asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the conclusions arrived at by the League of Nations Committee of Five, which has been considering the future of the League organisation dealing with refugees?

The Committee of experts appointed by the Council of the League to study questions connected with international assistance to refugees has met, but has not yet made known its conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any action has been taken, or is contemplated, with respect to the resolution passed by the Assembly of the League of Nations on 24th September, 1928, expressing the desire that the Council would have a study made of the question of whether the Council of Assembly may, by a simple majority, ask for an advisory opinion within the meaning of Article 14 of the Covenant?

This matter was debated at the last session of the Assembly of the League of Nations, and a resolution was passed expressing the desire that the Council would examine the question in what circumstances and subject to what conditions an advisory opinion may be requested from the Permanent Court of International Justice under Article 14 of the Covenant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of those countries which have so far failed to carry out their obligations to apply sanctions to Italy in accordance with their pledged word under the Covenant of the League of Nations?

The position is fully explained in the annex to the report made on 12th December to the President of the Co-ordination Committee by the Committee of Experts. My right hon. Friend is placing a copy of this report and its annex in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the constitutional rights of the majority in the Memel landtag are being respected; and whether the formation of any police forces other than those laid down in the Statute will be forbidden?

As will have been apparent from the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chippenham (Captain Cazalet) on 9th December, a Directorate representative of the Landtag is now in office in the Memel territory. This Directorate has now received a vote of confidence from the Landtag. As regards the second half of this question, my right hon. Friend's information does not lead him to suppose that any forces of police whose existence would be inconsistent with the Statute have been or are being established.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the improved situation in Memel and with a view to still further improvement, he will consider the advisability of suggesting, in the most appropriate form, to the Lithuanian Government the desirability of some act of clemency to those now in prison as a result of the recent conspiracy trial?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will remind the Argentine Government that the contemplated legislation to restore the position of British capital invested in the Argentine railways must be completed prior to negotiations for the renewal of the Roca trade arrangement?

As my right hon. Friend informed my hon. and gallant Friend yesterday, His Majesty's Government are carefully watching the development of the situation in regard to British-owned railways in Argentina.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as it appears that the understanding upon which the Argentine Roca Convention of 1933 rests is not consonant with the peso-exchange indirect tax upon the British railways in Argentina, he will suggest the cancellation of this method of taxation, and repayment to the railways of their losses to date arising from the exchange difference between 15 and 17 pesos to the £?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given yesterday to a similar question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hertford (Sir M. Sueter).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will arrange that agricultural and pastoral supplies shall be received in future from British imperial sources instead of from Argentina under the Roca agreement, as the present policy of the Argentine authorities does not permit £200,000,000 of British capital invested in the Argentine railways to earn a proper return;(2) whether, in view of the continued hostility shown locally to non-Argentine capital invested in the Argentine railways, he proposes to renew the expiring Roca agreement in its present form or at all?

I can assure my hon. Friend that all these questions will be taken into consideration in connection with any negotiations for the revision of the Roca agreement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state any specific cases in which the supply of electricity has been substantially cheapened as a result of the operations of the Central Electricity Board; and whether there are any cases where the price has been raised?

There are a number of cases in which the supply of electricity has been substantially cheapened as a result of the operations of the Central Electricity Board of which I may cite the Peterborough Corporation and the Mersey Power Company. In answer to the second part of the question, the Act precludes the board from forcing any undertaker to take a grid supply at a cost greater than that at which he could himself produce it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the £100,000,000 five-year road plan recently announced by him as projected Government expenditure is in addition to existing annual expenditure from all Government sources; and what his estimated total expenditure from all Government sources, excluding local authorities' expenditure, will be for the current financial year and the next further financial year, together with the comparable figures for each of the past 10 years?

