my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in imposing on his staff.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will furnish a statement of the members of the All-India services, showing how many were British and how many were Indians as on 1st January, 1935?

The figures for 1935 are not yet available. On the 1st January, 1934, there were 2,115 Europeans and 1,256 Indians in the All-India Services.

asked the Secretary of State for India the total number of divisions that have taken place in the Central Assembly since the recent elections; and on how many occasions the Government have been defeated?

:According to my present information the Government of India have been defeated 13 times in the Legislative Assembly since the recent elections. I have no information of the total number of divisions that have taken place during that period.

:In view of that reply, in view also of the fact that in the present Central Assembly there are 40 nominated members out of a total of 145 and that, under the new Constitution, out of 375 there will not be one nominated member, are not the figures rather ominous?

Such generalisations would be quite out of place. I think the present practice shows the result of irresponsible central government.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that salt exported to India from this country by the Salt Union Company is classified in India for tariff purposes as foreign; and on what grounds this decision has been reached?

The duty on salt imported into India consists of a duty equal to the excise duty plus an additional duty levied under the Salt (Additional Import Duty) Act, 1931. The latter duty is levied on all salt not produced in India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that under a recent decree of the Travancore State Government, Indian members of the Anglican, Nonconformist, and Roman Catholic (Latin rite) churches are officially classified as members of the depressed classes; that at recent meetings of an Anglican church council and an All-India Catholic congress, resolutions of protest were passed against this classification; and whether the Government of India will make representations to the Government of Travancore on the subject?

I am not aware of the precise details of the classification in question, but the Travancore Government have stated, in reply to inquiries on the matter, that, according to the classification now in force, Travancore Christians as a whole are divided into five main groups, of which "depressed classes" is the fifth, representing members of that class converted to Christianity. I have no information as to the resolutions referred to in the second part of the question. The matter is one relating to the internal administration of the State and in the circumstances it would not appear that any question of further action on the part of the Government of India arises.

Is it not the case that the terms of the Travancore Treaty of 1805 have always been construed as justifying representations by the Paramount Power to the Travancore Durbar on questions affecting the welfare of Christians within that State, and that the Durbar have recognised the right of the Paramount Power to tender advice of that kind?

:I must remind the Noble Lady that this is a matter that refers to the internal affairs of the State and that inquiries have already been made. If there is anything substantial in what the Noble Lady has brought to my notice, I am sure that we may rely upon the discretion of the Paramount Power in India to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a deputation from the depressed classes recently waited on the Home Member of the Government of Madras to ask for protection for themselves, when they acquired land for cultivation, against destruction of standing crops and other methods of intimidation practised by caste people; and what reply was given to them by the Home Member?

I have no information beyond what has appeared in the Press.

Will the hon. Gentleman inform himself upon the matter?

I am ready to make inquiries if the Noble Lady desires.

asked the Secretary of State for India the reasons for the recent appointment of five retired military officers as additional district magistrates in the Indian Civil Service in Bengal?

These appointments have been made to replace casualties due to the terrorist movement. Proposals for the employment of Indian Army officers for this purpose have been under discussion since March, 1932, and were finally approved in March, 1934. Three officers have been recently appointed and two more are to be selected. Indian Army officers with a knowledge of the country form the most readily available source of supply, since officers of the Indian Civil Service cannot at present be spared for transfer from other Provinces.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information with regard to the proposed appointment of Brigadier-General Hammond and two other British railway experts to examine the organisation of the Chinese railway system and to advise the Chinese Government thereon?

Brigadier-General F. D. Hammond, accompanied by Mr. L. J. L. Lean and Mr. F. J. M. Taylor, both of the Great Western Railway, is leaving on the 4th April for China, where he will probably remain approximately four months in order to examine and advise upon the reorganisation of the Chinese railway system. His appointment was the result of an entirely spontaneous invitation from the Chinese Government and his mission represents an independent technical inquiry with no political associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the extent of Communist activities above Hankow and particularly in Szechuan?

