asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the annual contributions made by Scotland for Imperial services in each year since and including 1923–24, the bases of calculation being those employed by the Treasury in calculating Scotland's contribution in 1924–25?

The only years during the period in question for which figures have been collected are 1923, 1924,1926 and 1931, for which the contributions referred to amounted to approximately £55,000,000, £50,000,000,£46,000,000 and £25,000,000 respectively. These amounts represented respectively about 10, 9.5, 9.5, and 5.6 percent. of the expenditure on Imperial services in the years in question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to see that the Lanarkshire County Council shall provide street lamps at the crossing of Carmyle Avenue, Killin Street, and the end of Tollcross Road, as there is no lighting at this part, which is just over the Glasgow boundary, and is both difficult and dangerous for motorists and pedestrians?

Street lamps have been provided at and near the junction referred to by the hon. Member, and I have asked the county council to consider the advisability of lighting these lamps during the hours darkness throughout the year in the interests of public safety.

asked the Minister of Health the population of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Smethwick, and Walsall, and also the numbers of certified mentally defectives in each of these towns?

The information desired by the hon. Member is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiry into the case of a lady, Miss A. C.W., who, on 22nd July, 1932, was committed to West Park Mental Hospital from St. John's Infirmary, Battersea, the only allegation made in her certificate being that she stated that the police were the cause of her losing her job; that she thought they had put out their tongues at her, which she resented, and had pre vented her earning her living; and, in view of the frivolous nature of such grounds for certification, will he, take steps to ensure that a proper and complete investigation is made in all such cases before anyone is deprived of their liberty?

The medical certificates contain other facts besides those mentioned in the question; and the report of the medical superintendent of the mental hospital, made within a few days of the patient's admission, confirmed the view that she needed care and treatment. If the hon. Member desires, I shall be willing to communicate to him, confidentially, further particulars of this patient's mental condition. I cannot accept the suggestion implied in the last part of the question that a proper and complete investigation was not made in this case by the medical practitioner and the magistrate who dealt with it in accordance with the provisions of the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he would inquire into the circumstances of Joseph Messenger, 45, Church Road, E.15, ex-Royal Engineers, No.118,855, who is in receipt of Bs. per week pension; and whether, as this man is in great need, augmentation can be affected?

Mr. Messenger served for about eight months in 1915 and 1916 in a labour section and was invalided on account of arterio-sclerosis, the result of his advancing years. Although this condition was clearly not due to his war service it was accepted, in view of his having served overseas, as having been to a certain extent aggravated thereby. A final award at the rate appropriate to a disablement of 20 percent. was made in 1924. I am advised that the disablement recognised in the final award is the maximum that could be ascribed to the effects of Mr. Messenger's short period of service nearly 20 years ago, and consequently I have no power to grant any increase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many telephones have been installed in Palestine; how many applications for installations have been received which are at present awaiting attention; and how many of these applications have been in hand for periods exceeding three, six and nine months, respectively?

I have asked the High Commissioner for Palestine for the desired information, and I will communicate with the hon. Member on receipt of his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the schemes for providing adequate drainage in the city of Tel-Aviv and put forward at various times in the past five years have received the approval of the Government of Palestine; whether any scheme for the extension of such work is now awaiting approval; and, if so, whether he will ensure that no delay is permitted which will endanger the health of the population of Tel-Aviv?

I am aware that the municipality of Tel-Aviv has for some time been contemplating the improvement of the drainage of that city, but no detailed scheme has, I understand, yet been submitted for the approval of the High Commissioner for Palestine. It was recently learned from the High Commissioner that a skeleton drainage scheme had been drawn up by the municipal council, who had asked Sir Arthur Wauchope to arrange for the ser vices of a consulting engineer to prepare a detailed project. I am sure that the High Commissioner may be trusted to see that there is no unnecesary delay, so far as action by the Government is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the outcome of the discussions which have taken place between British shipping interests and Palestine exporters of citrus fruit; and whether any arrangements have been made for the export in British ships of a substantial proportion of Palestine citrus exports next season?

I have no information regarding the results of recent discussions between representatives of shipping companies and Palestine exporters or regarding arrangements for next season's shipments, which are normally made privately. I understand that the High Commissioner for Palestine has recently appointed a committee, on which the citrus industry is represented, to study the systems in use for the trans port of the citrus crop from the groves to the ports of destination and the marketing of citrus in general, and to offer suggestions for improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the values of the imports and exports between this country and each British Dominion, including Southern Rhodesia, respectively, for the year 1934?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the issue of the Trade and Navigation Accounts of the United Kingdom for January, 1935, which gives on pages 182,185–6, and 189–90, the statistical information asked for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that for the first four months of this year imports of horses into this country amounted to 3,163as against 1,465 for the same period of 1933, whereas export of horses fell for the same period to 563 from 580; which countries at the present time permit, as we do, the importation free of horses of any kind; and what steps have been taken during the past three years to obtain a reduction in the tariffs preventing the exportation of British-bred horses abroad?

I am aware of the position in this country with regard to imports and exports of horses. Exemption from customs duty is accorded, generally speaking, in most of the Dominions and in India, and in a few foreign countries, including Denmark, Persia and Chile. Certain foreign countries also extend free entry, under permit, to pedigree horses for breeding. I do not know to what extent it the decline in exports of horses from this country can be attributed to tariffs abroad; but the matter is borne in mind in appropriate cases in commercial negotiations, and a guarantee of free entry for pedigree horses for breeding was obtained from the Argentine, under the Supplementary Agreement of September, 1933.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the beet-sugar areas and the beet-sugar factories in this country visited by members of the Greene Sugar Industry Committee?

I am not aware of any visits paid by members of the United Kingdom Sugar Industry Inquiry Committee to sugar beet areas or beet-sugar factories in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to state what action he is prepared to take to remedy the conditions of hard ship obtaining for the travelling public between Liverpool Street station and Leytonstone, on the London and North Eastern Railway Company's line?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a question which he asked on this subject on 6th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the dirty and untidy condition of much of the suburban rolling stock on the London and North Eastern Railway Company; and whether he will make representations to the appropriate authorities to have greater regard to the convenience of the travelling public?

I will call the attention of the company to my hon. Friend's question, and if he desires to supplement it by any specific information, I will forward it to the company.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the London Passenger Transport Board exclude commercial schools from cheap travelling facilities on their own initiative or after asking the advice of the Board of Education on the subject; and, if they adopt the former policy, will he ascertain their reasons for such discrimination?

I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that the scope of the special fare facilities for scholars was settled after consultation with the local education authorities concerned. The matter is not one in which I have any powers, but I have brought my hon. Friend's representations to the notice of the board.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that crossing-places shall be more rapidly put down in the provinces?

I am proposing to issue to the councils of county boroughs in England and Wales and of large burghs in Scotland, a circular letter informing them that, provided they submit adequate schemes of pedestrian crossings tome before 31st July, and complete the schemes not later than 30thSeptember next, I shall be prepared to make a grant from the Road Fund of 60 per cent. of the initial cost of the crossings.