The figure of £100,000,000 represents the estimated cost of the works embraced in the five-year programmes of road development and improvement put forward by the highway authorities at the request of the Government. The Road Fund's contribution to the programme is in addition to the grants usually made from the fund towards the cost of maintaining classified roads in counties and for certain other purposes and the payment towards the General Exchequer Contribution under the Local Governments Acts, and to certain long-term schemes.The payments out of the Road Fund during the current year and the previous

ten years in respect of grants to highway authorities, including the amounts paid out of the fund towards the General Exchequer Contribution to local revenues distributed under the Local Government Acts, 1929, are as follow:

	£ Millions.
1925–26	16.2
1926–27	17
1927–28	18.7
1928–29	17
1929–30	19.8
1930–31	27
1931–32	28.7
1932–33	23
1933–34	19.6
1934–35	18.5
Estimate
1935–36	20

An estimate of the payments during the financial year 1936–37 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the amount in gallons of the several descriptions of light and heavy hydrocarbon oil produced from coal in Great Britain in each of the years ended 31st March, 1934 and 1935, and the estimated production for the year ended 31st March, 1936?

Information of the kind asked for is available only in respect of calendar years. In response to requests mane during the Debate on the British Hydrocarbon Oils Production Bill in 1934, a special section was inserted in the Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines for 1934 (pages 16–18) giving full information about the production of light and heavy oils from indigenous materials for recent years up to 1934. A copy of the report is in the Library. For the calendar year 1935 it is estimated that the production of light oils from coal and coal products may amount to about 70 million gallons, as compared with 50 million gallons in 1934. It is not possible at present to give an estimate of the production of heavy oils in 1935.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the number of coal cutters and mechanical conveyors in the mines of Great Britain, with separate

Year.					Number of coal-cutters in use.		Numbers of conveyors in use.
					Great Britain.	Durham.	Great Britain.	Durham.
1927	…	…	…	…	7,116	1,107	2,078*	172*
1928	…	…	…	…	7,131	1,170	2,856	213
1929	…	…	…	…	7,361	1,319	3,218	229
1930	…	…	…	…	7,637	1,421	3,747	277
1931	…	…	…	…	7,371	1,244	3,953	282
1932	…	…	…	…	7,137	1,264	4,120	300
1933	…	…	…	…	7,149	1,162	4,756	358
1934	…	…	…	…	7,406	1,203	5,369	396
* Coal Face conveyors only.				From 1928, the figures relate to conveyors in use at the coal face and elsewhere below ground.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the number of accidents, fatal and non-fatal, for the years 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932,

Numbers of persons killed and injured during the years 1927–34 in and about Mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911.
Year.					Great Britain.		Durham.
					Killed.	Injured.*	Killed.	Injured.*
1927	…	…	…	…	1,128	173,449	118	21,447
1928	…	…	…	…	989	161,790	101	21,713
1929	…	…	…	…	1,076	175,899	125	24,684
1930	…	…	…	…	1,013	166,281	120	22,702
1931	…	…	…	…	859	141,471	77	17,159
1932	…	…	…	…	881	125,874	87	15,424
1933	…	…	…	…	820	122,419	84	15,448
1934	…	…	…	…	1,073	132,859	107	17,506
* Including all persons disabled for more than 3 days.

asked the Secretary for Mines what proportion of adult workers in the mining industry are employed as piece-workers below ground, and if any boys or youths are so remunerated?

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

The information is as follows:1933 and 1934 for Great Britain; and will he give the figure for Durham separately?

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of workpeople engaged in the mining industry, excluding clerks and salaried officials, with the number of boys under 16, of youths between 16 and 21, and of adult workers over 21 years of age, at the latest available date?

Particulars of persons employed in the coalmining industry, classified by age, are only collected annually by my Department. At 5th December, 1934, 769,418 wage-earners were employed, of whom 28,826 were under 16 years of age. Particulars in respect of young persons between 16 and 21 years of age are not available, but the number between 16 and 20 years of age was 82,078 and the number 20 years of age and over was 658,514.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of tin mines working in Cornwall?

