asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information showing the number of trained men and reserves in the armies of Germany and Austria capable of being called up and equipped within one month?

I understand the German. Government are aiming at a peace-time Army of 550,000 trained men, while Austria has about 35,000 trained men at the present time. I have no information as to reserves or as to the availability of equipment.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that comparative passive immunisation experiments with placental extract and convalescent measles serum on 69 children have been carried out by Dr. A. Joe at the North-Western Hospital, Hampstead; and whether such experimentation on children sent into the fever hospitals with scarlet fever, diphtheria, or whooping cough has received the approval of his Department;(2) whether the parents of the 69 children experimented upon by Dr. Alexander Joe at the North-Western Hospital, Hampstead, with placental extract and convalescent measles serum had previously given their consent to these experiments?

I am informed that both kinds of serum have been used at this hospital during the recent epidemic, but I am advised that as both are known to be of definite value their use cannot be regarded as experimental, although comparative observations were made of the results. No approval by my Department was required. I understand that the consent of the parents was not obtained as the administration of serum to susceptible children who may be incubating measles is regarded by the hospital authorities as part of the necessary treatment.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities in England and Wales who have statutory power to adopt the Ministry of Health's model by-law 9b, with reference to the humane slaughter of animals, and who have not done so; and whether he would give particulars?

This matter is now in the main governed by the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, which came into force on the 1st of January, 1934, and applies to the slaughter of cattle and where a source of electrical supply is available to the slaughter of pigs. The Act may, also, by resolution of the local authority, be applied to the slaughter of sheep. Out of 1,507 local authorities who have power to pass such a resolution, 920 have done so. The Act in effect supersedes these by-laws as regards cattle, and also as regards sheep in areas in which sheep have been brought within the scope of the Act by resolution and as regards pigs in areas in which a source of electrical supply is available. By-laws relating to the slaughter of pigs in areas in which a source of electrical supply is not available have been made by 27 further authorities since the Act came into operation.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, and to what extent, His Majesty's Gov- ernment will co-operate in the forthcoming Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto?

The Department of Overseas Trade, both in this country and through His Majesty's Trade Commissioners in Canada, is doing all that it can to assist in bringing the exhibition to the notice of British firms who may wish to participate. His Majesty's Government will, as in past years, maintain an Information Bureau at the Exhibition.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the number of persons in receipt of poor relief on the 1st January, 1936, and the corresponding number for the 1st January, 1935?

The number of persons in receipt of poor relief on 1st January, 1936, was 1,387,720, not including 117,993 rate-aided patients in mental hospitals. The corresponding figures on 1st January, 1935, were 1,472,891 and 116,165.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Stiring Town Council have given notice to Mr. Donald Whyte, of 1, Sunnyside, St. Ninians, Stirling, to cease keeping pigs, which are his only source of livelihood; that they refuse to pay any compensation; that, suffering from effects of Army service, it is claimed he is unfitted for ordinary employment; can he state under which Act or by-law the foregoing notice has been served; and whether he will arrange with the town council to pay this man compensation for disturbance and loss of livelihood?

Notices were issued by the town council of Stirling in October last to Mr. Whyte and other pig-keepers in the burgh, that in terms of bylaws made by the council in 1901 under the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, and the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member, it is an offence to keep pigs within 75 feet of any house or other place frequented by the public. Since he received that notice, Mr. Whyte has ceased to use one pigsty the situation of which was in contravention of the bylaws, and I understand that the council are considering whether any action is necessary as regards other premises. There is no statutory authority for the payment of compensation in such cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the resolution passed by the executive committee of the Kent branch of the National Farmers Union, expressing alarm at the increasing amounts of the inter-regional compensation levy that milk producers in the southeastern region are called upon to pay, and urging that the Government should introduce at the earliest date a long-term policy in regard to the imposition of a levy subsidy on imported milk products with a view to maintaining an economic price for manufactured milk and alleviating the amount of the inter-regional compensation levy; and whether he has any statement to make upon the subject of such resolution?

I have seen the resolution to which reference is made. A general indication of the policy of the Government in regard to imports of milk products was given in a statement made on 25th July last, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. The present position of the home milk industry in relation to imports of milk products is safeguarded until October, 1937, by the Milk Act, 1934, and the Milk (Extension of Temporary Provisions) Act, 1936, which provide, inter alia, for Exchequer advances to improve the price of milk used for manufacture. The dairy produce situation will be reviewed and the Government's long-term policy determined before that date. The position with regard to condensed milk and milk powder will be considered on receipt of the report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee on the application now before them for an increase in the duties of imports of these products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are taken by him to ensure that performing dogs, permitted by licence to land in this country, subject to quarantine, not on approved veterinary premises but on the premises at which they are to perform, are kept in places suitable for the purpose and under conditions providing for their care, comfort, and proper exercise; and whether the dogs while there are inspected by any veterinary or other officer on his behalf and at what intervals?

Imported performing dogs are not licensed for quarantine at premises at which they are to perform unless such premises have been previously inspected by officers of the Ministry and found to be suitable for the proper detention of the dogs. While the dogs are on the premises inspections are made, without warning, and normally every week, by inspectors of the Ministry and of the appropriate local authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number and location of nursery schools in this country?

A list of the 78 nursery schools in England and Wales recognised by the Board of Education will be found on pages 53 and 54 of the Board's List 42, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Jibuti French-controlled railway is now being used for the transport of Italian troops and munitions?

I have no reason to believe that Italian troops and munitions are being landed at Jibuti. As regards that part of the railway which lies in Ethiopian territory now under Italian military control, I have no reliable information of any kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the shares in the Jibuti Railway, transferred from French to Italian ownership in January, 1935, carried any rights of management or control?

While I understand that the agreement of January, 1935, between France and Italy in regard to the Jibuti Railway involved the transfer to Italian interests of approximately one-sixteenth of the share capital, and the right to one seat on the board, I am not aware of the extent of participation in the management which this involves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of all the protectorates and mandated territories held by Great Britain and the terms of such mandates?

The following is a list of the British Protectorates:

• Bechuanaland Protectorate.
• Swaziland.
• Northern Rhodesia.
• Nyasaland Protectorate.
• Somaliland Protectorate.
• Uganda Protectorate.
• Zanzibar.
• Aden Protectorate.
• British Solomon Islands Protectorate.
• Kenya Protectorate.
• Gambia Protectorate.
• The northern territories of the Gold Coast.
• Nigeria Protectorate.
• Sierra Leone Protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will obtain the names of the members of the executive committee of the International Red Cross with whom the League of Nations has recently been in correspondence, and the countries of which they are citizens?

According to "The International Red Cross," a publication produced by the League of Red Cross Societies, the names of the members of the International Red Cross Committee are as follow: