asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the personnel of the Navy and what number of persons were employed at the Admiralty an dat the naval outport establishments in January last?

The naval personnel (Vote A, Part 1) borne on the 15th January, 1936, numbered 96,225. Indus- trial staff in Admiralty outport establishments in January, 1936, numbered 52,241 at home and 15,223 abroad. I regret that the numbers of persons employed at the Admiralty and the numbers of non-industrial staff at outport establishments for January are not available, but the figures for the 1st April, 1935, were 2,693 at the Admiralty and 4,882 at naval out-port establishments at home; there were also approximately 1,200 non-industrial staff in naval outport establishments abroad.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, how many promotions to commissioned rank from the lower deck have taken place in each of the years 1929 to 1935, inclusive?

The number of promotions to commissioned rank from the lower deck in the years 1929 to 1935 are shown in the following table:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether sailors in barracks are permitted the use of civilian clothes when off duty in barracks?

Sailors in barracks are not permitted the use of civilian clothes when off duty in barracks, except for games.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps are taken to secure that firms who have the advantages conferred by being placed upon the Admiralty list conform to the terms of the fair wages clause in the general practice of their workshop?

Before they are noted as eligible to tender for Admiralty requirements, all firms are required to sign an undertaking that they will strictly observe the fair wages resolutions of the House of Commons and will fully discharge the obligations which the resolutions impose upon Government contractors.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what were the most recent orders held by Jamieson and Company, Rimsdale Street, Glasgow, who are on the Admiralty list; and what steps were taken to see that they were complying with the terms of the fair wages clause?

This firm, although noted as eligible to tender for Admiralty requirements, has never secured an order. In the circumstances, the second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the serious reports by Sir John Boyd Orr and the staffs of the Rowett Institute and the Market Supply Committee as to the under-nourishment of 10 per cent. of the population and the under-nourishment combined with defective nutrition of other 40 per cent. of the population; whether he is aware of the increasing public health expenditure required as ambulance work owing to this defective nutrition; and what steps the Government proposes to take to cope with the situation?

I am aware of these reports and I am referring them to my Advisory Committee on Nutrition for examination.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that administrative expenses in connection with unemployment insurance for agricultural workers are to cost one-eighth of the contributions, he can state whether this is above the average for unemployment insurance administration generally or below it?

Under Clause 9 of the Unemployment Insurance (Agriculture) Bill the cost of administration of unemployment insurance as a whole will be determined and this total sum will be apportioned by the Minister, with the concurrence of the Treasury, between the general account and the agricultural account of the Unemployment Fund. The amount to be charged to either account is subject to the proviso that it shall not exceed one-eighth of the net receipts credited to the account. This proviso is already applicable to the insurance account of the fund and in recent years the cost of administration has fallen below the amount of one-eighth of the net income; but it should be observed that owing to the lower rates of contributions under the agricultural scheme the sums of money represented by one-eighth of the net receipts is about one-half of that in respect of the same number of contributors under the general scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make regarding the inclusion of so-called black-coated workers in the unemployment insurance scheme?

I can add nothing at present to the reply given on 2nd March to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to ensure the fullest and most effective use of the industrial capacity and the man-power available for the production of material in the country, he will consider the advisability of prohibiting the export of munitions of war to foreign countries?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that his predecessor stated during the passing of the 1931 Budget that he regarded the additional 2d. on oil as having a claim for remission when the Government was in a position to remit txation, and whether he considered himself bound by that pledge?

I am aware of the statement which my predecessor made with regard to the light hydrocarbon oil duty in his Budget speech of April, 1931. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 20th February last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a distraint for tithe has been executed on a farm situate at Rushmere, Kessingland, Suffolk, and 34 cows seized, and that the tithe on this farm amounts to over 6s. per acre, and that Queen Anne's Bounty allowed a reduction of 25 per cent. on. payments for 1931 and 1932, but refused an offer of payment in full, less 20 per cent., for 1933 and 1934; and whether, in view of impending legislation, he will consider taking steps to prevent increased claims for tithe at the present time?