Communists who were driven into North-East Szechuan as a result of a campaign in 1932, commenced a general movement northwards at the beginning of this year. Some of them entered South-West Shensi and captured Ningkiang on the 6th February. After a successful campaign against Communists in Kiangsi and Fukien last year, a body of them moved westward and some reached South Szechuan in February. An attempt to cross the Yangtse failed, and they are reported to have fallen back into Keeichow. Several Central Government divisions have already arrived in Szechuan.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are not Communists, but Distributivists; otherwise, Chinese diehards?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the official Japanese statement that the promise of Manchukuo to maintain an open door was conditional on recognition by the foreign Governments interested; and whether he will make a statement in this connection at an early date?

I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to Press reports of the terms of the note addressed by the Japanese Government to His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo regarding oil policy in Manchuria. From a telegraphic report I have received it appears that it is contended in the note that the adherence of the existing regime in Manchuria to the principle of the "open door" was not unconditional. I have not, however, yet received the text of the note, and am unable to make any statement about it.

Is it not a fact that the maintenance of the open door was part of the original understanding?

I think I had better see the note before answering further questions.

Japan being outside the League, how is the League to exercise any control over Japan at the present time?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the price of Japanese bicycles imported into India at the present time as compared with the corresponding British product?

The approximate wholesale price in India of Japanese bicycles assembled in India to-day is 22s. each. The cheapest United Kingdom bicycle of standard type, also assembled in India, sells wholesale at slightly under £2. As a result of its superior quality, the United Kingdom product, which enjoys a 10 per cent. ad valorem preference on importation, was responsible for 65 per cent. of the value of India's imports of cycles, parts and accessories in the year 1932–33 and for 71 per cent. in the following year. In these two years the Japanese share of the trade was 23¾ per cent. and 20 per cent. respectively.

Is it not the case that British bicycles are not corresponding, but superior?

I said "of superior quality."

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been drawn to the efforts being made by the bureau of roads in China and the inter-provincial traffic commission to encourage the use of bicycles on the many new roads now being constructed throughout that country; and whether he will direct the attention of British manufacturers to the possibility of an expanding market for bicycles in China?

I am aware of the recent development of road building in China. The Department of Overseas Trade has recently arranged for the Commercial Counsellor in China, who is at present in this country, to make a series of tours to industrial centres and he has seen most of the leading manufacturers interested in the cycle trade in China.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will furnish the House with information he has received from His Majesty's ambassador or commercial attaché in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as to the shortage or otherwise of the planned quantity of grain produced under the system of planned economy on the collectivised farms and state and Individual farms during the years 1932, 1933, and 1934?

According to Soviet statistics which I have received, a shortage appears to have occurred in the planned quantity of grain produced in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1932, and a surplus in 1933. Figures for 1934 are not available, but it is stated that most districts have fulfilled their deliveries.

In view of the great interest that is taken in this matter by all parties, and now that we are in such friendly relations with our Russian friends, might we not inquire whether the shortage has been 100,000,000 tons, more or less, during the last three years?

The figures I have been given do not indicate that to be the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in m view of the possible competition with British brick manufacturers through depreciation of the belga, the Government intends increasing the tariff on imported

I am unable at present to add anything to the information previously given to the House about the commercial negotiations with Turkey, but I hope that it may be possible to do so before long.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which trade agreements terminate before the end of the year 1937; and whether he will specify the dates on which notice of denunciation has to be given in each case?

As the reply is long, and contains a tabular statement, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Any question of an increased duty on bricks is a matter for the Import Duties Advisory Committee in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will direct His Majesty's Minister in China to represent to the Chinese Government that the extensive export duties on Chinese goods are both a hindrance to British trade and also an important factor militating against the endeavour to restore china's trade balance?

The Chinese Government removed the export duty on silk in 1932, on rice and wheat in 1933, and on a very large number of raw materials and articles of manufacture in 1934, while reducing it on others. It may therefore be presumed that the Chinese Government are aware that export duties tend to produce the effects mentioned by my hon. Friend and I do not think that representations would serve any useful purpose. It must be realised that alternative revenue would have to be found and the method of raising it might interfere equally or even more with trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the recommendations contained in paragraphs 44 and 45 of the report of the departmental committee on the reconstruction of the Royal Veterinary College have been given effect to; and, if so, to what extent?

