asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the surplus from the working of the Post Office, as disclosed in the published accounts for the year ended March, 1935, he will consider the advisability of reverting to the penny post for letters?

The possibility of a return to the penny post is constantly borne in mind by me. The matter is one which has to be considered in relation to the finances of the country as a whole, and I am at present unable to hold out any hope of an early restoration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how the deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank are invested; whether any are borrowed by the Treasury or other Government Departments; and, if so, for what purposes and at what rates of interest?

Details of the investments held for the Post Office Savings Bank Fund at 31st December, 1934, will be found in the Accounts of the Fund presented to Parliament on the 25th June last, (63–9999). In addition to their investments in Government stocks and bonds the National Debt Commissioners under their statutory powers may advance money as authorised by Parliament to the Treasury and other public Departments, the interest payable on each advance subject to any statutory directions being determined at the time the advance is made, having regard to the rates of interest then prevailing. Particulars of the advances made in 1934 are:

asked the Postmaster-General whether the contract let by his Department to Messrs. Richard Johnson and Nephew, of Manchester, was sub-let by that firm during an industrial dispute without his consent or with his approval; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Post Office has not given permission to the firm in question to sub-let any contract; and I am assured by the firm that there has been no subletting on their part.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Andover War Memorial Hospital have, in view of their services to the community, appealed to the telephone department to be charged at the private residence rate and not at the business rate and that the application has been refused; and whether he will take steps to lighten this burden on institutions of this nature?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to view this application in isolation. There are many institutions—apart from hospitals—which are of undoubted service to the community and in relation to which a similar claim might be made. It would be impossible to discriminate between them, and, if the desired concession were made to all, the loss of revenue would be considerabe while the relief to the individual institutions concerned would be comparatively small. In view of this and of the difficulty of maintaining the distinction between the business and the private residence rates if concessions are made which are at variance with the principles on which that distinction is founded, I have felt compelled to refuse to make exceptions to the general regulations in the case of any institution, deserving though it mal be of sympathy and support.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Civil Service Commissioners have eliminated the subject of everyday science, which has been one of the obligatory subjects for competitive examinations for the administrative group of Government service, from next year's examinations; and whether, before taking this decision, the Civil Service Commissioners consulted any society or body representing educational and scientific interests?

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

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will call for and lay before Parliament a further report from the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission, in continuation of the report of November, 1933 (Cmd. 4468)?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Government of Rumania and the National Bank of Rumania have carried out the obligations imposed upon them by Article 2 of the Anglo-Rumanian Payments Agreement of 3rd August, 1935; and, in the negotiations for a new agreement to replace the Anglo-Rumanian Payments Agreement, will the Government be prepared to use the machinery provided by the Debts Clearing Offices Act of 1934?

The sum of £100,000 was paid on the due date and £42,500 has also been paid out of the sum of £270,000 due on 1st November in respect of shipments of grain. Information has been received from the Rumanian Government that the balance of this sum will be paid against shipments of grain from Rumania which are now being made. Monthly payments amounting to about £42,000 have been received under Article 5 of the Agreement. With regard to the last part of the question, I cannot at the moment anticipate the course of the forthcoming negotiations.

asked the Prime Minister whether our representative at Geneva has received any instructions with regard to procedure on oil sanctions; and, if so, will he state their nature and, in particular, whether there is any agreement with the French Government in respect of the imposition of oil sanctions on Italy?

At the meeting of the Committee of Eighteen at Geneva on 13th December, the Chairman, after referring to the statements made to the Committee on the previous day by Monsieur Laval and my right hon. Friend the Minister for League of Nations Affairs in regard to the suggestions made to the two parties by the Governments of France and the United Kingdom, suggested that pending the examination of the matter by the Council and the receipt of replies from the parties, the Committee of Eighteen should not do anything to prejudice negotiations which might lead to the restoration of peace. He therefore proposed to convoke the Committee again when he had received the necessary information, and in any case at an early date. The Committee adopted this proposal, in which the United Kingdom representative concurred. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the number of alternative pensions now in existence; whether such pensions are still being granted; and, if so, how many have been granted during the last twelve months?

The total number of awards of alternative pension now in payment is approximately 44,000. The date for proving new claims to alternative pensions expired some years ago.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the number of ex-service men who are receiving treatment by the Ministry of Pensions hospitals without receiving treatment allowances?

I regret that statistics, such as the hon. Member requests, are not regularly collected. I am, however, satisfied from the reports I have received, that every case in which a loss of wages or profits has been sustained by a man who was employed before admission to hospital, or in which a corresponding loss of benefit or grant in respect of unemployment was necessitated by such admission, should now with the aid of the Supplementary Grant Scheme which I announced in the House on the 22nd October last, be substantially met by the grant of allowances of whatever kind may be appropriate to the case. If the hon. Member has the case of any particular patient in mind, perhaps he will let me know, when inquiry will at once be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the position of the large number of deaf and dumb people who are dependent on voluntary agencies for their support, with a view to providing direct State assistance?

