asked the President of the Board of Trade for what purpose his mercantile marine department are taking a census of foreigners in the crews of British ships; and whether this is being taken with a view to increasing the employment therein of British personnel?

No special census has been taken, but the usual annual census of seamen employed in British ships will be taken on 15th June next and will distinguish between British subjects, foreigners and lascars.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number and dates of visits to Lieutenant Baillie-Stewart at Maidstone Prison by War Office representatives and the names of the persons; and if further inquiries are being made in order that an opportunity will be afforded to establish his innocence of the charge of selling War Office secrets?

Mr. Baillie-Stewart was visited at Maidstone Prison on one occasion only, 26th May, 1933. This visit was made at his own request and by an officer who had given evidence at the general court-martial. As regards the last part of the question, no further inquiries are being made.

asked the Home Secretary under whose instructions the Metropolitan Police act in dispersing an orderly procession on the highway; whether the police were directed to disperse an orderly poster parade which took place in Kensington High Street on the evening of 28th October and whether any arrests were made; whether he is aware that the constable who made the arrest stated on oath that it was an orderly procession and he had no complaints in connection with it, but had been, with other police officers, ordered to break the procession up; and whether it is the practice of police to issue orders in advance for lawful processions on the highway to be dispersed?

On the occasion in question the Commissioner of Police issued instructions that no organised bodies would be allowed to approach within half a mile of the Albert Hall during the time that a meeting of the British Union of Fascists was taking place in that building, and the organisers of a proposed counter-demonstration were informed accordingly. This step was taken with a view to preventing disorder and breaches of the peace arising from the contact of opposing factions. In pursuance of the instructions the police requested a procession of about 50 persons to disperse on their arrival at a point near Kensington Police Station, and at this point one person was arrested for obstructing the police in the execution of their duty; he was subsequently bound over in his own recognisance to be of good behaviour for three years. In reply to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the Senior Member for Dundee (Mr. Dingle Foot) on 28th March.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider issuing the Home Office Return of Experiments on Living Animals in the larger form at the price of 1s. 3d, as well as in the abridged form at 9d., as many people are desirous of obtaining the extra information that was contained in the larger publication?

The form of this return was reviewed a few years ago in connection with measures taken to reduce expenditure on Government publications. It was found that by the omission of a long table giving the analysis of experiments performed by each licensee a considerable saving could, be effected both in the preparation of the return and its printing. This accounts for the reduction in price. I regret that on grounds of economy I cannot give effect to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health, in reference to Special Report No. 195 of the Medical Research Council, page 77, whether the Schick-testing and blood-testing of six boys at Greenwich Hospital School, suffering from diphtheria, who were Schick-tested and bled during their illness, took the usual 7 to 14 days before the Schick test could be determined; what curative measures were taken; and whether he is satisfied as to the propriety of this practice which uses patients in need of care and attention as material for experiments

In these cases no record was made of exact times taken, but in the great majority of cases the result can be determined in 24 hours. The boys were treated with the greatest care and attention, with rest in bed and local application to the throat, and they were all practically well in three days. With regard to the last part of the question, these tests which have been in general use throughout the world for many years, and whose practical value may be accepted, cannot be properly called experimenal.

asked the Minister of Health, with regard to the Medical Research Council's Special Report No. 195, pages 72 and 83, by whose permission and with whose 'approval case 2/29 had received six injections of toxoid and six further injections of floccules and numerous Schick tests in 16 months; and whether, if permission was given to the officials in charge to administer diphtheria prophylactics, the permission was intended to cover such a procedure?

Permission to administer prophylactics was in all cases obtained from the boys' parents or guardians. As the report shows, case 2/29 was a most difficult and lengthy one, but it was, of course, necessary to continue the injections until immunity from diphtheria had been produced.

asked the Minister of Health, in reference to the Medical Research Council's Special Report No. 195, whether any charge was made for the antitoxin estimations at the Greenwich Hospital School by outside commercial institutions; and whether, as this institution has a financial interest in diphtheria immunisation, it is still proposed to entrust such investigations to them?

No charge was made for the antitoxin estimations, which were carried out gratuitously by eminent bacteriologists. At present no further estimations are contemplated.