asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission are to recommence their duties at an early date; and whether any new duties are to be assigned to that Commission?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 18th February, and also to the answer I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Sexton). With regard to the second part of the question, I have at present nothing to add to the answer regarding the position and powers of the Coin-mission which I gave to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Paling) on 25th February.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the general system of workmen's inspections regularly carried out in the Fifeshire pits and, in view of the value of these, will he consider introducing regulations or legislation to allow of State payment of workmen's inspectors while retaining the present democratic method of election and control?

I am aware of the arrangements in the different coalfields for making these inspections, and the attention of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines has already been called to this important question.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the action of certain leaseholders of mineral rights in Weardale in preventing the working of minerals in that district is accentuating the unemployment problem there; and if, with a view to putting an end to this state of affairs, he will expedite the promised Bill dealing with the elimination of private mineral rights?

No, Sir, but I should be glad if the hon. Member would give me further particulars.

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners whether he will state the amount paid from mining royalties to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the years 1925 to 1935, inclusive?

The amounts due to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in respect of leases of minerals, including way-leaves, for the years 1925 to 1935 were as follow, namely:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the fact that horse-keepers are expected to devote all their time to the duties of looking after horses and that it is the practice in certain collieries to give them work of another character, he will inquire into this matter?

Neither the Coal Mines Act of 1911 nor the regulations require a horse-keeper to give his whole time to the duty of looking after the horses and stables and there are cases where it would be quite unnecessary. I have no information of horse-keepers being given work which would prevent them from carrying out thoroughly their statutory duties, but if the hon. Member has specific cases in mind I shall be obliged if he will bring them to my notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the amount of export of coal to Italy in the years 1933 and 1934; and will he give the export for 1935 from north-east ports to Italian ports?

The total quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom to Italy in the years 1933 and 1934 was 4,792,825 tons and 4,698,651 tons, respectively. The quantity of coal exported to Italy from the North-East Coast ports in 1935 was 1,272,476 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has available regarding the number and character of the German forces in the Rhineland?

The latest statement on this subject, issued by the German Embassy in London, is to the effect that the total strength of the German forces at present in the Rhineland, including the organised police forces, is 36,500. These forces, it was stated, contained no armoured fighting units and no bombing aeroplanes.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Crown lands at Ogmore-by-Sea and Southerndown, Glamorganshire, were sold; whether he will state the name of the purchaser, the acreage, and the price which was paid; whether the sale affected the rights of commoners and copyholders at Southerndown and Ogmore-by-Sea; whether the foreshore rights were affected by the sale; and, if not, whether steps will be taken to see that they are properly conserved for the public?

The interest of His Majesty in right of His Duchy of Lancaster in 205 acres of common land near Ogmore-by-Sea and Southerndown was conveyed to the Dunraven Estates Company, Limited, in April, 1929. The grant was expressly made subject to rights of common and could in no way diminish any existing rights either of cornmoners or of owners of what were formerly copyhold properties or of the general public. The Duchy interest in the adjoining foreshore was included in the grant, but any public rights were unaffected.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to publish a report of the recent demonstrations of air-raid alarms held at Hendon; and will he state whether any conclusions have been reached as a result of the demonstrations?

As part of a general inquiry into the arrangements for the issue of warning signals in the event of air attack, a number of devices made by private firms were submitted for test at Hendon on the 10th instant. It is not proposed to publish a report on the test, nor could any statement of conclusions be usefully made at the present stage. I can say, however, that a great deal of very valuable information was gained.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what were the direct air transport subsidy payments per machine mile for Great Britain, the United States, and Holland, respectively, in the year 1935?

The figure in the case of Imperial Airways was approximately 2s. 2d. per aircraft mile. I regret that figures for the foreign countries specified are not yet available for the calendar year 1935; and in any case, since under the American system the entire subsidy is indirect, the comparison would he wholly misleading.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will state the number of men employed in the lights service in the lighthouses controlled by Trinity House, in December, 1933, 1934, and 1935;(2) the number of men employed by the Northern Lights Commissioners in the lights service off the coast of Scotland, in December, 1933, 1934, and 1935?>

Following is the available information:Complements in the Lighthouse Services of the Trinity House and the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, approved for the financial years 1933, 1934, and 1935.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of lighthouses abroad for which this country is responsible; and what is the method of recruiting the staff of these lighthouses?

Following is the desired information so far as the Board of Trade are concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Gas Light and Coke Company has given notice of an increase of one-tenth of a penny per therm in the price of gas; whether this, or any similar action, has been taken by any other gas undertakings in the country; and whether he will give the average number of therms produced from one ton of coal?

I am aware of the increase in the price to be charged by the Gas Light and Coke Company, and also of proposed increases by some other gas undertakings. Approximately 75 therms in the form of gas are produced from a ton of coal, but this number varies with the type of coal used and from other causes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the evidence in regard to the pepper and shellac speculations, he has considered the desirability of introducing legislation to prohibit banks from giving direct or indirect support to similar operations; and whether he will make it incumbent upon the custodians of banking deposits to sever their connection with any company likely to be involved in such transactions?

I have considered this evidence but I do not think it suggests that the introduction of legislation such as the hon. Member has in mind would be desirable.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the total acreage of the forest of Thetford Chase; what is the total area now afforested; and what area has been planted or replanted since the forest work was started?

The total acreage of Thetford Chase is 36,976; the total area afforested to the end of last season was 26,689 acres including 650 acres of acquired plantations; the area planted or replanted by the Forestry Commission is 26,039 acres.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the total average number of workers employed last year in the forest of Thetford Chase; and hat is the number of workers' holdings attached to the forest?

The total average number of workers employed last year in Thetford Chase was 153 and the number of workers' holdings attached to the forest is 164.