asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will extend the inquiry into fixed trusts so as to include all kinds of company flotations?

No, Sir, but the question of company notations has been noted for investigation when the amendment of the Companies Act, 1929, is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will request the proposed committee to consider what steps should be taken to stop the advertising of the names of banks in connection with a fixed trust except in cases where the banks are responsible for the financial stability of the particular fixed trust?

The matter will be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in drawing up the list for the committee on Industry and Arts, the claims of women technicians and practical housewives were ignored both for the English and Scottish committees; and whether as the ladies on both committees were in each case drawn from the same section of the community, he will consider the addition of women experts to both committees?

Every effort is made to ensure that the membership of the Council for Art and Industry and the Scottish Committee is as representative as possible, bearing in mind the requirements of their work. Moreover, both these bodies have complete discretion to invite other persons, including outside experts, to serve on their Committees and Sub-Committees and to assist them in other directions and this discretion is being fully exercised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that during the past 18 months no boats were successfully launched from nine British ships which were lost with all hands, he will

The figures in section 2 of the table include all vessels sold to foreigners whether for trading or for scrapping; and the figures in section 1 consequently do not include any vessels which were

now consider giving effect to the recommendation of an advisory committee of the Board of Trade in 1913 that the board should establish boat drill stations at all the principal ports?

I would refer to the reply given on 12th February to a similar question by the hon. Member for Croydon South (Mr. H. G. Williams). The information available regarding recent casualties shows that where there was a failure to launch the ship's lifeboats it was due to the prevailing weather conditions and not to lack of skill or knowledge on the part of the crew. Moreover, during the last 18 months many lifeboats have teen successfully launched from ships in distress and have been the means of saving a considerable number of lives.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage increase in freights since the adoption of the shipping subsidy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the information given in paragraph 12 of the Second Report of the Tramp Shipping Administrative Committee (Cmd. 5084).

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many vessels have been scrapped since the adoption of the shipping subsidy; and how many tramp vessels have been sold to foreign interests?

The number of vessels removed from the United Kingdom register during the year 1935, shown in the returns of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as broken up and as sold to foreigners respectively, is as follows:

scrapped after transfer to a foreign flag. The official returns do not show how many of the vessels sold to foreigners were tramp vessels, but the hon. Member will find some information as to recent changes in the number of ocean-going tramps on the register in paragraph 7 of the Second Report of the Tramp Shipping Administrative Committee (Cmd. 5084).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give

a list of the vessels which have been scrapped under the provisions of the British Shipping (Assistance) Act, their gross tonnage, the names of their owners, and the ages of such vessels?

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many new factories have been opened in England and Scotland, respectively, during each of the last 10 years and how many existing factories have been closed;

(2) how many foreign factories have been set up in England and Scotland, respectively, during each of the last 10 years?

The following statement shows the number of factories (designed to provide employment for at least 25 workpeople) opened and closed in England and Scotland, respectively, in each of the years 1932 to 1934, distinguishing the number of factories established by, or with the assistance of, foreign concerns. Comparable particulars were not compiled in respect of years prior to 1932 and the figures for 1935 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an undertaking that the provisions in the trade agreement with Argentina restricting power to impose duties on meat will not in any event be extended before 7th November next?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 6th February to the hon. Member for Croydon South (Mr. H. G. Williams).

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects cash payments and allocation of bonds to British creditors to be made under the terms of the Anglo-Brazilian agreement?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Minto Russell).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the textile industry is adversely affected as a result of the inadequate supply of permits for importation of textiles into Denmark; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that British exporters shall receive reasonable allocation of permits?

I have received a number of complaints regarding the difficulties of exporters of textiles to Denmark, and they are being considered in connection with the forthcoming negotiations with that country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is intended to apply a quota on imported iron ore; and, if not, what is the Government prepared to do to re-employ iron ore miners, who have been unemployed for many years?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on the 11th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of iron ore produced in Great Britain during the last five years, showing each county separately; and the tonnage of iron ore imported for the same period, showing the country of origin separately?

I am sending the hon. Member statements which show (1) the quantity of iron ore and ironstone raised in various counties in Great Britain during each of the years 1931 to 1935 and (2) the quantity of iron ore and concentrates imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1935, distinguishing the principal countries of consignment. Particulars of the imports of iron ore during each year 1931 to 1934 are set out on page 85 of Volume II of the "Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom" for 1934.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any other cotton-manufacturing countries have in recent years carried out redundancy schemes on the lines of that now contemplated in this country; and whether proposals have been made to any of them that they should co-operate with us in this matter as in other schemes of world restriction of production, so as to ensure that the objects of the redundancy scheme in this country will not be vitiated by expansion of productive capacity elsewhere?