The Governors have accepted in principle the recommendations to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but action has been deferred until the re-building of the College is approaching completion. I understand that they have recently been advised that it will be necessary for them to apply for a new charter, and that a draft is in course of preparation.

Does not my right hon. Friend think, having regard to the large sums which have been provided out of public funds for the reconstruction of this college, that it would be better to reconstitute the government of this college before the money is spent, rather than after?

My reply refers to the approaching completion of the rebuilding of the college.

Is it not actually going on at the present time?

Yes, it is going on now.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in respect of the application which has been made to his Department by the Esher Urban District Council for consent to enclose 1,497 yards of poor's allotments to assist in the development of Brooks Farm estate, he has made inquiry into the allegation that the said council have already encroached on the Tilt Common and Charity Land, and are proposing further encroachment; if not, whether he proposes to hold a full inquiry into the matter before sanctioning the Esher Urban District Council's application; whether he has in his Department a map showing the exact location of the 20 acres of poor's allotments described in the Cobham Enclosure Act, 1793, as the Tilt, Leigh Hill, and Brook Hill; and whether such map is available for public inspection?

Accompanying the application referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question was a statement that a slightly larger area of land was proposed to be added to the common in substitution. It has since been alleged that the land proposed to be added formed part of the Poor Allotments set out under the Cobham Enclosure Act, 1793. The award and map made under the Act are not in the custody of my Department. The Act provided that copies of the award and plan were to be deposited with the Clerk of the Peace, the vicar and churchwardens of the parish of Cobham, and with the records of the Manor, but I gather that, so far, the Esher Urban District Council have been unable to trace the present whereabouts of a plan. My consent to the proposed enclosure will not be given without due regard being had to all the interests involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any figures showing the amount of barley used by manufacturers of patent food; and, if so, can he specify the quantities of home and imported barley, respectively?

I regret that I have no information as to the amount of barley used by manufacturers of patent food.

:In view of the very large quantity of lower-grade malting barley that is used by these manufacturers, much of which is imported, will the Minister make an approach to them with a view to their using a greater quantity of the home-produced article?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Canadian Government have recently passed regulations prohibiting the importation of pedigree cattle into Canada from this country except through the London quarantine station; that the Canadian import regulations with regard to pedigree cattle are more strict than those imposed by any other Dominion or the Argentine; and that, owing to the accommodation at the London quarantine station being limited, there are large numbers of cattle awaiting shipment to Canada; whether he will consider setting up a quarantine station at Glasgow; and whether he proposes to take any, and what, steps to deal with the situation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I think that my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. The Canadian regulations for the import of cattle, though stricter than those of the Argentine Republic, are similar to those of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Union of South Africa; and New Zealand at present prohibits entirely the importation of animals direct from the United Kingdom. The difficulties in regard to the export of cattle to Canada arise, not from lack of accommodation at the London Quarantine Station, which is adequate for the requirements of the trade, but from the absence of shipping facilities from London direct to Quebec, the only Canadian Quarantine Station available during the summer. Efforts have been made, and will be continued as opportunity offers, to secure improvement in those facilities. I may add that animals may be exported direct from Scotland to Canada, when Scotland is entirely free from foot-and- mouth disease. This arrangement was suspended on the outbreak of the disease in Lanarkshire on the 17th January last, but it is hoped that this suspension will be removed about the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to state what action he proposes to take to accelerate the revision of the Ordnance Survey maps which are, in many cases, much out of date and a cause of inconvenience and delay to local authorities responsible for the preparation of schemes for town and country planning?

A substantial addition has been made to the Ordnance Survey Estimates for 1935, and this will enable a beginning to be made in the way of overtaking arrears. I propose, however, to refer to a departmental committee the whole question of the acceleration of the revision of Ordnance Survey maps and the preparation of plans for town and country planning. I hope shortly to be able to announce the composition of the committee and its terms of reference.

