asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what industries, classified in the Board of Trade Returns, have so far not made any application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for the imposition of a duty on the goods of a similar nature coming into this country?

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to additional duties. As he will be aware, all goods not on the Free List and not subject to duty under another enactment are liable to the general ad valorem duty under the Import Duties Act, 1932. Additional duties have been imposed on the great bulk of manufactured goods which are subject to the general ad valorem duty, in many cases as a result of the first recommendations of the Committee and without previous representations from British manufacturers. It would not be practicable to furnish a list of goods which are still subject to the general ad valorem duty only and in respect of which no representations have been made by British manufacturers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the Yugoslavian Government's recently adopted import restrictions against British goods, His Majesty's Government will consider the desirability of immediately establishing exchange clearing against Yugoslavia?

I understand that since the 25th June some classes of goods are only admitted into Yugoslavia from certain countries subject to a permit from the National Bank of Yugoslavia. Inquiries are being made as to the effect of this regulation on United Kingdom trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been, or is proposed to be, taken to terminate the trade agreements with Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and Sweden, respectively; what communications he has received in respect to the effect of these agreements upon Home and Dominion agricultural interests, respectively; and when he proposes to invite the observations of industrial, commercial, and agricultural organisations in regard to the conditions on which any fresh agreements with these countries may be negotiated?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the answer which I gave on 25th June to the hon. and gallant Member for Tiverton (Lieut. - Colonel Acland - Troyte). As regards home agricultural interests, the Board of Trade are constantly in touch with the Departments of Agriculture, and these Departments are kept continuously informed as to the initiation

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the tonnage of foreign shipping and British shipping,. respectively, engaged in the inter-port trade on the British coast in the last five years and during the months of 1936 for which statistics are available; and whether he can state the number and tonnage of motor cargo vessels up to 750 tons net built in the United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium, France, and Germany during 1935?

The following statement shows the net tonnage of British and foreign vessels, including their repeated voyages, that arrived and departed with cargo coastwise at ports in Great Britain during the undermentioned periods.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Rules of Procedure 21 (B), which prescribes that members of a court martial for trial of an officer shall be of an equal if not superior rank to that officer, is still operative in conjunction with the Army Act; and, if not, when it was revoked?

The Rule is still operative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what facilities exist for men, whose service is nearing completion in the British Army in India, to train for civil employment in the East?

About 1,100 British soldiers annually receive vocational training in India for civil employment. These are selected from those of good character who are about to leave the colours. The training is given in Government factories, workshops and farms, and in private firms covering some 80 different trades.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Lieut.-Colonel Sandford was dismissed the Service and granted an award of retired pay by the Army Council; for what reason, and by what authority, this was replaced by a compassionate allowance sanctioned by the Secretary of State for India in Council; whether this was done as a special case or, if not, under what regulation; and from what grant this allowance is being paid?

Yes, Sir. In view of the length of Mr. Sandford's Indian service this case was transferred to the India Office where such cases were at that time considered on a compassionate basis. A compassionate allowance was sanctioned of the same amount as the retired pay in issue at the time under the Army Council's provisional award. In accordance with the ordinary rules the allowance is debited to Indian and British Revenues in proportion to the length of the officer's service on the Indian and British Establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the special needs and disabilities of women, especially of Arab women, in Palestine, and the importance of paying attention to those needs in considering all questions bearing on the future administration of the country, he will include in the proposed Royal Commission women qualified to ensure fulfilment of this purpose?

I have given careful consideration, in consultation with the High Commissioner for Palestine, to the question whether His Majesty should be advised to appoint one or more women as members of the Royal Commission. I have reached the conclusion that, although there has been a considerable intellectual and social development, since the British occupation, among the Arab women of Palestine, both Moslem and Christian, the appointment of a woman would be so incompatible with Arab ideas that it might greatly impede the commission in the prosecution of its inquiries; in fact, I am advised that devout Moslems and possibly some Jews of strict orthodoxy might be deterred by their religious susceptibilities from appearing before a commission which included a woman.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the recent report on forestry problems in Jamaica; and what action is going to be taken to re-afforest the island?