At the end of September, 1935, six mines in Cornwall were producing tin. In addition, development work was being carried on at four other mines.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the

					Nominated by:
Sir Norman Hill, Bart (Chairman)				…	Shipowners' Parliamentary Committee.
Sir Alfred Booth, Bart.		…	…	…
Mr. Michael Brett	…	…	…	…
Mr. H. M. Cleminson		…	…	…
Mr. G. A. Innes	…	…	…	…
Mr. W. A. Souter	…	…	…	…
					Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
Captain James Fortay		…	…	…	Imperial Merchant Service Guild.
Captain C. W. Thompson			…	…	Mercantile Marine Service Association.
					Officers' (Merchant Navy) Federation.
Mr. D. Bramah, C.B.E.		…	…	…	Marine Engineers' Association.
Mr. R. W. Clouston		…	…	…	National Union of Seamen.
Mr. W. R. Spence	…	…	…	…
Mr. J. H. Tarbitten, J.P.			…	…
Mr. James Henson, C.B.E.			…	…	Transport and General Workers' Union.
Mr. T. J. O'Donnell		…	…	…	Association of Wireless and Cable Telegraphists.
Mr. Richard A. Lewis		…	…	…	United Kingdom Pilots' Association.
Mr. A. L. Ayre, O.B.E.		…	…	…	Institution of Naval Architects.
Eng. Capt. W. J. Willett Bruce, O.B.E., M.Eng., R.D., R.N.R.
Sir Percy MacKinnon		…	…	…	Lloyd's.
Mr. W. W. Harris	…	…	…	…	Liverpool Underwriters' Association.
Mr. James Montgomerie, D.Sc.			…	…	Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
Mr. J. Foster King, C.B.E.			…	…	British Corporation Register of Shipping and Aircraft.
Mr. J. B. Harvey, M.I.N.A.			…	…	Institute of Marine Engineers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement on the Preparatory Maritime Conference which has been sitting at Geneva?

His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of taking all possible steps to protect the interests of British capital invested in railways abroad, but I see no reason to depart from the view that it can be left to the market to assess the credit of foreign countries or institutions which desire to borrow in London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the present members of the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee?

The composition of this Committee is as follows:

I am informed that the Preparatory Maritime meeting finished its sittings on 6th December, and presented a full and unanimous report of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation on the questions referred to it. I understand that this report will be issued by the International Labour Office in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any discussion is in progress on the setting up of negotiations with a view to an Anglo-American trade agreement?

Following their declared policy, the United Kingdom Government have under constant review the possibility of negotiating trade agreements with foreign countries. Informal exchanges of views have accordingly taken place from time to time with a view to ascertaining whether a basis exists for negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United States of America, but these exchanges have been of an exploratory nature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the total value of imports into the port of Hull for each year from 1931 to 1935 or the latest available date?

The total declared value of the imports of merchandise into the United Kingdom, entered at the port of Hull, during each of the years 1931 to 1934 was £50,800,000, £43,200,000, £42,300,000 and £42,200,000. Particulars for part of this year are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that business is being held up in the silk and artificial silk industry owing to uncertainty as to the future position of the duty on raw silk and the Excise Duty on artificial silk; and whether he can now make a statement of his intentions regarding these duties?

As regards the first part of the question I have received representations from various quarters in the sense indicated in the question. As regards the second part of the question, my hon. Friend is aware that it is not usual to make announcements as to the possibility of changes in taxation in anticipation of the event, but in view of the published opinion of the Import Duties Advisory Committee that the Customs Duty on raw silk and the Excise Duty on artificial silk yarn should be abolished as soon as circumstances permit, I felt justified last year in so far departing from practice as to state publicly that it was not my intention to repeal or reduce these duties before the end of March, 1936. After consideration of all the circumstances I now feel justified in repeating that statement, with a change of date, and saying that it is not my intention to propose the repeal or reduction of the Customs duties on raw silk or of the Excise Duty on artificial silk, at any rate before the end of March, 1937.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether there has been any modification in the terms when guaranteeing loans for export trade with Russia, or whether such modifications are under consideration?

The charges for Government guarantees in respect of export credits to Russia were reduced by about one-third after the conclusion of the Trade Agreement between Great Britain and Russia in February of last year. For many months now purchases in this country on behalf of the Soviet Government have been on a cash basis, and no proposals for guarantees in respect of credits to Russia have been received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. If the Soviet Government desires to place orders in this country on a credit basis, the Department and its advisers are ready to discuss terms for guarantees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties which at present harass the trade of this country with Spain owing to the restrictions which result in money due to British merchants being held up for periods of six months or more; and whether it is the intention of the Government to institute a clearing system to ensure that sterling due to Spain in payment for goods exported from that country shall be used solely for payments due to British manufacturers for goods forwarded to Spain?

