asked the Postmaster-General whether mail matter for Cyprus is now conveyed by an Italian ship; and whether there is any alternative route for the delivery of mails in this colony, utilising air services, via Palestine?

The mails leaving London on Tuesdays are conveyed from Brindisi to Cyprus by an Italian ship. Those leaving London on Thursday evening are conveyed from Marseilles by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamships to Port Said for onward transmission by steamships of the Khedivial Mail Line. Air correspondence for Cyprus specially addressed "By Air to Alexandria" and prepaid at the rate for Lgypt, viz.: 3d. the half-ounce, would be conveyed by Imperial Airways service to Alexandria for onward transmission by steamships of the Khedivial Mail Line.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the practice of granting a monetary award to boy messenger cyclists who secure the safety-first certificate has had a beneficial effect; and, if so, in what respect?

The practice in question was introduced soon after the employment of boy messenger motor-cyclists began, and no material exists for an estimate of its results. It is intended as a means of counteracting any tendency to youthful carelessness.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the number of persons employed in an auxiliary capacity in his Department who are in receipt of pensions, state or otherwise, on retirement from their previous employment; how many auxiliary postmen have been engaged for the Christmas traffic; the number taken from the Employment Exchange who had registered as unemployed persons; and the total number of persons engaged for the Christmas period?

It is the practice, where possible, to recruit fur auxiliary employment persons who have other sources of livelihood such as a pension, but the number of pensioners actually employed—the great majority of whom are Army or Navy pensioners—could only be obtained by an elaborate investigation. The temporary staffs recruited for the Christmas period are obtained from Employment Exchanges where such exchanges exist. As the numbers of these staffs will depend on local requirements I am unable to give an exact figure, but I anticipate that about 70,000 extra men will be employed this Christmas.

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

No bentwood chairs of foreign manufacture have been bought in the years stated. Those bought are of British manufacture but have been supplied with a plywood seat imported from abroad the cost of which represents less than one-tenth of the price of the chair.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air 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 Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent it has been the practice to charter for private business oil-tankers owned by the Admiralty; and will he state the number of such charters entered into during the current year and the tonnage of oil carried on such charters?

It is the practice to let out Admiralty tankers on commercial charter when they are not required for Fleet work, and when the market rates obtainable are remunerative. The number of charters entered into in the calendar year 1935 has been 48, and the total tonnage lifted 204,000 tons, plus an unknown quantity carried by two vessels on time charter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any further information concerning the acts of sabotage on board His Majesty's ships "Royal Oak" and "Oberon"?

I have at present nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on Wednesday last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement concerning the trouble on His Majesty's Ship "Tern"

—			Frozen Beef and Mutton.	Fresh Beef and Mutton.	Fresh Pork.	Preserved Meat.	Fresh Milk.	Condensed Milk.	Margarine
			£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1932	…	…	145,000*	200(a)	3,500(a)	16,000(b)	13,000(a)	90,000(a)	7,000(a)
					400(b)
1933	…	…	130,000*	250(a)	2,700(a)	17,000(b)	13,000(a)	92,000(a)	6,000(a)
					1,600(b)
1934	…	…	140,000*	500(a)	2,500(a)	18,000(b)	15,000(a)	79,000(a)	5,000(a)
					1,600(b)			7,700(b)
(a) Supplied from the United Kingdom, excluding the Irish Free State.
(b) Supplied by the British Dominions or Colonies.
* Approximately 97 per cent. of Dominion origin, the remaining 3 per cent. being foreign.

In addition to the figures given above purchases of meat are arranged locally by His Majesty's ships when cruising,

I regret that I shall not be in a position to make any statement until the report of the Court of Inquiry held on the Station has reached the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary-Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the special facilities available at Chatham for destroyer constructional work and of its high standard of rapid output, he proposes to construct the majority of the seven new destroyers at Chatham dockyard?

There are no special facilities for building destroyers at Chatham dockyard. Contracts for the seven new destroyers will be placed with private shipbuilding yards.

asked the Parliamentary-Secretary to the Admiralty 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 Navy 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?

The following statement gives approximate figures in respect of purchases made by the Admiralty or drawn under naval contracts:etc., but particulars of the origin of such supplies are not available. Certain additional supplies of margarine are obtained through the Navy, Army and Air Force institute, and supplies of bacon, ham, butter and cheese for His Majesty's ships, etc., are obtained through that corporation but details are not available to show the value of the supplies from the several sources.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state if it is the policy of his Department to stabilise employment at Chatham Dockyard at its present strength?