Will it be an inter-departmental committee, or a small departmental committee of the Ministry of Agriculture?

A departmental committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether further consideration has been given to the setting up of an inquiry directed to the preparation of the new charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation?

I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that I am not losing sight of this matter; but I am not at present in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

In view of the accumulation of public considerations needing inquiry, may I ask my right hon. Friend not to lose more time than is necessary in setting up this inquiry?

asked the Postmaster-General by what statutory authority and under what circumstances have relay stations in connection with the British Broadcasting Corporation been forbidden to relay news from foreign stations which in any way refers to the holding or drawing of a national lottery in any foreign or Empire country; and whether he is aware that this news is available to all users of separate wireless receiving sets, the same licence fee being payable in both cases?

It is one of the conditions under which owners of wireless exchanges are licensed to distribute broadcast programmes to their subscribers that they must observe any instruction received from the Postmaster-General requiring them to refrain from distributing any specific class of broadcast messages. As it is illegal in this country to publish the results of sweepstakes conducted in connection with horse races, notice has been given to the owners of wireless exchanges requiring them to refrain from distributing broadcast messages announcing these sweepstake results.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the same relay stations week by week give full particulars of the odds and betting on football pool competitions, and does he realise the great indignation that there is on the part of the public at this foolish discrimination between two classes of betting?

The discrimination is not of my making.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many Members of Parliament to-day do not know whether they have drawn a horse or not?

asked the Postmaster-General which broadcasting station caused the interference with the reception of wireless messages broadcast from Irish Free State stations on 26th March; and whether this action was taken with the knowledge and approval of His Majesty's Government?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

If I send my right hon. Friend particulars of a complaint from a constituent, will he investigate it?

indicated assent

asked the Postmaster-General the loss entailed in carrying on the telegraph service at the present time; and whether he contemplates a reduction in the present rates so as to increase business?

The loss on the Telegraph Service Account for the year ended 31st March, 1934, computed on a commercial account basis, was £653,591. As I stated on the 18th March in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, E. (Brigadier-General Nation), an investigation of telegraph charges is being actively pursued; but I am not yet in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for the establishment of a night telegram-letter service to Kirkwall and Lerwick?

I will see whether it is possible to make these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can inform the House of any precedent under the common law where the Secretary of State has directed the Postmaster-General to open the private letters of private citizens who are not committing any unlawful act?

Yes, Sir, there are precedents, but it is of the very essence of the power of authorising the opening of postal packets that information should not be given as to the occasions or the manner of its use.

:Does my right hon. Friend realise the growing indignation on the part of the public at this new system of espionage into private corre spondence of individuals who admittedly are not breaking the law?

asked the Minister of Labour why his Department refuses to refund the balance of the contributions, prior to 1928, paid in error to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by the employés in the baths department of the Dundee Corporation; whether he is aware that they were required to pay contributions until it was decided in 1926 that such employés were not eligible to either contribute or receive benefit; that this information was not circulated by his Department to all local authorities employing such workpeople; that these employés have been paying contributions, with the approval of his inspectors, from the date of their employment under the Dundee Corporation and, in some cases, from the inception of the Act, 1910, to March, 1934, when notice to end the contributions was given; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to why these contributions were not returned in full?

I am making inquiry, as the hon. Member requests, and will write to him as soon as possible.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of linking up with State insurance all the men and women that he possibly can, especially where they are in regular employment?

I think that that is generally the effect of the Act which was passed last year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the copy of the resolution passed at the ordinary monthly meeting of the Abertillery Urban District Council, in which it is stated that an increasing number of recipients are being subjected to reductions in their transitional payments under the regulations now in operation; and, if so, what action does he propose, in view of the understanding that instructions have been issued that such reductions should not be made?

I am informed that a copy of the resolution referred to was also forwarded by the Abertillery Urban District Council to the Unemployment Assistance Board, which has requested the council to furnish particulars of the cases upon which their resolution is based.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to give consideration to cases if I submit them to him?