Yes, Sir, I am well aware of the difficulties referred to by my hon. Friend. The whole question is at present receiving the careful attention of His Majesty's Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will set up a departmental committee to inquire into and report upon the flaws and weaknesses of the Companies Acts, 1928 and 1929?

I do not consider that the time is yet ripe for the appointment of a committee to consider amending legislation.

asked the Postmaster-General what would be the cost of converting the existing 918 rural party-line circuits to the automatic system?

I cannot quote a figure of cost for the conversion of Rural Party Lines to automatic working as there are technical difficulties which at present preclude such conversion.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the Lord Chancellor has expressed disapproval of the existing process of trial of a peer indicted of felony; whether this represents the policy of the Government; and, if so, whether any steps are in contemplation to abolish it?

I have ascertained that my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor did not express disapproval of the existing process of trial of a peer indicted for felony, though he has expressed the opinion that there was a good deal to be said for taking the view that this manner of trial had outlived its usefulness, and that the opinion of their Lordships in another place on that matter would be welcome. As to the latter part of the question I should prefer to postpone any statement until the matter can be further considered.

asked the Attorney-General what, if any, steps are in contemplation to give effect to the recommendations contained it the report of the Legal Education Committee (Cmd. 4663)?

In accordance with the recommendations of the Legal Education Committee, steps have been taken to set up a Standing Advisory Committee to which questions relating to legal education can be referred for consideration. The question of the establishment of an Institute of Legal Research is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what local authorities are authorised to levy ates on empty property; and whether his Department has expressed an official opinion upon this matter?

The Corporation of the City of London have power to levy upon empty property a proportion of the general rate representing the old sewers rate. No other rating authority in England and Wales has this power. My right hon. Friend has not had occasion to express an opinion on the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has noticed the boom in aircraft companies' shares and profits; and whether it is proposed to take any action to prevent profiteering so far as the State interests are concerned?

Adequate steps are already taken to ensure that the profits of aircraft contractors shall not be excessive.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the number of passenger machines controlled by Imperial Airways in use in Europe that are equipped with devices to prevent the formation of ice on the leading edges of the wings?

I am informed that none of the Company's aircraft are at present so fitted, but that they are about to fit one or two machines with such a device experimentally.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the rates of pay and hours of employment of boy entrants, vacancies for which are now being advertised?

The weekly rate of pay of boy entrants is 5s. 3d. during training; on completion of trainings, 7s., if and so long as they are under 18 years of age, and, beyond that age, 22s. 9d. or 28s. according to the classification for which they have qualified. In addition they receive accommodation, rations and clothing, or allowances in lieu, and medical attendance. During training, which normally lasts not less than a year, the hours of duty are 33 hours a week on the average, and six weeks' holiday a year is allowed. After training, the hours of duty depend on the arrangements at the particular Royal Air Force station.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state, for the first six months of 1935, the number of immigrants into Canada from the United Kingdom on the one hand and from all other parts of Europe on the other hand?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can give the latest figures for immigration into Canada of persons of foreign origin and of British origin, respectively?

The number of British immigrants entering Canada via ocean ports during the first six months of 1935 was 914. The number of other European immigrants is not accurately known at present, but is estimated at 1,600 and the number of non-European immigrants at 50. Of the above total of approximately 2,500 immigrants entering Canada from overseas only 475 were adult males, and of these 339 came from the United Kingdom. In addition to the above, 2,400 immigrants entered Canada during the same period from the United States of America. Of these it is estimated that from 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. are of recent British origin.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will state the number of disallowances of claims under the seasonal workers orders from the end of the season at the Blackpool and Lytham St. Anne's Employment Exchanges, as compared with the same period last year;(2) whether he will state the number of seasonal workers' claims admitted at Blackpool and Lytham St. Anne's Exchanges under the recent amending regulations since the end of the official summer season and which would have been refused if those amendments were not now in force?