The collection and recovery of annual tithe rentcharge is not a matter which falls within the jurisdiction of the Ministry, and. I have no authority to intervene. I have no information other than that supplied by my hon. Friend regarding this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the recent census showed that there are over 1,300,000 horses in this country and that accordingly, on the basis that a horse consumes approximately 10s. worth of fodder a week, these horses consume British agricultural produce to the value of over £30,000,000 per year, he can state whether he is taking any steps, both to guard against the tendency to introduce on farms mechanised transport dependent on imported fuel and to discourage the banning of horse-drawn transport on the roads?

With regard to horse-drawn transport on the roads, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply on the 16th December last to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton). The question as to how far mechanisation should be adopted on farms is one I think which must be left to the discretion of the farmers themselves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken during the past year to increase the sale of British fish abroad; and what steps, in particular, have been taken by the Herring Industry Board in this connection?

During the early part of 1935 extensive inquiries were conducted by the Department of Overseas Trade into the possibility of expanding existing markets or opening up new markets abroad for British herring. The results of these inquiries were communicated to the Herring Industry Board. Exports of herring have declined in recent years, largely as the result of limitations imposed on imports into foreign countries and of prevailing economic conditions. The Herring Industry Board were, however, successful in arranging a contract for the sale of 100,000 barrels to Russia last year and were able from time to time to afford the exporting branch of the industry material assistance in dealing with difficulties arising in the course of business with other markets. They are undertaking an advertisement campaign in Palestine where the trade in herring seems capable of development and are considering whether new or additional markets can be found in the United States of America and some other countries.Other branches of the British fishing industry are, in general, less dependent on foreign markets than the herring industry. The needs of all British fish exporters, whether of herring or of other fish or fish products, have, however, been kept constantly in view by the Departments concerned and efforts have been made during the year, as need arose, or as opportunity offered in the course of trade negotiations, to assist the industry by procuring the withdrawal or modification of foreign tariffs, quotas or other restraints on the British export trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the percentage costs of administration in respect of workmen's compensation, showing separately, if possible, administrative costs in respect of insurance companies and employers' mutual associations?

Information as to the expenses of insurance companies in respect of employers' liability business is given on pages 7 and 8 of the Workmen's Compensation Statistics for 1934. I regret that no other figures as to costs of administration are available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether there is any likelihood of the present arrangement for workmen's fares on trains and tramcars being extended to omnibus services, for the same hours, consequent upon the amalgamation of these services under the London Passenger Transport Board?

I am informed "No."

asked the Minister of Transport what action he is taking to promote the amalgamation, unification, and rationalisation of the canal systems of this country, as recommended by the Royal Commission and Departmental Committee; and what progress has recently been made?

The Transport Advisory Council is about to undertake an investigation into the means of coordinating transport, and the first stage in their inquiry concerns service and rates in relation to all forms of transport, including canals.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the time and place of the inquiry proposed to be held in connection with the application of the joint electricity authority for the erection of a line of wooden posts to carry overhead current from Coldharbour to Leylands Road, in the Leith Hill district?

At the Village Hall, Abinger Hammer, Surrey, at 11 a.m. on the 26th March next.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London Passenger Transport Board have refused to comply with the fair-wages clause of the London Passenger Transport (Agreement) Act, by not taking the customary steps to secure the observance of a contract placed by the Board with the firm of Al Woodworkers, of Union Place, Curtain Road, E.C.; and will he take appropriate action to ensure that the Board do so?

I am informed that this is not the case.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has visited the St. John's Lodge, Regent's Park, building; and whether he is satisfied to allow it to remain in its present derelict state of disrepair even though unoccupied?

St. John's Lodge has now been let on lease to the London University for the purpose of an Archaeological Museum, and the conditions of the lease provide for their putting the building into a satisfactory state of repair and for external painting.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has arranged to clear up the untidy end of Queen Mary's Garden, in Regent's Park, now occupied by the little-used tennis courts standing upon the site of the dismantled glass houses, in order that during the coming summer it may be enjoyed by the general public as part of the gardens?

The tennis courts have already been removed and the work of tidying this area is now going on.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been called to the overcrowding at Somerset House; and what steps the Government proposes to take to abate it?

I am aware of the congestion in some parts of Somerset House, and I have the matter under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General how many postal orders issued in the last six months of 1935 have not yet been cashed?

I am sorry that the particulars asked for are not available; and it would involve a great deal of work and expense to obtain them.