I think that, as the resolution is directed against the action, or alleged action, of the board, it is only, reasonable that in the first instance the council should provide particulars, so that the matter can be investigated. After that has been done, no doubt my Department will have the opportunity of considering it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his Department has already been met in connection with this matter, and is he not prepared to consider cases based on experience of this kind?

That is a different question.

asked the Minister of Labour what financial provisions he proposes to make in order that the work of Mr. Malcolm Stewart may be carried on without interruption?

As indicated in Note 3 to the Estimate (Class V, 14) for the Special Areas Fund, 1934 (H.C. 12, 1934–35) such further estimates for the fund as may be necessary will be presented to Parliament on the exhaustion of the present Vote of £2,000,000.

In view of the fact that certain persons persist in stating that £2,000,000 is the sum total that will be spent in the depressed areas, will the hon. Member take steps to make some outstanding statement on the subject?

I hope that this question and answer will secure the purpose that my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Dominion Governments have expressed their opinion of the Imperial Foreign policy now being pursued by His Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether he can tell the House what that opinion is?

I have been asked to reply. Every effort is made to keep His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions in touch with the policy and action of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in respect of foreign affairs. It is not for me to voice the opinions of Dominion Governments, but I can at least say that I have had no indication that any of them dissents from the general foreign policy which we are pursuing.

Did the Cabinet consult the Dominions as to the nature of the proposals contained in the White Paper before the proposals were issued?

My hon. Friend ought to make himself acquainted with the Imperial Conference decisions. Those decisions are clear and definite, that no Government can involve another Government in a war, but every opportunity is taken to inform the Dominions of every step; and, so far as I am concerned, I say without hesitation that no Dominion has expressed any dissent of any sort or kind from the foreign policy of the Government.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to give the House any information as to the proposed inquiry into the nutritional value of milk at certain schools and approved centres?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. The Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales and the Scottish Milk Marketing Board have submitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself particulars of certain arrangements for conducting an inquiry into the nutritional value of milk. These arrangements have now been approved for the purpose of Exchequer contributions under Section 11 of the Milk Act, 1934, and in accordance with the provisions of that Section have been laid before Parliament and are now available to the House. The scheme is supplementary to the Milk-in-Schools Scheme, and it is hoped that the information which will be collected will not only be of great value to those engaged upon nutritional research and in connection with public health and education services, but will also have an important bearing upon the problem of increasing the demand for liquid milk in this country. As will be seen from the particulars in the White Paper, the inquiry is under the supervision of a representative expert sub-committee of the Advisory Committee on Milk Publicity of the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales and is being conducted by experienced medical officers working in conjunction with school medical officers and teachers. It is on a large scale, covering some 8,000 children and is expected to last for some 12 months.

:Will not my right hon. Friend, instead of having only medical officers, have on this inquiry people from the Dairy Research Department at Reading, who are knowledgable in this matter?

I think that, if my hon. and gallant Friend will read the White Paper, he will see that the various departments concerned are fully represented.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the steady increase of fatal and other accidents, especially to juveniles, in connection with electric lifts in non-factory premises, and of the fact that such accidents are not reportable and unless fatal are the subject of no inquiry, he will invite the Lift Makers' Association to confer with his department with a view to the production of a standard specification with the highest possible factor of safety to which all existing passenger lifts must conform within a stated period?

I understand that a committee has been set up by the British Standards Institution, in consultation with lift makers and others, to prepare standard specifications, but that the modernisation of all existing lifts would be a difficult and very costly matter. I am exploring the situation and shall be communicating with the Lift Makers' Association.

In consequence of the numerous accidents in connection with these private lifts, cannot the right hon. Gentleman find some power or authority to be given either to the factory inspectors or to the local inspectors for the purpose of examining these lifts?

I have said that I am exploring the situation, and I cannot say more.

asked the Home Secretary whether the employés under the Carlisle State Management scheme are designated as civil servants; and, if so, whether they will be entitled to participate in the Government's Civil Service superannuation scheme?

:The employés under the Carlisle State Management Scheme fall to be dealt with under the Superannuation Acts applicable to the Civil Service. The supervisory and clerical staffs are normally established civil servants. The industrial employés are unestablished.