The position of the deaf and dumb was exhaustively reviewed in the report of the late Dr. Eichholz which was published in 1932. That report did not recommend any direct State assistance, but advocated certain measures which were commended to local authorities in a Circular issued by my Department in May, 1933. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the Circular. The Ministry are continuing to impress on local authorities the importance of giving financial assistance, where necessary, to those voluntary agencies which are doing valuable work in finding suitable employment for deaf and dumb persons.

asked the Minister of Health whether any means have yet been devised to secure that the vaccine lymph issued by the Government for vaccination purposes is free from the risk of setting up post-vaccinal encephalitis?

All practicable steps are taken to ensure the purity of vaccine lymph issued by the Government Lymph establishment. I am advised that it is not yet possible to guarantee absolute absence of risk that encephalitis will follow the use of lymph, although that risk is very small.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of new houses built to rent in Doncaster during 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, and 1935, respectively?

The number of houses built to let in Doncaster during the years ended 30th September, 1934, and 1935, were 303 and 240 respectively. I regret that figures in respect of earlier years are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether and, if so, when he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the report of the departmental committee on the composition and description of food and, in particular, for the revision and consolidation of statute law on the subject?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Hillsborough (Mr. Alexander) on the 12th December last, of which I am sending him a copy. With regard to the last part of the question, legislation to consolidate the law relating to local government and public health is being prepared by a Committee which will in due course take up the question of consolidating food legislation.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he contemplates bringing in legislation to provide one uniform rate for the whole country to meet the cost of the unemployed which is now chargeable to rates, or make a special grant to such areas as have to bear exceptional rate burdens owing to the closing down of industries and other circumstances, notwithstanding the assistance given through the block grant and the Unemployment Acts;(2) whether he will consider the advisability of making a grant-in-aid to all local authorities in distressed areas who have a rate in excess of 12s. 6d, in the £?

The introduction of legislation for the purpose suggested is not in contemplation. On the question of grant I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith) on Monday last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, before the new regulations under Part II of the Unemployment Act are brought before the House of Commons, he will consult with the local authorities and representatives of the churches, trades unions, and social workers in the distressed areas to ascertain their views of the effect of the operation of the means test upon family life and the people resident in those areas?

In framing draft Regulations the Board and the Minister will take account of all relevant views on this subject but my right hon. Friend cannot undertake to consult particular persons or organisations.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the nature of the grant which the Government propose to make to the nursery schools and the date on which it will become operative?

The Board of Education have for many years made grants to nursery schools at the rate of one half of the recognised expenditure. No new type of grant is proposed, but it is the Government's intention to encourage the increase of the number of nursery schools eligible for grant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, before any definite understanding is reached with the Irish Free State for the transference of the national stud in county Kildare, he will consider the alternative proposition of transferring the stud to this country; and what are the objections to this course.

All relevant considerations are receiving my attention in connection with the discussions taking place with the Government of the Irish Free State regarding the future of the National Stud, but I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 5th December with regard to this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the grievances of fish suppliers with regard to certain difficulties which have arisen in their obtaining supplies of potatoes; and whether any steps are to be taken to ensure that no undue difficulties are placed in the way of this valuable market for British potatoes?

I understand that arrangements were made last summer between the Potato Marketing Board and the national organisations of fish fryers under which grievances such as those to which my Noble Friend refers would be reported to and be considered by the Board, on the Retailers' Advisory Committee of which fish fryers have two representatives. I am not aware that any particular difficulty is being experienced by fresh fish fryers in obtaining supplies of potatoes at the present time, but if my Noble Friend will let me know of the cases he has in mind, I will be happy to pass on the information to the Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the anxiety of the farmers in this country who breed horses, and who produce fodder for horses, in consequence of the proposals to further limit the use of horse traffic in London and the other principal towns of the country; and whether he proposes to take any steps to safeguard the interests of British agriculture in this connection?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 5th December on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Lieut.-Colonel Moore). Farmers may rest assured that their interests in this connection will not be overlooked either by my right hon. Friend or by myself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state whether it is intended that action should be taken during the present Parliament to introduce legislation based on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Tithes?

As I have already indicated, the Government are now considering the Royal Commission's Report with a view to a statement being made of their policy in regard thereto. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement.

asked the Attorney-General whether consideration will be given during the present Parliament to the introduction of legislation to implement the report of the committee of inquiry into the ability of private individuals to sue the Crown for damages due to the action of Government Departments or their officials?

I understand that the report, to which the hon. Member refers, is that of the Crown Proceedings Committee, which was presented in 1927. The report did not contain any recommendation as to the desirability or feasibility of this suggestion and such information as I have does not lead me to think that there is any general agreement in favour of the hon. Member's proposal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, whether the new air service to the Isle of Skye is run on a private or a public licence; and what are the dimensions of the landing ground in Skye?