The number of employés at Chatham has been increased during the past few months on account of temporary pressure of work. The number to be borne in the future will depend on the amount of work to be done at Chatham Dockyard. Endeavours are always made to keep the number of employés in all the Dockyards as stable as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the wireless installation on the steamship "Noemijulia"; and what steps have been taken to remedy the defects?

Complaints have been made that the wireless telegraph installation on this ship is in a defective condition, but as the ship is trading continuously abroad it has not been possible for the Board of Trade to investigate the complaints or themselves to take steps to ensure that a satisfactory wireless apparatus is carried. A request was made some time ago to the authorities of one country occasionally visited by the ship to survey the wireless telegraph installation on our behalf should she visit one of their ports, but no report of any such survey has been received. Similiar requests are being addressed to the administration of the other countries bordering on the Mediterranean which have adopted the Safety Convention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the joint commission to determine the southern section of the undemarcated territory between Burma and China has yet been formed; who are the commissioners; what is the nationality of the chairman; whether any Burman was invited to serve on the commission; from what sources the expenses of the commission will be defrayed; and by what date it is anticipated that the work of the commission will be completed?

The commission has been formed with Colonel Iselin, a Swiss national, as chairman. The British commissioners are Mr. J. Clague and Mr. F. S. Grose, who were selected because they were best qualified by reason of their experience and knowledge of the country in dispute. The Chinese commissioners are Mr. Liang-Yu-Koa and Mr. Yin Ming-Te. The expenses of the chairman are being defrayed by the Governments of India and China in moieties, and those of the British part of the commission by the Government of India. It is hoped that the commission may complete its work in the field next spring.

asked the Minister of Transport how the reductions in casualties in the City and Metropolitan area compare with the reductions for the country as a whole?

The reduction in the number of persons killed in the City and Metropolitan area for the comparable 39 weeks of this year and last is 26 per cent. as compared with 12.5 per cent. for the country as a whole. The reduction in the number of persons injured over the same period is 7.3 per cent. as compared with 5.6 per cent. for the whole country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in cases of conviction for driving offences in which the magistrates for special reasons decide not to suspend the licence of a convicted person, he will consider the possibility of taking such steps as will protect the person in question against being prevented from driving owing to the refusal of insurance companies to issue a policy of insurance?

The Road Traffic Acts do not give me power to compel any insurance company to accept any particular risk but, so far as I am aware, a person who is not for some reason a bad risk (and consequently a source of danger on the road) has no difficulty in obtaining a third party policy.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons in West Ham are at present in receipt of relief from the public assistance committee?

The total number of persons in receipt of poor relief in West Ham County Borough (including dependants but excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals) on Saturday, 7th December, 1935, was 17,354.

asked the Minister of Health where collated information can be obtained regarding the amount paid in salaries to the higher officials of local authorities?

Local authorities themselves fix the salaries of their officials, except in certain cases where the approval of a Minister is required, and I am not aware that the information which the hon. Member desires is anywhere available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any consultation took place with the central council of coal-owners before the Danish Coal Committee were advised to purchase 20,000 tons of coal from other sources during this month; and, if so, what reason was given why that amount of coal was not available in this country?

No such advice as that suggested in the question was given by my Department. I have been for some time in close touch with the Central Council of Colliery Owners on the general question of supplies, and was fully aware of the position. In view of the difficulties which Denmark was experiencing in getting British coal, and pending the receipt of specific instances of the failure of British companies to supply, the Danish Coal Committee was informed that if 20,000 tons could be purchased from other sources during December, we should be willing, having regard to the excess purchases of United Kingdom coal by Denmark in the last agreement year, to make an allowance up to that total should Danish purchases of United Kingdom coal during the current agreement year fall short of the prescribed percentage.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the wages cost per ton of coal produced, commercially disposable, for the year 1924, and each subsequent year with the latest available figure for 1935?

