asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation designed to remove the difficulties in the way of the ratification of the international convention upon the employment of children in agriculture which was adopted in 1921?

I regret that it is not possible at present to give any undertaking on this point.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the policy of the Employment Exchanges to use special efforts to place married men who have been long unemployed; and whether, if necessary, he will consider the isuue of special instructions to that end?

The general principle observed by the Employment Exchanges in filling vacancies notified to them is to select those persons whose qualifications make them most suitable for the employers' requirements. Subject to this consideration, due regard is paid to the cases of married men who have been long unemployed. I do not contemplate the issue of special instructions in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour particulars of the present standard rate of wages in the trap industry in South Staffordshire?

My information is that the rates of wages of the several classes of workpeople engaged in the making of field traps in South Staffordshire are arranged between the individual employers and their employés; and I have no detailed information as to the rates of wages actually paid. It is understood that the number of workpeople concerned is about 100, most of whom are members of the Spring Trap Makers' Society.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs from how many Empire Governments observations upon the report of the committee on migration were invited; from which Governments replies have been received; and when these replies will be published?

Observations were invited from the Governments of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and the six Australian States. Replies have been received from Canada, New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. The question of publication has not yet been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the total sum disbursed by the Crown agents for the pay of officers on leave from the African colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories in the last financial year for which figures are available;(2) the total sum disbursed by the Crown Agents on behalf of the African colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories for pensions, gratuities, and compassionate allowances payable to officers at some time in the service of these terrifies in the last financial year for which figures are available?

I am informed by the Crown Agents for the Colonies that the system under which their accounts are kept is not such as to enable a ready answer to be given to the first question or to my hon. Friend's similar inquiry regarding pension payments, etc. The desired figures could be obtained only by a laborious and protracted analysis of many thousands of individual files, which I do not feel justified in inviting the Crown Agents to undertake.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the total revenues of the African colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories was devoted to the payment of salaries and allowances to officers in the public services in the last financial year for which figures are available?

The approximate percentages for those African territories whose affairs are dealt with in the Colonial Office are as follow:

Kenya	49.1
Uganda	38.5
Tanganyika Territory	54.3
Northern Rhodesia	54.3
Nyasaland	46.4
Somaliland	83.8
Zanzibar	50.3
Gambia	37.4
Gold Coast	39.3
Nigeria	42.0
Serra Leone	45.9
Kenya-Uganda Railway	23.9

The figures relate to the calendar year 1933 except in the case of Nigeria and the Gold Coast, where the financial year ending 31st March, 1933, and 31st March, 1934, respectively, have been taken; and the Kenya and Uganda Railways and Harbours, where the 1934 figures have been included.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total sum paid annually by the African colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories for interest and sinking fund on loans raised in this country; what percentage this total sum formed of their government and railway revenues in the last financial year for which figures are available; and what saving would be effected to those territories if interest on all such loans were reduced by conversion or otherwise to three per cent?

During the last financial year the total sum paid as interest and sinking fund on public loans contracted in this country by the African administration whose affairs are dealt with in the Colonial Office was £4,118,813, equivalent to 19.3 per cent. of their revenues for the year. If the interest on these loans could be reduced to 3 per cent. the saving effected would amount to £1,297,539. The total amount of public debt in the administrations in question is £73,473,207.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty the number of Greenwich Hospital age pensions; the average weekly payment; and the maximum payment which can be made in exceptional circumstances?

Greenwich Hospital age pensions are at the following rates:

Age pension at age of 55	5d. a day.
Increased age pension at age of 65	9d. a day.

The rates of pension are fixed rates and cannot be varied.The number of Greenwich Hospital age pensions in force on 1st July, 1935, was:

Greenwich Hospital age pensions	18,092
Greenwich Hospital increased age pensions	10,148

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Registrar of Friendly Societies will institute inquiries into any building society any part of whose assets has been wasted in advancing loans on domestic property, where it can be proved that defects exist or will manifest themselves and where vacation of premises has been due to the inability of occupier-owners to meet the avoidable financial outlay of remedying unsatisfactory materials, workmanship, and construction?

I have been asked to reply. I am advised that the registrar has no power to institute inquiries into the affairs of a building society except by appointing an inspector in the cases specified in Section 5 of the Building Societies Act, 1894.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the abnormally large number of vacancies in the clerical classes now being offered to candidates from the last open competition, he will ensure that departments are urged to give more consideration to the claims of writing assistants and typists of long seniority whose only chance of advancement is appointment to the clerical classes?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 18th July to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) of which I am sending him a copy.