asked the Postmaster-General whether he can make any statement regarding the outcome of the recent negotiations on the question of improving the conditions of sub-postmasters?

The negotiations with the Sub-Postmasters' Federation are still in progress, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Postmaster-General for what reason a telephone call from Barking to Dagenham costs 4d., in view of the fact that the two towns adjoin one another and that in the London telephone area calls up to a distance of 20 miles can be had for ld.?

The charge to a subscriber for a call from Barking to Dagenham is id. or 2d. according to whether the Dagenham subscriber is connected to the Seven Kings or the Rainham exchange. These charges are based on the distance between the calling and called exchanges. A 1d. call from Central London can be made for a maximum distance of 15 miles as an exceptional arrangement due to the special conditions in the Metropolis.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the general increase in postal facilities, he will reconsider the question of establishing an evening delivery in the borough of Reigate?

I have reviewed this question, and I am sorry to say that the circumstances still do not justify any modification of my previous decision.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of villages in Leicestershire which have been provided within the last 12 months with public call offices; and how many such villages still remain to be provided with such facilities?

Public telephone call offices have been provided in three villages in Leicestershire during the last 12 months. There are still 11 villages in the county which have Post Offices but no public telephone facilities; and call offices will be provided in these villages under the Jubilee concessions which I announced in the House on 29th April last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the time has now elapsed for the public to make representations to the committee on the future of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and seeing that the recent appointment of Mr. Siepman does not comply with the general desire of the people in Wales that their regional station should be managed by a staff with thorough knowledge of the Welsh language and culture, he will himself represent to the committee the necessity of including this subject in their investigations?

I understand that the committee have agreed to receive evidence from the Welsh Parliamentary party, and the matter could no doubt be mentioned at the hearing if so desired.

asked the Postmaster General what is the number of relay wireless stations at present licensed by him in this country; what is the approximate total number of subscribers for which they cater; and what is the number of staff employed by him to ensure that those in charge of the stations adhere to the terms of the licences granted to them by him.

The number of wireless exchanges licensed on 31st March last was 327, and the total number of subscribers served by these exchanges was 204,475. No staff is employed expressly for the purpose of ensuring that wireless exchange proprietors adhere to the terms of their licences. A certain amount of such work is necessary, but this is carried out by Post Office staff in conjunction with other duties.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in possession of any evidence to show whether the high infant death rate in Kensington is due in any degree to lack of food, inadequacy of the services provided by the borough council, or any other factor in regard to which the borough council can exercise control?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the annual reports of the medical officer of health for the borough for information as to the extent to which the infantile death rate of Kensington is considered, after special investigations, to be influenced by economic and other factors; and as to the remedial measures adopted by the council for improving the conditions, so far as it is within their power to do so.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 88 children who recently developed scarlet fever in the Eton rural district attended the Denham and New Denham council schools?

Seventy-six.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities which have not yet adopted the principle of superannuation contained in the Local Government and other Officers' Superannuation Act, 1922; and what is the policy of his Department with regard to such adoption?

The authorities that have not availed themselves of the Act of 1922, or do not have schemes under local Acts, are (apart from parish councils and a number of miscellaneous authorities):

County Councils	13
County Borough Councils	16
Borough Councils	141
Metropolitan Borough Councils	2
Urban District Councils	348
Rural District Councils	246

My policy is to approve the adoption of the Act by local authorities on being satisfied that the procedure laid down by the Act has been followed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the refusal of the £200,000 offered by Lady Houston for the specified purpose of air defence, he will consider the possibility in the future of allowing would-be donors to allocate their offers for any specific cause in which they may be particularly interested?

No, Sir. It is the duty of His Majesty's Government to submit to Parliament Estimates for annual expenditure on defence. The increase of such expenditure by private donations would constitute an interference with the responsibilities of His Majesty's Government and with the authority of Parliament, and could not therefore be permitted.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, for the information of foreign tourists to this country, his Department will consider the possibility of marking the sites of the chief battlefields in this country, with a brief accompanying notice of the incidents in each case?