The information is as follows:

Year and Wages Cost per ton of coal disposable commercially.
	s.	d.
1924	13	3
1925	12	9½*
1926 (January-April)	12	4*
1927	10	7½
1928	9	5¾
1929	9	2
1930	9	3¾
1931	9	2¾
1932	9	0¾
1933	8	9½
1934	8	7¼
1935 (January-September)	8	7¼
* Including Subvention.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the average earnings per man-shift worked in the coal-mining industry, including allowances in kind, for the year 1913 and each subsequent year, with the latest available figure for 1935?

The information, so far as it is available, is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Private Bebby, No. 3,645,965, of the Prince of Wales's Volunteers, having over 21 years service with the colours, was refused unemployment benefit on the ground that he had voluntarily taken his discharge during his fourth period of re-engagement; and whether, in order to prevent the recurrence of similar hardship, he is prepared to introduce amending legislation in order that men who take their discharge during periods of re-engagement, as distinct from their original term of service, may be entitled to unemployment benefit as they would have been had they not re-engaged for a further period of service?

Under Section 94 (6) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935, a credit of contributions in respect of service in the Forces is not in general given to a man who is discharged at his own request. My right hon. Friend cannot give any undertaking as to future legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to include gardeners, golf course attendants and playing-field employés in the Measure to extend the scope of unemployment insurance law?

I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the high cost of living and the inclement character of the weather, he will recommend to the Unemployment Assistance Board the need for an increased winter allowance for the unemployed?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 5th December to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division (Mr. Logan).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the recommendations of the conference on the 3rd instant at Newcastle, convened by the Lord Mayor, representative of all classes of citizens in the area, at which the Government were unanimously urged to grant State aid for works of economic importance, to lessen the burdens of unemployment; and, if so, what action is proposed in the matter?

I have no doubt that when a copy of the recommendations made at the conference referred to are received by the Commissioner for the Special Areas, he will give immediate attention to any matters raised at the conference falling within his powers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department are able and willing to prepare statistics to show the effect of the passing of the last Seasonal Workers Amendment Order in respect of the whole country or in respect of selected areas?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to him on the 9th December, and to the reply given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East, on the 12th December. These replies give a comparison between the operation of the existing and the former Regulation on the only basis which is available. As my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, in order to obtain precise figures, it would be necessary to ask the statutory authorities to decide whether claims would or would not have been disallowed under provisions which are no longer the law, and this would obviously be outside the scope of their duties.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered representations made to him by local authorities that local educational authorities should be empowered to provide meals for boys and girls attending juvenile instruction centres; and whether, in view of the concern of medical authorities about the physical condition of adolescents, the Minister will introduce legislation giving local authorities the power to provide these meals?

My right hon. Friend has taken note of representations made to him in the sense to which the hon. Member refers. There is, under the existing law, no authority to provide free meals in these cases, but my right hon. Friend has under active consideration the question of the measures which can most effectively be taken to improve the physical condition of juveniles attending junior instruction centres.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Government Departments, in allocating contracts, are required to give preference, other things being equal, to firms in the special areas, as provided in Article 16 of the Agreement of 30th November, 1935, between the Treasury and the railway companies?

The practice in this matter is that, other things being equal, the contracting departments give special consideration to tenders submitted by firms working in areas suffering from prolonged and severe unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour Waether he can state the average percentage increase on 1st December, 1935, as compared with July, 1914, of the prices of domestic coal, gas, and electricity, respectively?

The calculations made for the purpose of the cost of living index number indicate that at 30th November, 1935 (the latest date for which the particulars have been collected), the average percentage increases, as compared with July, 1914, in the prices of domestic coal and of gas were 80 and 45 respectively. I regret that a corresponding figure for electricity is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware of the worsening conditions of the people of Newfoundland, their growing discontent, and their dissatisfaction with the commission Government; and is he prepared at an early date to restore full and free democratic a government to Newfoundland?

My right hon. Friend is aware that the poor results of the recent fishing season, with a resulting setback in the Island's economic recovery, have caused disappointment locally in Newfoundland, but I do not agree that this implies dissatisfaction with the existing form of Government. As regards the last part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that the Address to His Majesty the King from the Newfoundland Legislature, following upon which the Newfoundland Act, 1933, was passed, prayed that responsible government might be suspended until such time as the Island might become self-supporting again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House an assurance, similar to that he recently gave on Cyprus, that while he is at the Colonial Office the governing of Northern Rhodesia shall not be removed from the control of his office and of this House?