I know of no comprehensive scheme of exactly this kind in any other country. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which were given to him on the 18th and 23rd July, 1935.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the present numbers of the staff' and the annual cost of the Import Duties Advisory Committee?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Civil Service Estimates, Class I, Vote 14, where he will find full particulars of the staff and cost of the Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the net results of emigration to and immigration from the Dominions for the year 1935?

Following are particulars of the migration of British subjects between the United Kingdom and the various Dominions in 1935, so far as available:

The numbers of British subjects who were recorded in the passenger lists furnished to the Board of Trade as leaving permanent residence in the United Kingdom to take up permanent residence in the under-mentioned Dominions, and the numbers of such persons who were recorded as leaving permanent residence in those countries to take up permanent residence in the United Kingdom during the year 1935 are as follows:

Corresponding particulars of migration between the United Kingdom and the Irish Free State are not available.

NOTES.—1. By permanent residence is understood residence for a year or more.

2. The figures do not include persona who may have travelled via the Continent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the hardship caused in cases where a married couple endeavour to live on one old age pension of 10s. a week through the wife not having attained the pensionable age, he will consider an amendment to the existing law to remove this grievance?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 9th December, 1935, to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

asked the Minister of Health what the increased cost would be of raising the old age pension allowance from 10s. per week to all old age pensioners, giving the increased cost to contributory pensions and pensions at 70 years of age, respectively?

If old age and contributory pensions were increased, say, from 10s. a week to 15s. a week, the annual cost would be at the present time:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the infant mortality rate under one year of age per 1,000 live births in the borough of Southwark for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and will he give comparable figures for the borough of Woolwich for the same period?

The latest figures at present available are those for 1934 already published in Table IV of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review, Tables, Part I, Medical, namely:

Deaths under one year of age per 1,000 live births.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the estimated number of feeble-minded children per thousand of the child population in England, Scotland and Wales in the years 1900, 1920, 1930 and 1935, respectively?

I regret that these statistics are not available for England and Wales. As regards Scotland, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of children and young persons per thousand of the population up to the age of 21 certified insane in England, Scotland and Wales in the years 1900, 1920, 1930 and 1935, respectively?

I am unable to give the figures up to age 21, but the number of young persons per 1,000 of population up to the age of 20 who were certified insane in England and Wales were as follow:

The figures for 1935 are not yet available. As regards Scotland, I must refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the recent order making changes in respect to educational attainments of workmen desiring to gain certificates for mining, and that this order makes it almost impossible that any practical workmen will be able to pass under such standards?

The rules referred to were made by the Board for Mining Examinations and approved by me on the 21st June last: the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount taken per annum in royalties and the amount taken by each royalty owner, showing names, from the year 1920 to 1934, inclusive, in the county of Cumberland?

The information is as follows:

Estimated Amount paid by Colliery Owners in Cumberland and Westmorland in Royalties and Wayleaves, including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietors.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether inquiries have been made by his Department to ascertain whether the excess of the normal winter prices now being paid for coal by domestic consumers is due to an equivalent increase in pithead prices or whether such excess is due to other causes; and, if so, what those causes are?

From such general inquiries as my Department have been able to make, I understand that the increases in retail prices for house coal this winter correspond generally with increases in pit prices.

asked the Secretary for Mines what the precise functions are of the welfare committees operating under the Miners' Welfare Fund, specifying any new functions which have been recently acquired by these committees?

Section 20 of the Mining Industry Act, 1920, under which the Miners' Welfare Fund was established, provided that as regards the allocation of that part of the levy which is required to be devoted to purposes in the districts, the Central Committee should consult with the statutory district committees to be set up under Part II of the same Act. It will be remembered, however, that this Part of the Act never came into force and eventually lapsed, so that no statutory machinery was available. In the circumstances, the then Secretary for Mines invited the owners' and men's representatives in each distric to set up ad hoc joint committees to assist the Miners' Welfare Committee. These voluntary joint committees have been in existence ever since, and their functions, which have not changed, are, broadly speaking, to make recommendations to and consult with the Central Committee as to all district welfare schemes, including pithead baths. Throughout the life of the Miners' Welfare Fund there has been constant and close co-operation between these committees and the Central Committee; and in accordance with the recommendations of the recent Committee of Inquiry under the chairmanship of the late Lord Chelmsford, this co-operation is being steadily developed with a view to securing uniformity in the principles of the administration of the fund throughout the country.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the average number of shifts worked at all collieries in Yorkshire for the year 1935?

The average number of shifts worked per worker in 1935 at collieries in Yorkshire was 228.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether representatives of the mining industry will be consulted before negotiations begin on new trade agreements with South America and Denmark?