Can the Home Secretary give any reason why these men and women are not recognised as civil servants, as they are working for the State in exactly the same way as anybody else?

They do not differ from others in similar positions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement with regard to the investigation now being carried on in this country by Dr. Ganz, Attorney-General to the Basle Government, in conjunction with Scotland Yard, with a view to ascertaining whether certain persons in this country were implicated in the plot which resulted in the kidnapping of the Jewish journalist, Herr Berthold Jacob, from Basle to Germany on 9th March?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on Thursday last to the senior Member for Dundee (Mr. Dingle Foot).

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any foundation for the views expressed by the French and Swiss police that the kidnapping of Herr Jacob was planned weeks ago by a German counter-refugee organisation having branches in Paris and London, and, in this case, whether the Home Office is taking any steps to round up and deport the members of the organisation?

I cannot express any views on that matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give statistics as to the number of male persons found guilty of indictable offences by juvenile courts or ordinary courts of summary jurisdiction during the years 1930 to 1933, inclusive, showing separately the numbers under the age of 14, those of 14 and under 16, and those of 16 and under those of 16 and under 21?

As the answer includes a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons who are in receipt of State pensions above £2 per week and who have acquired wage-earning occupations since their retirement?

The information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

Ought not such information to be collected immediately? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is great indignation in many part of the country against persons with adequate State pensions having jobs in addition; and will he take steps to obtain the information?

I do not think that the labour which would be involved in obtaining this information, all of which could never be obtained, would be worth while.

Would not it be possible for all persons in receipt of State pensions to answer whether in fact they were in receipt of incomes from other jobs?

We would have to circularise all persons in receipt of naval, military or civil pensions, and it would entirely be for them to decide whether they wished to make any return of any income that they were receiving. I do not think that the State could do anything to prevent such persons from enjoying the pensions to which they were entitled.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that they interfere with the recipients of unemployment benefit, and cannot they do the same with regard to the recipients of pensions?

Are not these State pensions really deferred pay?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport the approximate mileages of roads upon which building and improvement lines, under the Roads Improvement Act, 1925, the Public Health Act, 1925, and the latest Surrey, Essex and Middlesex County Council Acts, have been prescribed from 1925 to date?

I have been asked to reply. Up to the 31st March, 1934, building and improvement lines had been prescribed under these Acts upon approxi-2,500 miles of roads.

Will the Minister of Transport draw attention to the very satisfactory progress which has been made in this matter, and point out to local authorities that if they continue at this speed further legislation will become unnecessary?

I will convey that question to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the nature of our intervention in connection with Memel with the other signatory Powers to the Memel Statute; and whether he can make a statement with regard to this matter?

As stated in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Lieut.-Colonel Moore) on the 18th March, representations were recently made to the Lithuanian Government by His Majesty's Government, the French Government and the Italian Government. In these representations the Lithuanian Government were informed that the present situation in the Memel territory, in which no Directorate possessing the confidence of the Chamber exists, is incompatible with the principle of autonomy guaranteed to the territory by Statute, and that it is the duty of the Lithuanian Government to bring this situation to an end without delay.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the House any information as to the position of the coal industry as a result of the working of the Central (Coal Mines) Scheme (Amendment) Order, 1934?

I have asked the central council and the district executive boards to furnish me, as soon as possible, with detailed information on the first quarter's working of the amended schemes in force under the Coal Mines Act, 1930. I will then consider the publication of a report based on the information I receive.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any decision has yet been come to with regard to the unification of mining royalties?

:I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

:When will the hon. Member be in a position to make a statement in view of the fact that he said to me some time ago that the matter was being actively pursued Can he say how long active pursuit lasts?

I cannot say that.

Can the hon. Member say whether or not it is intended to bring in this Bill during the present Session?

That question should not be addressed to me.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can give the House an outline of the decisions arrived at as a result of the recommendations of the Stanhope Committee on the promotion of officers of the Royal Artillery?

As the answer is of considerable length, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many officers he hopes will take advantage of this scheme?

:I think 100 of the rank of major and below.