Yes, Sir; there is no intention of any change so far as the administration of Northern Rhodesia is concerned. The Government adhere to the policy announced in 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the functions of the Native industrial labour advisory board in Northern Rhodesia, whose appointment has been announced by the Governor?

The function of the board is to advise on all questions directly or indirectly connected with the employment of natives under industrial conditions, and more particularly with their employment in the copper mines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the favourable financial position announced by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia in the legislative council, he will recommend that a reduction of the native hut tax should be considered?

The native tax was reduced this year practically throughout Northern Rhodesia. Only in the mining area was the tax raised. I am asking the Governor for a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the Northern Rhodesia legislative council desiring amalgamation with the dominion of Southern Rhodesia; and whether he has taken any steps to reaffirm the statement made in 1931 that the time was not ripe for such a change?

My attention was called to the resolution which was moved but not passed. The Governor was authorised to state that His Majesty's Government adhere to the policy announced in 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a passage in the Annual Report on Nigeria for 1934, in which it is stated that the practice of child stealing and slave dealing in children is prevalent in certain provinces of Southern Nigeria; and what steps are being taken to combat this practice?

Yes, Sir. The Police were engaged during 1934 on the investigation of child stealing and slave raiding in the South-Eastern Provinces, and a number of cases were brought before the courts. At the end of the year the investigations were being continued, but the results have not yet been reported. I may mention that in 1932, the Government of Nigeria decided to increase the maximum penalty for child stealing and slave raiding from seven to fourteen years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the respective total money values of beef, mutton, lamb, pork, bacon and ham, butter, cheese, milk, and magarine supplied to the Air Force 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?

The figures for purchases of frozen and preserved meat and of bacon given in the reply of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the similar question addressed to him cover the Air Force as well as the Army; and for the reasons stated in that reply it is not possible to give the other information requested.

asked the Attorney-General whether any decision has yet been come to on the question of the appointment of official shorthand writers in the King's Bench and for other divisions of the Courts of Justice?

The question involves many considerations which do not appear at first sight and it will not be possible to come fully to a decision in the matter until the Royal Commission to inquire into the state of business in the King's Bench Division has reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the technical co-operation between the League of Nations and China; in what sphere this co-operation is now functioning; and what proposals for future work have been adopted?

In September, 1934, it was decided by the Council of the League of Nations to continue to develop the technical co-operation between the League and China, which was initiated in 1931, and with this end in view the Secretary-General of the League instructed Mr. Robert Haas, director of of the Communications Section of the League Secretariat, to proceed to that country. Mr. Haas travelled in China during February, March and April of this year, and my right hon. Friend received a copy of the report which he has made; this deals with a number of questions relating to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country such as transportation, hydraulic works, co-operative development, public health, technical agricultural development and industrial technique. The degree of technical co-operation which is now taking place between China and the League is explained at some length in the report, a copy of which can be secured from the office of the League of Nations in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the 48 other States, besides France and Great Britain, that assented to the declaration that Italy has violated the Covenant of the League of Nations, have air forces stationed within 500 miles of Italy or Italian, territory in north or east Africa?

I presume my hon. Friend includes among the territories which he has in mind the Dodecanese. In this case the States which seem to fall within his definition are Belgium, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Poland, Rumania, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the 48 other States, besides France and Great Britain, that assented to the declaration that Italy has violated the Covenant of the League of Nations, have warships in the Mediterranean or the Red Sea?

The following States, which seem to come within my hon. Friend's definition, have warships in the Mediterranean:

• Spain.
• Yugoslavia.
• Greece.
• Turkey.
• Albania.

None of these States has warships in the Red Sea.Mr. LEWIS asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the 48 other states, besides France and Great Britain, that assented to the declaration that Italy has violated the Covenant of the League of Nations, have standing armies in territory bordering on Italy or on Italian territory in North or East Africa?

Yugloslavia is, so far as I am aware, the only State falling within the suggested definition which possesses an army on the Italian frontiers. The only other State which enters into consideration is Switzerland, but, as my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, the Swiss army consists of a militia and a permanent cadre of officers. No such States have armies in territory bordering on Italian territory in North or East Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the attitude at the recent discussions in Paris of the French Government with regard to co-operation in the imposition of an oil sanction in the event of the proposed peace terms then agreed upon not being submitted to the Italian and Ethiopian Governments?