807 claims have been disallowed under the Seasonal Workers Order at the Blackpool, Lytham and St. Anne's Employment Exchanges, since the end of the summer season this year as compared with 1,656 claims disallowed, under the previous regulation during the corresponding period of 1934. No record is kept of the number of claims now allowed which would have been disallowed at earlier periods.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended in drafting the new unemployment insurance legislation to give special consideration to the position of seasonal workers?

The Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee in its report on unemployment insurance for agriculture make special recommendations with regard to seasonal workers, and these will be borne in mind in framing legislation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any explanation as to why the Bristol Unemployment Assistance Board refused payment of the sum of £2 1s. 6d. to Mrs. Kay, of 64, St. Mary's Road, Shirehampton, money which was due to her husband on 4th October, 1935, on which day he died, and the husband having signed the register for the whole week with the exception of the Friday on which he died?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham (Colonel C. Brown) on 11th December. I am informed by the board that, as indicated in that reply, certain cases including that of Mrs. Kay are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of coloured seamen of British origin and of foreign origin, respectively, who drew public assistance in 1933, 1934 and to date in 1935?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the part-time group holdings at Wallridge, Northumberland, with 100 per cent. unemployed, are unable to receive the same assistance as other holdings of Northumberland and county Durham because the former are not situated in a special area; and if he will consider extending the Special Area Act so as to include such distressed places?

It is the case that the Commissioner cannot assist in such a case as this outside the special areas. As to the extension of the special areas, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. R. Davies) on 12th December.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many final awards have been re-considered and how many fresh awards have resulted therefrom in the six months ended 30th June, 1935?

The cases which have been reviewed and an increase of pension awarded numbered 428 during the six months ended the 30th June, 1935.

asked the Secretary of State for War what infantry anti-tank weapon has been chosen and when will it be issued?

Two anti-tank weapons have been designed and tested, and their issue to the troops will begin as soon as manufacture permits. One is a light weapon which will be issued to all units, and the other is a heavier weapon which will be manned by specially trained detachments.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the new light automatic will be issued to the infantry?

The issue of the new light machine gun will begin in 1937.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need for encouraging recruitment in the Territorial Forces, he will consider the advisability of restoring the economy cuts of 2½ per cent. and the free issue of the blue uniform as hitherto?

On these and other similar matters involving expenditure I will ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of the forthcoming Army Estimates, but he is under a misapprehension when he suggests that the blue uniform was ever a free issue from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the respective total money values of beef, mutton, lamb, pork, bacon and ham, butter, cheese, milk, and margarine supplied to the Army by the United Kingdom, excluding the Irish Free State, by the British Colonies, and by foreign countries, respectively, for the years 1932, 1933 and 1934?

Apart from small purchases for hospitals and detention barracks the only item mentioned in the question which is purchased directly by the War Department for issue at home, is meat. With the exception of preserved meat, this is entirely frozen meat of Dominion origin and consists mainly of beef and to a small extent of mutton. The estimated values of the frozen meat purchased for the Army and Royal Air Force at home in the three years were:

	£
1932–3	391,000
1933–4	418,000
1934–5	401,000

In addition, foreign preserved meat is issued, in lieu of ordinary meat, for the purpose of maintaining the Army and Royal Air Force reserves at home and abroad, the cost of Dominion supplies being prohibitive. The values, excluding duty, purchased in the three years were:

	£
1932–3	20,000
1933–4	21,000
1934–5	17,000

Bacon (including ham), cheese, milk and margarine are not issued in kind to the troops at home, but are purchased by units out of a cash allowance. Details of their value and origin are not, therefore, available, except in the case of bacon, the supply of which is supervised by the War Office. The values of the bacon purchased by Army and Royal Air Force units at home in the three years were:

	£
1932–3	83,000
1933–4	100,000
1934–5	103,000

Of these, rather less than half the bacon purchases in 1932–3 was of foreign origin; the remainder was practically all of Dominion origin. Units do not purchase butter, on account of its high cost as compared with margarine. At stations overseas, meat, bacon, cheese, condensed milk, and margarine are generally supplied by the War Department in kind, but purchases are in many cases arranged locally and comprehensive figures are not available. Most of the meat is frozen meat of Dominion origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state the numbers of children, between the ages of 12 years and 14 years, exempted from school attendance during the last 12 months in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, respectively?