Yes, Sir. In the case of Denmark this has already been done.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will inquire what took place at No. 7 pit, Park House, of the Clay Cross Colliery Company, Limited, on Friday, 17th January, 1936, when certain men working on the afternoon shift were sent back, and other men working on the day shift were kept working overtime; and will he give the number of men on the day shift who worked overtime on this date, the number of hours overtime worked, the total sum of wages paid for the overtime, and the number of men who were sent back on the afternoon shift?

I have made inquiry and I understand that on the date in question 14 persons on the day shift were kept working overtime, all these being haulage hands. The amount of overtime worked was 37 hours equal to five manshifts, and for this £2 5s. in all was paid. On the afternoon shift two men were sent back, but these men came on at a later hour and in consequence did not lose any time. The reason for the overtime was that the pit had to wait for wagons one hour—between 12.15 and 1.15 p.m.—consequently the cut was not filled off on the day shift. The 14 persons were kept to work the haulage till sufficient empties were got in to clear the cut and allow the cycle of operations at the face to proceed. All the haulage men worked in key positions and their places could not be taken by others inexperienced in such work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the difficult economic condition of many of them, financial or other com- pensation in the shape of advantages in the British market will be granted to those Colonies and Protectorates which (have suffered from the imposition of sanctions against Italy?

No complaints have reached me from any of the Colonies or Protectorates as to the effect upon their export trade of the imposition of sanctions against Italy. If, of course, any specific complaint is made the matter will be investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Ihe has any information as to an agreement proposed between the Palestine Potash Company and the German Kali Syndicate; and if he can state what are the terms of the agreement and what stage the present negotiations have reached?

Yes, Sir, I have seen the draft of an agreement which was submitted to the Palestine and Trans-Jordan Governments for approval, as well as to myself. I am not aware whether the agreement has yet been signed. I am not in a position to state its terms,

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present amount of potash produced by the Palestine Potash Company, and what is its selling price?

I will ascertain from the company whether they can furnish the desired information.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road-transport licences (A), (B) and (C), respectively, were applied for under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, in Lincolnshire during the past year, showing new applications separately and railway applications separately; how many of the latter were opposed by the railway companies; how many of the applications were refused; and is he aware of the heavy legal and travelling costs affecting small country operators in defending their applications against the railway companies?

The figures sought by my hon. and gallant Friend are not available but he will find such information as is available in the first Annual Reports of the Licensing Authorities which will be published shortly and will cover the period up to 30th September, 1935, and he will have it in mind that the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, requires the authorities to consider objections falling within the terms of Section 11 of the Act, but I am informed that the authorities make every effort to hold their inquiries at places convenient to the applicants.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he possesses any statistics to show the number of fatalities in the last two years which have been caused by defective electrical installations, especially in domestic circles; and whether he is satisfied that the rules and regulations for the electrical equipment of buildings are efficient and thoroughly enforced?

Electrical fatalities in non-industrial premises are not in ordinary cases reportable to my Department or to the Home Office. Fifteen such fatalities came to notice in 1934 and 18 in 1935, but I am unable to say how many of these were caused by defective electrical installations. The statutory regulations relating to the use of electricity in industrial premises do not apply to domestic premises, but the Electricity Supply Regulations, 1934, made by the Electricity Commissioners, enable supply undertakings to refuse to connect premises in which the installations are not in accordance with safe practice.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give the number of persons convicted for murder, sentenced to death, and executed in British India for the five years, separately, to the last convenient date?

Following is a statement giving the required figures:

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in view of the fact that, apart from members of the veterinary profession serving on the committees dealing with diseases of animals, there is no representative of the profession on the Agricultural Research Council, he will consider strengthening the Agricultural Research Council by the addition of representatives of the veterinary profession?

It is not considered desirable that professions as such should be represented on the Agricultural Research Council. The Committee of Privy Council for the Organisation and Development of Agricultural Research decided, however, at a recent meeting that the representation on the Agricultural Research Council of the sciences underlying the study of animal health should be strengthened. They therefore approved the appointment of Mr. John Smith, O.B.E., M.R.C.V.S., D.V.H., formerly Director of Animal Health in Northern Rhodesia and since 1933 a member of the Colonial Advisory Council of Agriculture and Animal Health, as a member of the Agricultural Research Council.

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions have been instituted within the last 18 months under Section 54 (14) of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839, in respect of the use of loud speakers in any public place or thoroughfare; whether any such prosecutions have been instituted against persons who have used loud speakers or other noisy instruments in public places or thoroughfares since 18th October, 1935; and, if so, how many such prosecutions have been instituted since that date?

I regret that the information is not available as no separate record is kept of these particular prosecutions.