During the recent discussions in Paris Monsieur Laval and my right hon. Friend were in agreement that it would not be reasonable for an extension of sanctions to be discussed so long as as peace proposals were under active consideration by the three parties to the, dispute, Italy, Ethiopia, and the League of Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that no British territory shall be handed over to Italy as part of any exchange arrangement arising out of the recently suggested peace terms?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the object and result of recent conversations with the German Government; and whether these included any proposal for further negotiations with regard to the Western air pact?

No, Sir. But it appeared from the conversation which His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin had with the German Chancellor last week that no progress with regard to the proposed Air Pact and Air Limitation Agreement is at present possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer with what Governments of foreign states arrangements have now been made with a view to granting relief from double taxation, as mentioned in Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1930; and whether the declarations mentioned in that section have been accordingly made?

Arrangements, such as are contemplated by Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1930, for relief from double income tax as regards certain profits arising through agencies, have been made with Sweden, Switzerland, Finland and (subject to ratification) the Netherlands, and declarations have been made accordingly in the first three of these cases. I may add that arrangements have also been made with the Dominion of Canada, and it is hoped that the necessary Declaration in Council will shortly be submitted to His Majesty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount of the National Debt on 1st January, 1932, and the amount of the debt at the present time?

Full details of the National Debt position as at the 31st March, the last day of our financial year, are given in the annual National Debt Returns. Figures relating to intermediate days in the year are not published as they do not afford a basis of comparison between one year and another. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on the 18th June last, in which he will find such figures as are available brought together.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now state when he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations contained in the report of the committee on industrial assurance and assurance on the lives of children under 10 years of age?

This report has not been overlooked, but I am not yet in a position to say what action will be taken on it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of the Department of Customs and Excise has again been drawn by the Caernarvonshire County Council to the serious difficulty experienced by monoglot Welsh applicants in understanding the questions of the English-speaking officers, and that as a result they are unable to give correct answers; and whether he will issue instructions that officials appointed to Welsh-speaking localities must have a knowledge of the Welsh language?

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise have recently received representations in this sense from the Caernarvonshire County Council, but no evidence of difficulties of the kind referred to has been brought to the notice of the Department. As regards the second part of the question, it is the practice of the Commissioners to appoint Welsh-speaking officers, whenever possible, to areas in which a knowledge of the Welsh language is considered desirable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether and, if so, when it is proposed to amend and consolidate the Superannuation Acts, as recommended by the Royal Commission on the Civil Service in 1931 (Cmd. 3,909, paragraph 625)?

The Superannuation Acts were amended this year by the Act 25 and 26 George 5 Ch. 23. The question of consolidating the Superannuation Acts as so amended will be borne in mind but as much other consolidating legislation is more urgently required I can see no present prospect of such legislation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, following the measures for currency reform in China initiated by the Chinese Government at the beginning of November, a committee was set up in London for the protection of the interests of British holders of Chinese bonds, and the head of the Joint Exchequer Board was appointed to be the chairman of this committee; whether the committee has yet issued a Report to His Majesty's Treasury; and, if so, whether the Report will be published?

As stated in the Press Notice published on 2nd November the Committee, under the Chairmanship of Lord Alness, was set up by the Governor of the Bank of England with the object of providing an organisation which will be available in case of need to negotiate on behalf of the bondholders of Chinese Government, railway, and other loans with a view to the protection of their interests. There is no question of the Committee issuing a Report to the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the sum contributed by the Government to the Land Settlement Association during 1935 and the total contributions by private individuals, respectively?

During 1935 the association have received private donations to the value of £38,773, together with a grant from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust of £15,000, making a total of £53,773. These contributions may be expected to earn a grant from the Development Fund of an equivalent amount, of which £34,268 has already been paid. In addition, the association have received from the Commissioner for the Special Areas the sum of £49,000 in respect of the estates which have been acquired and are being developed on his behalf.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what acreage has already been planted in each of the six North Wales counties; and what is the programme for the immediate future?

The acreage already planted in each of the six North Wales counties and the programmes for the current season are as follow:

County.	Planted.	Programme.
Anglesey	—	—
Carnarvonshire	6,270	550
Denbighshire	2,640	440
Flintshire	—	—
Merionethshire	8,550	790
Montgomeryshire	4,170	220