For the year ended 31st July, 1935, the numbers were Glasgow 233, Edinburgh 466, Dundee 8, Aberdeen 117.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state when the Scottish housing advisory committee will be appointed and the personnel of same?

Yes, Sir, the committee will be appointed in a few days. The following are the names of the members:

• Mr. Henry Alexander, ex Lord Provost of Aberdeen (Chairman).
• Dr. G. Clark.
• Mr. J. Cunnison, M.A.
• Mr. Joseph Duncan.
• Miss Grace Drysdale.
• Mr. Wm. Elger.
• Bailie Rutherford Fortune.
• Mr. G. P. Laidlaw.
• Mr. Angus McIntosh.
• Mr. J. M. McKillop.
• Mr. Robert Mitchell.
• Miss Eleanor Stewart, J.P.
• Lady Swan.
• Mr. J. P. Ross Taylor.
• Sir Wm. E. Whyte, O.B.E.
• Miss Cecil Young.

One other gentleman has been invited to serve but has not yet accepted appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many juvenile courts have been set up in Scotland under the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act, 1932; and, if any, where the said courts have been set up?

Orders have been made applying Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act, 1932, to the counties of Renfrew and Fife. Under these Orders Juvenile Courts are held at Paisley, Greenock and Giffnock in Renfrewshire, and at Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, St. Andrews and Cupar in Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the sentence passed on six boys at Fraserburgh, during October, where they were each sentenced to receive a flogging on New Year's eve; if he can state the offence committed and the names and ages of each boy; and if he will make full inquiry into the case with a view to remitting these sentences of flogging?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Five of the boys, whose ages ranged from 15 years and 10 months to 12 years and 8 months, pled guilty to charges of malicious mischief. The sixth boy, aged 9 years and 10 months, pled guilty to three charges of theft. The cases came before the Fraserburgh Police Court and I understand that the intention of the magistrate was to impose no penalty if the boys behaved themselves until the 31st instant. After careful consideration of all the circumstances I have determined to remit the sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action, if any, he is taking to have a technical survey of Scotland's water resources and supplies undertaken and an inquiry into the question of water supplies, with the object of securing a more economical and more effective use of these resources, as recommended by the Committee on Scottish Health Services in their interim report of 28th March, 1934?

The whole question of water supplies in Scotland is being actively considered by the Department of Health for Scotland with a view to ensuring that adequate provision is made to meet the growing demand for water for domestic purposes. In particular, consideration is being given to the need for increased co-operation between local authorities in the utilisation of the sources of supply to the best advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a decision was given in the English High Court by three of His Majesty's judges on 7th November, 1935, on the case of a claim for a widow's pension by the widow of the late Mr. Herbert B. Slaughter, which upheld an appeal in favour of the widow; if he is aware that this decision has so far not applied in Scotland; and if he intends to take any action on the matter, seeing that the decision is one which allows more favourable treatment to widows?

The decision to which the hon. Member refers has been brought to my notice. Although decisions of the High Court in England are not binding in Scotland I have instructed the Department of Health to accept this decision in determining claims for pensions arising in Scotland.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that during the year 1934 the number of new clubs registered was 1,309, and the net increase in the number of registered clubs was 358, he can state how many of the 951 clubs that ceased to exist in 1934 were struck off for offence; what were the main categories of offences and, approximately, how many were struck off in each category; and whether the proportion of clubs that are struck off the register as the result of offences is on the increase?