A copy of the technical report by Mr. Wimbush has been received, and I am awaiting the Governor's recommendations with regard to the action to be taken.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any decision has been reached by the Government regarding the proposed Forth and Tay road-bridges; and whether he will now consider the desirability of proceeding with the construction of the bridges, in order to meet the urgent need of improvement in the means of road transport and industrial development in the eastern counties of Scotland?

As I have not yet received the case from the local authorities I cannot make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the number of the male nursing staff employed in State institutions under his control dealing with mental and serious nervous disorders; and the number who have the qualification of holding a certificate and the number of patients under their control?

Two hospitals are maintained by the Ministry for ex-service men suffering from mental disabilities and serious nervous disorders. The number of beds occupied at these is 450 and of the 125 male nursing staff 27 hold certificates and all have had many years' experience. The patients, none of whom are certified mental cases, are in the immediate charge of a body of fully qualified sisters, acting under the direction of the medical staff.

asked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to extend to Manchester the system under which it will be possible for calls intended for an absent subscriber to be recorded in his absence for his ultimate information?

Manchester has been selected as suitable for an experiment in the provision of the absent subscriber service in an automatic telephone area. Special equipment, however, is necessary with automatic exchanges, and development work is proceeding in that connection. I hope that this work will soon reach a stage when definite orders can be placed with the manufacturers; but some considerable period must elapse before the service can be opened.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any consideration has yet been given to the rates which will be charged for parcels despatched to Empire destinations when the new Empire Air Mail comes into force next year?

I do not anticipate that it will be possible to contemplate the carriage by air to Empire destinations of parcels at lower postage rates than the much reduced air postage rates for letters which will operate under the Empire Air Mail scheme at any rate until some experience has been gained of the capacity that will be required under the new scheme to accommodate the letter mail.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the renewed outbreak this year of grass fever among horses in the North-east of Scotland; and whether his Department will cause an investigation to be made into the incidence of this disease with a view to its prevention or cure?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. This disease has been for several years and still is the subject of intensive research by the Animal Diseases Research Association in collaboration with other scientific authorities and veterinary practitioners, but up to the present they have not been able to elucidate the cause of the disease nor to discover means for its prevention or cure.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has yet received any explanation of the announcement made by the South African Premier regarding the future of the South African Protectorates?

The Acting High Commissioner for the South African Territories has been in communication with General Hertzog, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that on Sunday, 7th June, at about four o'clock p.m., a motor lorry was stopped by a police car containing two officers, both in plain clothes; and whether instructions have been issued by the Home Office authorising the stopping of cars by un-uniformed police?

The particulars given by my hon. Friend are not sufficient to identify the case but I may say that no instructions have been issued by the Home Office in this matter. It is within the discretion of chief officers of police, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to decide whether or not to use police in plain clothes for road traffic purposes.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that a driver of a motor lorry was stopped on Wednesday, 20th May, at about 8.20 a.m. on the Rochester-Blackheath road by a police car carrying an L plate and a G B plate in which both officers were in plain clothes; and under what authority this method was adopted?

I have been in consultation with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis who informs me that there is no record of such an incident in the Metropolitan Police District. If my hon. and gallant Friend will give me further particulars I shall be glad to make further inquiries.

asked the Home Secretary what steps he proposes to take to protect against air raids the citizens of the 14 areas the local authorities of which have declined to co-operate with the Government in providing such protection?

These areas will have the benefit of such preparations, affecting the whole country, as are made by the Government: but that cannot compensate for the failure of any district which is liable to attack to take effective measures on its own account, and my right hon. Friend trusts that all local authorities will see their way to co-operate with the Government in this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of applications to enter Great Britain received, granted, or refused for alien, theatrical, vaudeville, cabaret, concert, and cinema artistes and musicians for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The number of applications for the year 1935, which is the latest complete period of 12 months for which statistics are available, was 3,070, of which 2,847 were granted and 223 were refused.