The aerodrome in the Isle of Skye used by the service referred to has been licensed for private use. Its dimensions are approximately as follows: North to South, 300 yards; East to West, 400 yards; North-East to South-West, 330 yards; North-West to South-East, 550 yards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is considering the resumption of diplomatic relations with Liberia; and, if not, whether he will make a statement of His Majesty's Government's views on the matter?Mr. EDEN His Majesty's Government have learned with satisfaction of the progress so far made by the present administration in Liberia in the economic and social spheres. They have not, however, as yet felt justified in resuming diplomatic relations with that Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inquire of the Chilean Government whether it is their intention to carry out their proposal to modify the default on their pre-War obligations issued in London, as the continued default is causing hardship to British investors?

The Chilean Minister of Finance announced on 9th September that the Decree providing for the partial resumption of service on the external debt would take effect on the 1st January, 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Residency was consulted concerning the suppression of a peace meeting arranged to be held on 17th November last at the Young Men's Christian Association building in Cairo, under the auspices of the Cairo peace movement, and at which the dean of the American University was to have spoken?

No, Sir, the Residency was not consulted.

asked the Minister of Transport if, taking the last 12 months for which figures are available, he will state the aggregate sum of money subscribed by the people of this country from all sources towards the upkeep of the roads, including the different forms of taxation and local rates; and how much of this sum is devoted to the actual purpose for which these taxes and these rates are levied?

My hon. and gallant Friend will find in Appendix 13 of the last Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund a statement of the expenditure on highways and the sources from which it was met for the year 1932–33. Figures for 1933–34 will be published shortly. To addition to the proportion of the expenditure shown in the Appendix as derived from Road Fund grants an annual sum of £6½ millions is paid from that fund into the General Exchequer Contribution which is credited to the Rate Fund. The receipts of the Road Fund from motor taxation and the allocation of those receipts are given year by year in paragraph 1 of the annual report.

asked the. Minister of Transport whether his Department, in collaboration with the London Passenger Transport Board, has given any recent consideration to the proposal to construct a tube railway from the City along Commercial and East India Dock Roads around the docks to Canning Town, then to Silvertown and, ultimately, to districts at present unserved by any convenient railway facilities in that part of London?

The London Passenger Transport Board inform me that they have considered proposals of this kind but are not able to adopt them. They state, however, that it is their intention to institute, early next year, a new service of through trains between the Metropolitan line and Barking which, in addition to affording a new connection, will increase the facilities between the City and Stepney, Bow, Bromley, West Ham, Barking and the surrounding districts. They also say that in connection with the scheme now before Parliament for a new tube railway from Liverpool Street to Bethnal Green, Mile End and Stratford, it is proposed that interchange facilities shall be provided at Stratford between this railway and the London and North Eastern Railway trains to and from Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street, including those serving Canning Town, Silvertown and North Woolwich.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to recent cases in which doctors who have been urgently summoned to attend patients lying dangerously ill or who have met with serious accidents have been summoned for exceeding the speed limit; and will he consider issuing regulations that will allow medical practitioners in these circumstances, provided some distinguishing sign is exhibited on the front of their cars, to exceed the speed limit when necessary?

I have no power to make regulations on the subject and agree with the view expressed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the matter can best be left to the courts.

asked the Minister of Transport what provision, if any, has been made in schemes approved by him for Road Fund grant under the five-year plan to accommodate traffic on the roads in the counties of Somerset and Monmouthshire which will be used for traffic approaching the proposed road-bridge over the River Severn?

Subject to the approval by Parliament of the Bill deposited by the Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire County Councils, I have agreed to make a grant from the Road Fund of 75 per cent. of the cost, estimated at £278,000, of constructing the approach roads necessary to connect the new bridge with the Gloucester-Newport Road in Monmouthshire and with existing roads in Gloucestershire. I have had no application from Somersetshire in this connection. The site proposed is a good deal further up the Severn than the mouth of the River Avon, which is the Somerset boundary. There are further schemes amounting in all to some half-million pounds in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire towards which I shall be prepared to give a 75 per cent. grant, which are more distant repercussions of the new bridge scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will require the London and North Eastern Railway Company, as one condition of the financial assistance to be given, to open out the north-west access to Durham station, seeing that there is now a large and growing population for which it would mean a nearer and easier way to and from the station?

I understand from the Company that they are always ready to consider the provision of facilities for serving new housing estates, and will not overlook the development in Durham. It seems that access to Durham Station from the north-west is difficult owing to the nature of the ground, the railway being on an embankment, but I am informed that the Durham County Council have under consideration a scheme for the building of a new bridge across the river at a point almost opposite the north end of the station platforms, and if their scheme is proceeded with, passengers will have a means of reaching the main entrance to the station.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will specify the road schemes, if any, which he has approved for Road Fund grants under the five-year plan of road development for the improvement of the route from Coventry to Bedford, with particular reference to that part between Northampton and Bedford?

The following schemes have been approved for grants on the Bedford-Coventry Road, A.428:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the value in pounds sterling of bobbins for use in the textile trade imported into India during the last three years from Germany and Japan, respectively; and whether similar bobbins imported into India from this country enjoy any preferential duty as compared with imports from other countries?

Following are the figures: Value of bobbins for use in the textile trade imported into India from Germany and Japan from April, 1932, onwards.