asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the total number of fatal accidents and the number of persons seriously injured in the coal mines for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the 12 months ended 31st May, 1936, 825 persons were killed and 3,170 were seriously injured by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Covenant has been the subject of any amendments other than those mentioned in Cmd. 2300.

An amendment to Article 4 came into force on the 29th July, 1926, in accordance with Article 26 of the Covenant. This amendment provided that the Assembly should fix by a two-thirds majority the rules dealing with the election of the nonpermanent Members of the Council, and particularly such regulations as relate to their term of office and the conditions of re-eligibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the seventh and ninth paragraphs of Article XXII of the Covenant of the League of Nations is still in force; whether all mandatory powers have fulfilled their terms; and whether the permanent Mandates Commission has ever taken any executive action?

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the Question, the Permanent Mandates Commission has no executive powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who was responsible for the views expressed as a commentary on the Covenant, beginning on page 12 of Cmd. 151, of 1919?

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether His Majesty's Government regard Article XIX of the Covenant of the League of Nations as still operative; and, if so, whether they have ever taken any initiative thereunder to bring before the Assembly conditions which endanger international peace?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether His Majesty's Government has fulfilled its own obligations under Article XVI of the Covenant of the League of Nations or whether the French interpretation of that article, as shown in Cmd. 5072, is accepted by His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have fulfilled their obligations under Article 16 of the Covenant of the League of Nations in conformity with the resolutions of the Assembly of 4th October, 1921, and the proposals of the Co-ordination Committee. As regards the second part of the Question, the correspondence in Cmd. 5072 relates to the interpretation of paragraph 3 of Article 16, not to the Article as a whole, and it is stated in the correspondence that agreement on this subject was reached between His Majesty's Government and the French Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether His Majesty's Government regards Article XVII of the Covenant of the League of Nations as still in operation; and whether he has any knowledge of international engagements subject to registration which have not been registered in accordance with that article?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am unable to say whether the requirements of the Article are observed by other countries on all occasions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the resolution forwarded to him recently by the Saddleworth Urban District Council with respect to the operation of Section 9 (2) (c) of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925; if he is aware that Saddleworth has special claim for consideration, on the ground that the section referred to imposes a greater financial burden on its ratepayers than on any other urban district or non-county borough in the country; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this anomaly?

I have considered this resolution and I am aware of the position in Saddleworth created by the operation of Section 9 (2) (c) of the Act of 1925. That position could not be altered without legislation, as to which the several Associations of Local Authorities interested at present hold divergent views. In the event of the introduction of any legislation to which an amendment of the provision might be germane, I should be prepared to give careful consideration to proposals to that end.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the information supplied to him by the inspector under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, in regard to the recent experiments performed on dogs at the London Central Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital, he will take steps to prevent such experiments in future, as being in direct contravention of Clause 6 of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, which prohibits the performance of experiments for the purpose of attaining manual skill?

No, Sir. As explained in the answer which Was given to the hon. Member on the 10th June, the procedure followed in the case referred to is outside the scope of the Act of 1876.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in No. 4 area of the Vauxhall Motor Works, at Luton, men are working on 5¼-hour periods of work without a break; and whether he will call for a special report from the factory inspector for the area?

I have been asked to reply. The Factory Acts do not regulate the hours of employment of men, and my right hon. Friend does not feel justified in asking the Factory Inspector to intervene in the matter.