Memorials erected by local or private initiative mark the site of some battlefields, but the battlefields of the country are not within my jurisdiction, and I have no power to set up such notices as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that under the election arrangements of the milk marketing scheme, nominations for new members did not have to be sent in before 29th May, while the meeting at which the new members are elected took place on 1st June; and whether he will suggest to the Board that this method of election should be changed, in view of the fact that it gives an undue preference to the present members, who have offered themselves for re-election and whose names are therefore known, and does not enable those who cannot be present at the meeting to vote for one of the new nominees if they wish to do so?

I am aware of the arrangements mentioned in the first part of my hon. Friend's question. I understand that the Milk Marketing Board have at present under consideration an amendment of the scheme which would a reasonable remuneration to the primary provide for longer notice being given to producer. It is the object of our whole all registered producers of the names of agricultural policy to deal with this candidates nominated for election to the problem, but I cannot anticipate results. Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to investigate the unremunerative condition of the tomato industry with a view to suggesting or creating an organisation for improved marketing?

My hon. Friend will be aware that a Fruit Marketing Scheme, which included tomatoes, was prepared by the National Farmers' Union but was subsequently withdrawn after consideration by the producers. I understand, however, that renewed consideration is being given to the question of a separate scheme for glasshouse fruit. The Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, empowers the Minister to appoint a Reorganisation Commission to prepare a marketing scheme for any agricultural product under that Act, but I have had no indication that it is the desire of growers that I should do so in the case of the tomato industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the reasons for which small holdings in this country between one acre and 50 acres decreased in number by over 7,000 between 1932 and 1934; and whether he is is satisfied that existing schemes will be sufficient to put a stop to this reduction and cause an annual increase in the number of such holdings in future?

As I explained in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on 16th May, the holdings between one acre and 50 acres which decreased in number during the period stated included areas of accommodation and other land which would not normally be regarded as agricultural or small holdings. There has been an increase of the total area of statutory small holdings in England and Wales during the period referred to. There has, however, undoubtedly been some decline in the number of small holdings taken as a whole, a main reason for which is no doubt the difficulty of securing a reasonable remuneration to the primary producer. It is the object of our whole agricultural policy to deal with this problem, but I cannot anticipate results.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that motorists are being trapped for exceeding the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit on the part of the Edinburgh to Glasgow road, known as Gogar Station Road, to the Edinburgh city boundary, and that there is not a 30-mile-limit sign on this part of the road, which is a mile and a half long, nor any notice to motorists that they are in a 30-mile area; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

I am aware that proceedings have been brought in several cases for exceeding the 30-milesper-hour speed limit on a part of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road between the entrance to Gogar Station Road and the city boundary. The speed limit is applicable to the part of the road in question by virtue of an Order made under Section I of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, and I understand that the signs necessary to comply with the Act and the regulations and directions thereunder have been erected at the termination of the part of the road to which the speed limit applies. I have no jurisdiction in regard to the making of Orders under Section I of the Act, and I see no reason to take any action with regard to the proceedings referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo has received any information from the Japanese Government concerning the ultimatum to the Chinese Government by the Japanese authorities in Manchuria?

No, Sir. I understand, however, that the Japanese military authorities in Peking have protested against alleged violations of the Tangku armistice agreement between China and Japan, and regarding the alleged recent murder of two Chinese newspaper proprietors in the Japanese concession at Tientsin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information from His Majesty's Ambassador in China as to the means that are being taken by the Chinese Government to check the export of silver from China,; whether the Chinese Government is now obtaining the advice and co-operation of the foreign bankers in checking the outflow; and whether the position shows any sign of improvement 7

If my hon. Friend will put this question to me on Thursday next, I hope to be in a better position to give him an answer to the points he has raised.