asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to issue regulations providing that the Unemployment Assistance Board shall grant extra allowances during Christmas and the new year at the rate of 2s. 6d. per adult and 2s. each child for two weeks?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject on the 9th December to the right hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury).

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will give the names of the areas in which an extra winter allowance has been granted to the unemployed by the Unemployment Assistance Board;(2) whether he is aware that no extra winter allowance is being paid by the Unemployment Assistance Board to the unemployed in the county of Glamorgan; and will he take steps to see that these allowances are paid in the future?

The allowances determined under the Unemployment Assistance Regulations are not subject to variation according to the season of the year. In so far, however, as supplementary payments under the Unemployment Assistance (Temporary Provisions) Act are concerned, regard is had to the practice of the Local Authority, and where the amount which would have been payable by way of transitional payments would have been increased by a winter allowance the assessment is adjusted accordingly. I am making inquiry through the Unemployment Assistance Board as to the Authorities in whose areas such adjustments have been made and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of agricultural labourers in Scotland were returned each month of the years 1934 and 1935 as unemployed; and the number of agricultural labourers returned as unemployed in the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine, respectively, in the same periods?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make available to persons who desire them copies of all the circulars and instructions that are issued by the Unemployment Assistance Board to their local area officers?

I do not think this would be practicable or desirable, but I will consult with the Board as to the best means of making members of the House acquainted with important general circulars on the regulations.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons signing at the Exchanges in the Pontypridd urban area, giving the number in receipt of unemployment insurance benefit and the number in receipt of allowances under the Unemployment Assistance Board?

At 21st October, 1935, there were 6,341 unemployed persons on the registers of the Pontypridd Employment Exchange, the only Exchange in this area. Of these 880 were persons with claims admitted for insurance benefit and 4,850 were persons with applications authorised for unemployment allowances.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were Regis-

The following table shows the numbers of wholly unemployed persons, aged 18 years and upwards, registered at employment exchanges as applicants for employment as agricultural workers, at those dates in 1934 and 1935 for which information is available:—tered as unemployed, on the latest date for which figures are available, in Liverpool, Hull, Glasgow, Cardiff, Sunderland, and Blackburn; and what percentage they represent of the insured population in each district?

The following table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that officers of approved societies are complaining that blank health insurance cards for the first half of 1936 were issued later this time than usual; and can he give any reason for the delay?

The health insurance cards for the first half of 1936 were sent to Approved Societies at a rather later date than usual. On this occasion it was necessary to print not only 20 million cards, the form of which had been entirely recast, but also the same number of leaflets explaining to insured persons the important changes made by the amending Act recently passed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to make arrangements for all diabetics who have run out of insurance benefit to be given insulin free without any means test?

I have no power to make such arrangements, but as the hon. Member is aware, local authorities are empowered to provide insulin for persons in need of it who are unable to purchase it out of their own resources.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the surveys by local authorities under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1935, to determine the extent of overcrowding in their respective areas?

I have fixed the first April, 1936, as the date by which the survey should be completed, and I have

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any proposals have been made by His Majesty's Government since November, 1931, to the League of Nations for an all-round reduction in tariffs, prohibitions, or restrictions in international trade; and, if so, will he state the terms of the proposals and the results?

His Majesty's Government have pursued the policy of bilateral negotiations, which was endorsed by a resolution of the Assembly of the League of Nations last August.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the increased export trade in 1934, compared with 1932, of the United States of America, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom; and the total exports of each country for the year 1929?

The following table gives the desired information:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state the general character of the new trade agreement between Canada and the United States, and the means that have been taken by Canada to safeguard the basis of imperial preference?

I understand that this agreement is based upon the reciprocal grant of most-favoured-nation treatment in tariff matters and upon a schedule of reductions in the tariffs of the respective countries. The agreement further provides in general terms for most-favoured-nation treatment in respect of import and export restrictions, quantitative regulation and other matters, and generally for national treatment in respect of internal taxes, fees or charges. The duty reductions in the agreement come into effect on the 1st of January, 1936, and the whole agreement, if ratified, will remain in force until the 31st of December, 1938, but in certain circumstances may be terminated by either side before that date. The basis of Imperial Preference is safeguarded in the Agreement by a clause which provides that any advantages already accorded, or hereafter accorded, by Canada exclusively to other territories under His Majesty's sovereignty, suzerainty or protection are excluded from the operation of the agreement. The text of the agreement has been published in the Board of Trade Journal of the 5th of December, to which reference may be made for its detailed provisions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of licences for the export of arms to. Paraguay were issued by the Board of Trade between 31st July, 1932, and 31st December, 1934?

