asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many countries have responded in the affirmative to the questions which were addressed to them by His Majesty's Government as to whether paragraph 3 of Article 16 of the Covenant would if necessary be implemented?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I made on this subject on the 4th February, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government has taken any steps to object to the postage stamps issued by the Argentine Government on which the Falkland Islands are shown as Argentine property; and whether any international convention exists to prevent the issue of misleading stamps of the kind?

In so far as the issue by the Argentine Government of the stamp in question is based on the assertion of an Argentine claim to the Falkland Islands, I welcome this opportunity of stating that His Majesty's Government cannot admit any such claim to the Islands, which are British territory. The Argentine Government are already well aware of the views of His Majesty's Government on this subject; but His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires has been instructed once more to draw the attention of the Argentine Government to the fact that no useful purpose can be served by such actions as the issue of the stamp in question, which can only be detrimental to good relations between the two countries. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an agreement has yet been signed with the Kuomintang Government of China for the rendition of the British settlement at Kuling (Kiangsi); whether the terms of this agreement will be published; whether the rendition of any other British settlements and concessions is under consideration; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to recognise the independence of Manchukuo?

The Kuling estate, to which I presume the hon. Member refers, has never been a British settlement. It was until recently under the administration of a council of rentholders, which on 30th December last came to an agreement with the Kiangsi Provincial Government whereby the estate would in future come under Chinese administration. The answer to the second, third and fourth parts of the question is—No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the motor schooner "Omar," of Hull, was seized by the Finnish Government on 14th October, 1933; that this ship was outside the 13-mile limit; whether a settlement has been reached and the ship released; and what compensation to the owners has been given?

After full consideration of all the circumstances of this case and of the similar case of the s.s. "Atlantic," His Majesty's Government have come to the conclusion that no intervention is desirable in either case. The Finnish Government have now intimated their willingness to place on record by a formal exchange of notes their acceptance of the interpretation of the Anglo-Finnish Anti-Smuggling Convention which they had contested when arguing in justification of the arrests; and the matter is therefore regarded as closed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give lists of the urban district councils and of the rural district councils in England and Wales for which an election of the whole of the members of the council is held every third year, stating in each case the next year in which the election will be held?

Complete information is not readily accessible because the Orders authorising the triennial retirement of the whole membership of district councils are made by county councils and not by the Secretary of State or myself. I will send the hon. Member a statement of the available information.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire as to the condition of the dwelling houses known as The Huts, situate in the village of Dal Lea, Glapwell, Derbyshire; and, if these houses are not already scheduled for demolition, is he prepared to recomment that the Blackwell Rural District Council proceed with the order?

I understand that the properties described as The Huts, Glapwell, have been included by the Black-well Rural District Council in their five-year slum clearance programme, and were scheduled in this programme for action in the present year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the quality of workmanship, design, and equipment of the cheaper houses now being built, respectively, by local authorities and by private enterprise; and whether he will soon be able to approve a standard minimum qualitative specification for the purpose?

I have no reason to suppose that satisfactory standards are not in general being maintained both by local authorities and by private enterprise, though there is no doubt in some respects room for improvement. As regards the second part of the question, I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the joint committee appointed at the instance of the National Federation of Building Trades' Employers, under the chairmanship of Sir Raymond Unwin, to consider the adoption of a standard of the kind mentioned for the voluntary use of the building industry. The conclusions of the committee, which is an independent body, will not require my approval. I have, however, arranged for an officer of my Department to attend the deliberations of the committee, and I have no doubt that the work of the committee will materially assist in securing progressive improvements.

asked the Minister of Health what are the orders or regulations governing off-duty hours and facilities for nurses in mental hospitals; and whether he will inquire into their adequacy, considering the special need in such occupation of daily and weekly change of environment?

The hours of duty and conditions of service for nurses in mental hospitals are determined by the visiting committees of those institutions. The majority have adopted the scheme recommended by the Joint Conciliation Committee representing employers and nurses. An increasing number of local authorities are providing change of environment and recreational facilities by establishing nurses' homes for mental hospital staffs. I am not aware of circumstances indicating the necessity for an inquiry, but if my hon. Friend has particular cases in mind, perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the value of intelligent and sympathetic ministers of religion in the treatment of mental disease and deficiency, he will take steps to promote the appointment in mental institutions of resident chaplains suited and qualified for the work?

The appointment of whole-time or resident chaplains is within the discretion of the authorities owning mental institutions. The importance of such appointments in large mental hospitals was emphasised in the report of the Board of Control issued last year, and the matter will be brought to the notice of individual authorities as opportunity occurs. I am not, however, empowered to give any direction in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the alarming spread of Johnes disease; and what steps his Department are taking to check it?

I am aware that there are indications that the disease is becoming more prevalent in some districts. A bulletin describing the disease and recommending measures for its control has been issued by the Ministry, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. The research work which has been in progress for a number of years on the subject has recently been extended, under the supervision of a special committee of the Agricultural Research Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is much confusion in the minds of the public regarding milk designations; and whether he will consider simplifying the designations of the different grades of milk?

