asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there is considerable delay in extending the supply of electricity to Swinefleet, in Yorkshire; whether the difficulty is one of obtaining wayleaves; and whether he can make a statement on the matter?

The Yorkshire Electric Power Company recently applied for consent to the erection of a high tension overhead line to the village of Swinefleet, and for a compulsory wayleave on the route of that line. I have issued my consent to the erection of the overhead line, but it will be necessary for a local inquiry to be held into the wayleave application before I can give my decision. I will see that the matter is expedited as much as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has reconsidered the scheme for the setting up of a pig industry development board, in view of the fact that the limit of time for objections to the scheme expired on 29th June?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have at present under consideration the Bacon Development Scheme and the objections and representations which have been made with respect to it. My hon. Friend can rest assured that the scheme will be dealt with as expeditiously as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can now state more precisely by what date the faster and more frequent airmail service to Africa and the Far East, together with reduced air-mail rates, will be brought into being?

Considerable progress has been made with the negotiations, and they are progressing actively, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any precise statement as to the date when the proposed services will probably be inaugurated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the export of small wild birds from British East Africa, and, in particular as to whether the principal species so exported are insectivorous birds whose preservation is important in our East African Colonies?

I have addressed an inquiry to the Acting-Governors of Kenya and the Tanganyika Territory on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has yet been received from the Government of Japan to the last communication of His Majesty's Government with regard to the oil monopoly which has been established in Manchukuo; whether any estimate has been, or is being, formed of the loss to British interests caused by such monopoly; and whether compensation will be asked for at an early date?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If, however, my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the reply which my predecessor gave to a question put by him on this subject on 29th April, he will see that the communication from His Majesty's Government in question reserved their position in the fullest degree, and the fact that no reply has been received does not in my view prejudice their position. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I indicated in the reply which I gave in answer to a question put on 17th June by my hon. and gallant Friend that the conditions of withdrawal, which include the question of compensation, were already the subject of discussion between the companies and the Manchurian authorities. No approach to His Majesty's Government regarding this aspect of the matter has been made by British interests affected, and particulars of the loss involved are not therefore available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men, skilled and unskilled, with experience in the demolition of buildings, who were signing on at Stratford Employment Exchange at the nearest convenient date?

There were registered at the Stratford Employment Exchange on 29th June, five builders' labourers with experience in the demolition of buildings, and 120 other builders' labourers, some of whom would no doubt be suitable for unskilled employment in connection with such work. There were no men registered as housebreakers.

asked the Home Secretary what are the special features of the new extradition treaty with the United States?

The new treaty replaces the former treaties in a more modern form, and contains a more comprehensive list of extradition crimes. I do not think there are any features calling for special comment, but I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, in view of the threatened destruction of plane trees in the park by caterpillars, what action is being taken by his Department to deal with this matter?

There is no present indication of any threatened destruction of plane trees in the London Royal parks by caterpillars. The usual hand-sweeping and spraying precautions were taken during the winter.