As shown in Table V of the Licensing Statistics for 1934, which were published yesterday, the number of clubs struck off the register in 1934 following prosecutions for offences was 197. According to the available information, the grounds for striking off in the bulk of the cases were that illegal sales of intoxicating liquor had taken place on the club premises, or that the club was not conducted in good faith as a club, or was kept or habitually used for an unlawful purpose. It is not possible to give the detailed particulars asked for in this connection. As regards the last part of the question, I have not sufficient information on which to base an accurate comparison with past years. As explained in the Introduction to the Licensing Statistics for 1934, the corresponding figure published in previous years in fact included a number of clubs struck off the register merely because they had ceased to exist.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the present number of forest holdings in the county of Durham; and what is the proposed increase in this number for next year?

The Forestry Commissioners have 17 forest workers' holdings in the county of Durham. Any increase next year will depend on the acquisition of additional land for afforestation.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the area of land now owned by the Commission in the county of Durham; what addition has been made during the present year; and whether it is proposed to make a further addition next year?

The Forestry Commissioners own 5,921 acres in the county of Durham. No addition has been made during the past year. It is proposed to add to that area if and when suitable land is available.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what was the average number of State afforestation workers that were employed during the 12 months to the last convenient date; and whether the number of acres it is proposed to afforest during the next season has yet been fixed, and the number of afforestation workers it is proposed to employ?

The average number of State afforestation employés during the 12 months ended 30th September last was 3,470. It is proposed to afforest 20,500 acres during the season now started and it is estimated that the average number of workers who will be employed during the season will be 3,600.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what works of afforestation have been put in hand since the issue of the Commissioners' Report for special areas in July, 1935, the acreage covered, and the additional number of men employed, showing the particulars for each special area separately?

The Forestry Commissioners' planting programme for the current season at centres in the three areas referred to in the Report mentioned and the estimated average number of men to be employed is as follows. This is part of the Forestry Commissioners' normal programme.

	Acres.	Number of men.
Tyneside and Durham County	250	84
West Cumberland and Haltwhistle	2,371	172
South Wales	1,030	172

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what action is to be taken with regard to the recommendations in the recently published report of the National Forest Park Committee?

The Forestry Commissioners have adopted and propose carrying out the recommendations of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that many farmers have outstanding loans from the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation at interest rates of 5 per cent. and over; and whether he will consider evolving a scheme for the reduction of interest on those lines?

All the outstanding loans from the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation bear interest at either 5 per cent. or 4¼ per cent. exclusive of sinking fund charges. The rate of interest charged by the corporation to borrowers depends on the rate at which the corporation raised the Debenture Stock, the proceeds of which are used for long-term loans. It is consequently an essential feature of all loans made by the corporation that they are on definite terms for a long period, and I regret that I am not able to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of my hon. Friend's question. The corporation is at present lending, at a basic interest rate of 4¼ per cent., money that was raised on Debenture Stock issued at from 4½ per cent to 5 per cent., which cannot be redeemed before 1959, and which can be purchased in the open market at the present time only at a considerable premium.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, since the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation was set up under the Agricultural Credits Act of 1928, any excess reserves have become available for the benefit of borrowers, in accordance with a scheme provided under Section 4 of that Act?

The question of the utilisation of any excess reserves in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928, will not arise until the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation has repaid the whole of the sums advanced from public funds to the guarantee fund. So far no part of these advances has been repaid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the interest charged by the Treasury at the present time on money advanced to the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation; what is the interest charged by that Corporation to long-term borrowers; and whether there is any possibility of arranging, in the near future, for a further reduction of the interest rates charged by the Corporation?

In accordance with the provisions of Section 1 (1) (i) of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928, advances by the Treasury to the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation for the purpose of establishing a guarantee fund are free of interest for a period id 60 years. As regards the second part of the question, the basic rate exclusive of sinking fund charges is 5 per cent. on loans granted before 16th April, 1934, and 4¼ per cent. on loans granted since that date. With regard to the last part of the question, I am advised that the Corporation sees little possibility in the near future of making a further reduction in the interest rate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Milk Publicity Council last met; and what, if any, are the proposals which this council have made?

I am informed that the National Milk Publicity Council (which is a voluntary body) met in the usual course on the 29th October last. I understand that the council is continuing its efforts to increase the consumption of milk and milk products, through lectures, demonstrations, distribution of literature, and similar means.