I have been asked to reply. I would call my noble Friend's attention to the draft Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1936, published on the 24th January, which contains a proposed revision of the existing designations and of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the maximum and minimum retail price of home-grown bacon for each year between 1929 and 1935, inclusive?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. For the purpose of the cost-of-living index-number certain information is collected as to the retail prices of bacon of the kinds generally consumed by working-class families, but this information does not provide a basis for separate statistics of the prices of home-grown bacon. The averages of the prices collected, which relate to the beginning of each month, are regularly published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," and the highest and lowest of such monthly averages in each of the years 1929 to 1935 were as shown below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) to what extent the present cause of the fall in price obtained by pig producers is due to the failure of British registered pig producers to implement their contracts; and were the penalties forming part of the conditions of the contract imposed;

(2) whether, seeing that the committee that originally considered the question of establishing a marketing scheme assessed a price of 11s. 5d. per score for a seven-score pig, with food prices averaging 7s. 6d. a cwt. as being a fair basis of estimate, he will state how a price of 9s. 11d. a score with food prices at 7s. 8½d. can be justified?

By agreement between the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards the pig price is linked with the bacon price as well as with the cost of feeding stuffs. I understand that the reduction in the pig price last month to 9s. 11d. a score is ascribed to a fall in bacon prices during November and December due, in the main, to the delivery of pigs in the latter part of the year which should properly have been delivered earlier in the year. I am informed that in most cases the late deliveries were made with the concurrence of the curers concerned, and that no penalties for failure to implement the contracts have yet been imposed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any machinery exists in one or more Dominions whereby men wishing to join His Majesty's Forces may undergo the necessary tests in the Dominion in which they live; and, if not, will he consult the Governments of the Dominions in order to make this possible?

As regards the Royal Navy, arrangements exist whereby a certain number of Dominion candidates are accepted for naval cadetships in executive and engineering branches on local nomination and satisfactory completion of tests held locally. There are no recruiting stations in the Dominions, except the Union of South Africa, where there is a quota for boys and stokers of up to 20 a year, who are entered locally. In other Dominions preliminary examinations may be carried out by visiting His Majesty's Ships or Dominion naval authorities, but passing these does not constitute a final acceptance. As regards the Royal Air Force, arrangements exist in certain Dominions for local nomination to and local tests for cadetships and short service commissions and appointments as aircraft apprentices. As regards the Army, I understand that it has not been found necessary to make similar arrangements and that candidates from Dominions can only be accepted after completing the necessary tests in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Education in what countries the school-leaving age has been raised to 15 years; in which of these countries exemptions are allowed; and for what reason?

Such information as I have available on this question is given in the following table. It must be remembered that in the majority of the countries listed the minimum age for compulsory full-time attendance at school is six or seven years and in some cases eight.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state, in the latest available figures, the annual amount per pupil which is spent on books alone in the public elementary schools of England and Wales?

I am unable to give my hon. Friend the figure for the expenditure on books alone, as this is not shown separately in the local education authorities' accounts submitted to the Board. The latest figure of expenditure on books and stationery together is 5s. 8d. per child.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of sub-office postmasters and postmistresses in the city of

Leicester who will receive increases of salary by virtue of the award of the industrial court in December, 1935; the date from which these increases start; and the minimum beginning salary that will be paid in Leicester upon any such respective new appointments?

The award referred to provides for an immediate increase of £12 per annum to all sub-office postmasters and sub-postmistresses and takes effect from the 1st January, 1936. The method of its application on certain points of detail is now under consideration. The offices affected by the award are sub-offices at which the postmaster and most of the indoor staff under his control are established Post Office servants, and there are no offices of this class within the city of Leicester.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of villages in Leicestershire which have been provided within the last twelve months with public call-offices; and how many such villages still remain to be provided with these facilities?

Public call offices have been provided at seven villages in Leicestershire during the last twelve months. There are still five villages in the county which are entitled to have call offices under the terms of the Jubilee concession; and arrangements are being made for their provision in the near future.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state the result of his investigations in to the possibility of an information service under the auspices of the Post Office telephone service?

My investigations are not yet completed. I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the total production of coal during 1935; the average pit-head price per ton; and the total amount exported?

It is estimated that the total production of saleable coal in Great Britain in 1935 was 222,940,000 tons and that the average proceeds per ton of coal disposable commercially was 13s. 5½d. The quantity of coal exported during the year was 38,714,134 tons.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether, and what, compensation has been, or is proposed to be, given to all ranks of civil and military Government servants who, as stated by General Karslake, lost everything through the destruction of their homes and property in the Quetta earthquake?

The matter is under discussion with the Government of India.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Foreign Minister of Iran visited, Delhi in November; whether his Excellency conducted negotiations with members of the Government of India; whether the question of improving the road communication from India to Meshed was discussed; whether the question of reopening the railway between Quetta and Zahedan was raised; and whether any decision was reached?

The Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs paid a private visit to Delhi from 21st to 23rd November. M. Kazemi conducted no negotiations and no official business was transacted, but the opportunity was taken for an informal exchange of views between officials on subjects of mutual interest to Iran and India, including the question of road and rail communications between Quetta and Zahidan. No question arose of taking or formulating any decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the controller of rubber for the Federated Malay States, under the Rubber Regulation Enactment, 1934, refuses to allow licensed rubber dealers to create liens on their export rights to local banks; whether such refusal applies to all dealers; and whether, as the effect of it is to prevent small dealers from obtaining overdrafts, the controller's decision can be altered or modified in the interests of small dealers, who may otherwise be driven out of business?

I have no information on the subject, but the High Commissioner will be asked to submit a report.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what arrangements have been made, or are contemplated, to assist British manufacturers, who may desire to exhibit or be represented at the forthcoming Empire Exhibition at Johannesburg?

The Exhibition authorities have established a London office with the Federation of British Industries at 21, Tothill Street, where British manufacturers can obtain full information regarding the Exhibition and may also book space. The Department of Overseas Trade is in close touch with that office and also, through its Trade Commissioner, with the Executive Committee in Johannesburg. The normal services of the Department and of its overseas officers are at the disposal of British manufacturers who are interested in the Exhibition and publicity is given to the Exhibition in the Board of Trade Journal. I may add that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom is organising a prestige exhibit in a Government pavilion.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that many cyclists on country roads do not carry red reflectors, he will issue instructions to all chief constables to see that this regulation is adhered to in order to prevent danger to other road users?

The attention of the police has already been drawn to this matter on two occasions and my right hon. Friend does not think that any further action is called for on his part.

asked the Home Secretary the number of proceedings and convictions for drunkenness in the Metropolitan police area for the calendar years 1934 and 1935?

The figures for 1934 were 17,846 proceedings and 15,924 convictions, and for 1935 19,218 proceedings and 16,765 convictions. The 1935 figures are provisional.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to announce a decision in connection with the proposed Government censorship of films?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, it has been necessary to await the completion of a survey of conditions in Scotland before reaching a decision on this question. The results of this survey are now available, and I hope that it may be possible to make an announcement on the whole subject in the near future.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Money Payments (Justices Procedure) Act, 1935, by repealing certain words in Section 12 of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, so as to enable Courts of Summary Jurisdiction, when examining defaulters under Section 1, Sub-section (3), of the Money Payments Act, in effect to remit in proper cases the balance, or even the whole, of the fine previously imposed?

The Section to which my hon. Friend refers empowers a Court of Summary Jurisdiction in lieu of passing a sentence of imprisonment to order detention within the precincts of the Court or at any police station until an hour not later than eight in the evening on the day on which the offender is convicted. I understand the suggestion to be that this provision should be amended so as to enable a Court to order such detention not only on the day of conviction but on a subsequent date if after an inquiry as to the means of an offender who has failed to pay a fine, this course seems appropriate. This suggestion will be borne in mind when an opportunity for legislation arises.

asked the Home Secretary why the Departmental Committee of Inquiry recently set up by him for young persons in unregulated occupations was not extended to include all employed young persons under the age of 18; and whether he will lay before this House a Paper containing a précis of the information received from his factory inspectors relating to the hours of labour among juveniles employed in factories?

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a question by the hon. Member for Central Leeds in July last. As he then explained, he is of opinion that the better course, in the first instance at any rate, is to limit the inquiry to those occupations in which the need of regulation has been reported to be urgent. As regards the last part of the question, the hours of juveniles in factories are dealt with annually in the report of the Chief Inspector of Factories, and my right hon. Friend does not consider therefore that any special Paper is necessary. If, however, there are any special points on which the hon. Member desires further information, my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet made an Order excluding from the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Act certain employés of the National Savings Committee who were recently excluded from making payments under the Health and Pensions Insurance Acts; and, if so, whether he will make copies of the Order available?

Yes, Sir. I made such an Order on 8th November last, and I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Vote Office, and in the Printed Paper Office in another place.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware of the feeling in agricultural circles in the County of Berwick regarding the recent purchase by the Forestry Commission of the estate of Spottiswoode in that county, in view of the fact that, of the 650 acres of parks, nearly 600 acres are good arable land, well fenced and well drained; and whether the decision to give the entire estate over to planting will be reconsidered?

The Commissioners received a resolution from the West Berwickshire Area of the National Farmers' Union regarding the planting of the parks on the Spottiswoode Estate. The fields are not good arable but poor pasture which has been deteriorating for years. When the trees in the shelter belts, which were sold separately by the former owner, have been felled, the land will deteriorate still more. The area in any event will not be planted up in one season. Twenty-eight lots meanwhile have been advertised for grazing lets but only three inquiries have been received. The Commissioners do not propose to abandon their planting plans but will naturally be guided by the demand for lettings.