asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what proportion of elected Members went into the Government Lobby on the division on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill; and whether it is proposed to certify the Bill?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the Indian Criminal Law Amendment (Repeal) Bill introduced by Mr. B. Das, which was rejected by the Assembly on the 13th February. Twenty-seven elected Members voted against the Bill. The Bill was a private one and no question of certification arises.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many prisoners are now in Indian gaols who were convicted for political offences?

The number of persons convicted of offences connected with the Civil Disobedience Movement who were reported to be still in prison at the end of January, 1936, is 13.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that the tax derived from power (petrol) driven bath-chairs amounts to not more than £400 per annum. and as the tax falls heavily for the most part on invalids and crippled people in necessitous circumstances, he will see his way to abolish all taxation on all power-driven bath-chairs?

I am afraid that I cannot anticipate the contents of the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the importance of road transport in promoting efficiency of national defence, he will encourage its development by remitting, at an early date, part of the tax at present imposed upon petrol?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount of loans and credits lent from sources in Great Britain to industrial or other private concerns in Germany since January, 1931; the date and amount of each such loan or credit; and the amount repaid to date?

I am not aware of any loans or credits lent from sources in Great Britain to industrial or other private concerns in Germany since January, 1931, apart from short-term credits for commercial purposes. As regards the credit granted by the Bank of England to the Reichsbank in 1934 I would refer to the reply given to-day to a question by the hon. Member for the Stoke Division (Mr. E. Smith).

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 such prosecutions have been instituted against persons who have used loud-speakers or noisy instruments in a public place or thoroughfare for the purpose of announcing any show or entertainment since October, 1935; and, if so, how many such prosecutions have been instituted since that date?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to an identical question by the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Foot) on 18th February.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the total number of vivisectional experiments conducted in the United Kingdom for the year 1934, with separate details of dogs, cats, horses, cows, mice, guinea-pigs, rabbits, etc., and the number operated upon without anaesthetics?

The Home Office does not keep records of the number of experiments performed on each class of animal, and I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, for the year 1934, 665,362 animals were vivisected without any anaesthetic; whether he is aware that many eminent orthodox physicians oppose such practices; and whether he will ensure in future that no such practice is continued without licence and compulsory anaesthetic?

The Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876, Section 3, proviso (2), permits of experiments being performed on living animals without anaesthetics by the holder of a licence under the Act where a special certificate is given that insensibility cannot be produced without necessarily frustrating the object of such experiments. Such a certificate is given by the scientific authorities named in Section 11 of the Act. My right hon. Friend cannot undertake to issue any instructions which would not be in conformity with the provisions of the Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are necessary to enable any group of individuals who may happen to run a butchery business in conjunction with a farm or farms to separate the two businesses in order to qualify for the subsidy under the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Acts, 1934 and 1935, in the same way that at the present time a co-operative farming society can sell its fat cattle to its parent co-operative society, both being under identical directorship, and receive the subsidy?

In order that subsidy may be payable under the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Acts in respect of any animal, it is necessary that the animal or its carcase should have been sold in the United Kingdom, and the Cattle Committee have accordingly to be satisfied that there has been a bona fide transfer of property for value between parties who are at law capable of carrying out such a transaction. The exact circumstances in which this requirement of the Acts would be satisfied in respect of businesses such as are indicated in the question must depend on the particular conditions of each case, and are a matter upon which it would be inappropriate for me to advise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many tuberculin tested herds have been established in this country during the last six years; and the amount that has been given in grants during that time to local authorities and to other bodies with that object in view?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that the number of tuberculin tested herds in respect of which licences were issued for Certified or Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) milk during the period 1st April, 1930, to the 19th March, 1936, was 641. Under the scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for the attestation of tubercle-free herds, which came into operation on the 1st February, 1935, certificates of attestation were issued up to the 19th March, 1936, in respect of 76 herds, 25 of which are included in the 641 herds above mentioned. No grants in relation to this matter are payable to local authorities or to other bodies either by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Agriculture, but under the Attested Herds Scheme a bonus of ld. per gallon is paid in respect of milk sold from attested herds under the provisions of the Milk Marketing Scheme. A sum of £890 has been so paid up to the 19th March, 1936. The above information relates to England and Wales alone. For similar information as regards Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement upon the negotiations in progress for the development of the land on the south side of the Bayswater Road, forming part of Kensington Palace Gardens, for shops or other business premises; and whether he will discourage such a change in character, as it would be undesirable in an area zoned as residential?

No such negotiations are in progress. It is not the present intention to redevelop the site for non-residential occupation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the penalties imposed upon motorists possessing time-expired driving licences, and the important conditions attached by insurance companies to the policies they issue, he will consider the desirability of making arrangements for licences issued at any time in a current year automatically to expire on 1st January following, so that in time all driving licences will be renewable on that date?

I am informed that it is not the practice of insurance companies that policies of insurance cease to have effect on the expiry of a driving licence, and therefore the second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the highway known as Church Hill, North Wingfield, Derbyshire, is in a dangerous condition; that the local parish council and the Derbyshire County Council have made efforts to purchase adjoining land with a view to minimising the danger but with little result; and will he take steps to enable the local authorities to improve the road in question?

I am in communication with the county council on the matter and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will allow some time for Private Members' business in compensation for the restriction of the time on Friday, 20th March?

In the present state of public business I regret that this is not possible.