In the period 31st July, 1932, to 31st December, 1934, 16 licences were issued for the export of war material to Paraguay.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the number of wireless licences that have been issued and are in existence at the present time?

The number of wireless receiving licences in force on the 30th November, 1935, was 7,369,513.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will supply information in connection with Messrs. J. M. Adhikari and R. Adhikari, both interned in Bijapur under the Special Emergency Powers Act; what is their state of health; whether they were tried before their detention; and, if not, how long it is the intention of the Bombay Government to keep them under restraint?

In exercise of their powers under Section 4 of the Bombay Special (Emergency) Powers Act the Bombay Government have ordered Dr. G. M. Adhikari and Mr. J. M. Adhikari to remain within the municipal limits of Bijapur. I have no information as to their state of health. The period for which the orders will remain in force is for the Local Government to determine according to circumstances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give information in connection with Amir Hyder Khan, at present in Madras penitentiary; whether he is suffering from stomach trouble and whether any special privileges are accorded him in connection with his health; whether he was tried before incarceration; and, if not, how long the Government of Madras intend to keep him under restraint?

I have no information in regard to Amir Hyder Khan later than that given on the 27th March last in reply to questions in the Legislative Assembly. I am sending a copy of the proceedings to the hon. Member. As regards the last part of the question, the period for which Amir Hyder Khan will be detained will clepend upon circumstances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Mr. Muzaffar Ahmad, who was released after serving sentence in connection with the Meerut conspiracy case, is being kept under preventive restraint; and, if so, in what place of detention and how long the Government propose to hold him in this manner?

I have no information as to the restrictions placed on Mr. Muzaffar Ahinad's movements.

asked the Secretary of State for War what quantity of foreign bentwood chairs was purchased by his Department during the first nine months of the years 1933, 1934 and 1935, respectively?

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to ensure a remunerative price for pigs during the new contract period?

Imports of bacon from foreign countries during 1936 will be regulated so that total supplies on the market approximate to the level recommended by the Lane-Fox Reorganisation Commission, unless in the meantime it is found possible to bring into operation the levy-subsidy proposals outlined in the announcement made to the House on 7th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any progress has been made in the international negotiations concerning the size of the mesh to be used by trawlers?

The position remains substantially as indicated in the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend in January last. The recommendation made in 1934 by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea is still, I understand, under consideration by the governments of those countries represented on the Council who have not so far adopted mesh regulations similar to those in force in this country.

asked the Home Secretary the number of sentences of disqualification from holding a driving licence imposed upon motorists during the years ended 31st December, 1933 and 1934; in how many cases have the sentences been modified by the court that imposed the sentence; and in how many cases have the sentences been modified by a court other than the court that imposed the sentence?

The published returns of offences relating to motor vehicles show that the number of cases in which driving licences were suspended was 5,969 in 1933 and 7,996 in 1934. The power to terminate the suspension before the expiration of the full period for which it was originally imposed rests with the Court before which the offender was convicted or by which the order of disqualification was made. I have no information as to the number of cases in which this power has been exercised, or of the number of cases in which appeals to a higher court against disqualification have been successful.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any recent negotiations have taken place between the representatives of Great Britain and the representatives of the United States of America for the purpose of reciprocal reduction of passport visa charges between the two countries; and will he give particulars of same?

There have been no recent negotiations with the United States Government concerning this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the total period of imprisonment or restraint imposed on Captain Kane by the Spanish authorities; and whether His Majesty's Government proposes to call for any report upon this matter?

I would refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Lanark (Mr. Anstruther-Gray) on 5th December, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a speech by Dr. Goebbels attacking the Russian Government has been published as a pamphlet printed in English but at Berlin, and is being presented gratis at the German Embassy in London to all visitors to that Embassy; and whether, as this apparently constitutes a breach of the diplomatic privileges accorded to Embassies, he will take this matter up with the German Ambassador in order that this propaganda from that Embassy may be stopped?

If the hon. Member wishes to complain of any action on the part of a foreign Diplomatic Mission in London, perhaps he would be good enough to communicate to me full particulars of that complaint.