asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the discrepancy between the 7d. per gallon price paid to the milk producer and the 2s. per gallon price paid by the consumer in the York area; and whether he can take any steps to reduce the discrepancy in question?

The price at which milk was sold by wholesale for liquid consumption during May was 1s. a gallon, and the pool price paid to producers in the Northern Region was 9½d. per gallon. The retail prices varied between 1s. 8d. and 2s. a gallon, according to districts. As my hon. and gallant Friend is doubtless aware, the gap between the pool price and the wholesale price is due to the sale at low prices of large quantities of milk, surplus to the requirements of the liquid market, and the increasing quantities of milk which have to be disposed of at these low rates is receiving the close and anxious consideration of the Milk Marketing Board. As to the difference between the wholesale price and retail prices, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Food Council are at present conducting an investigation into the costs of milk distribution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the proportion which the consumption of foreign imported milk in this country bears to the consumption of home produced milk?

Imports of fresh liquid milk from foreign countries in 1934 were approximately 174 gallons. Imports of foreign condensed milk were equivalent to 58,800,000 gallons of fresh milk, of which over 50,000,000 gallons represented separated condensed milk. Taken together, these imports of milk were equivalent to 8 per cent. of the total volume of milk sold under the milk marketing schemes as liquid or condensed milk for consumption in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Transport the reasons for the delay in making the final arrangements for the construction of a by-pass road at Mickleham; and whether he will take such steps as are possible to expedite the matter in view of the urgent need of relieving the traffic congestion in this village?

The county council are, I understand, furnishing me with particulars of alternative proposals which have been suggested for the construction of this by-pass. Until I get this information I am not in a position to give a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any representations have been made to him in favour of de-restricting any restricted roads in Wales; and whether he can, in each case, state what action he has been able to take?

I received such representations, and called for detailed reports from my divisional road engineer, with respect to the following counties and towns in Wales:

• Flintshire.
• Caernarvonshire.
• Colwyn Bay.
• Denbighshire.
• Glamorganshire.
• Carmarthenshire.
• Cardiff.
• Swansea.

I have received reports in the first three cases and have suggested to the local authorities concerned that certain roads in their areas should be de-restricted.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the high rate of boys killed and seriously injured in the mines of the country, and that this is attributed by his inspector of the northern area to the need for better discipline and greater care on the part of those under whom the boys work; and whether he can take any steps to bring about such improved conditions?

The Mines Department is already giving close attention to the serious incidence of accidents to pit boys, and during the past few years there has been built up in all the principal coalfields an organisation for giving the boys practical help and instruction in matters affecting their safety. I am informed that this work in which men of good will from all sections of the industry are co-operating is being developed and improved.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of money paid in fees to the Lord Advocate and Solicitor-General, respectively, from August, 1931, to June, 1935?

The salaries of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor-General for Scotland cover all business of whatsoever sort (including contentious business) done in virtue of their offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of deficit on houses which are held by the Scottish National Housing Company, Limited, at Rosyth; and the amount of money provided each year by the Exchequer from the date of building same?

The total deficit for the period from 1920 to date is £373,841. During the same period, however, the Exchequer has received from the company a total of £643,549 in respect of interest on advances and share capital, feu duties, and payments towards the redemption of advances. I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the detailed figures asked for in the latter part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of retired police officers who are in civil employment while drawing an adequate pension; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation which will prevent any retired officer engaging in any kind of employment unless he surrenders his pension rights?

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether education authorities in Scotland are authorised to permit children under 14 years of age to be employed in school hours; if so, how many children were so employed during the period July to December, 1934; and whether they were employed exclusively in agriculture?

Section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1901, empowers an education authority to grant exemption from the obligation to attend school to individual children over 12 years of age, for such time and upon such conditions as the authority shall think fit. A child who has been so exempted from school attendance may be employed, subject to the general statutory conditions governing the employment of children and to any special statutory conditions applying to the particular employment. During the period July to December, 1934, exemption for the purpose of employment from the obligation to attend school was granted to 2,873 children. Of these, 1,532 were temporary exemptions for short periods. Of the total number of exemptions for employment, 1,479 were for agricultural work, and of that number 1,254 were temporary exemptions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the value of American motor-cars imported into Great Britain during the first four or five months of this year compares with the value of British cars exported to America during the same period; and whether he will consider the desirability of entering into negotiations with the United States Government with a view to seeing whether it is possible for the trade balance in this and other respects to be better adjusted?

During the first four months of 1935, the aggregate value of motor-cars and chassis imported into this country and registered as consigned from the United States was £560,548, while the export of motor-cars and chassis of United Kingdom manufacture consigned to the United States was valued at £8,530. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander) on 7th May.