asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information as to the new Czechoslovakian defence law which threatens the existence of the whole of the minorities in the so-called defence belt; and what steps he proposes to take, through the League, to protect those minorities and to see that the minority treaties are observed by Czechoslovakia?

As regards the first part of the question, the provisions of the law have been brought to my attention. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that the Germany party in Czechoslovakia have addressed a petition to the League relating to the position of minorities in Czechoslovakia. Pending the consideration of this petition in accordance with the appropriate procedure at Geneva it would not be possible for me to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the negotiations now proceeding in Paris with a view to a treaty of alliance between the Government of the French Republic and Syria and Lebanon as independent republics and not as mandated territories; and whether, in view of this proposed renunciation of the mandate over Syria by France, His Majesty's Government will consider the renunciation by Britain of the mandate for the adjoining countries of Palestine and Transjordania, and will make an announcement to this effect, which would at once calm the present situation in Palestine?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes, Sir," and to the second part "No, Sir."

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of persons employed in his Department who are in receipt of salary in addition to pension, apart from war or disability pension?

Sixty-seven officers serving in my Department are in receipt of pensions in addition to salary, apart from war or disability pensions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is taking any special steps in connection with the abnormally high percentage of overcrowding in Ashton-under-Lyne and, as there has been considerable municipal housing extension, will he cause inquiry to be made in regard to the method of management of letting houses, and to the merits of applications in relation to the health problem generally?

I have fixed the 1st August as the date for the submission of proposals for the provision of new houses under the Act of 1935, but a deputation from the borough council has already had preliminary discussions with my officers on this matter. I have no evidence which would suggest the need for inquiry into the management and letting of the corporation's houses, but if the hon. Member would let me know of any specific complaints I shall be glad to take them up with the council.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the privileged position of shops inside hospitals, clinics. and within the precincts of railway stations in respect of rating; and whether he proposes to inform the rating authorities that such premises should be rated separately and on a basis which will be in keeping with the burden of assessment on ordinary trading premises?

My attention has not previously been drawn to this question as regards shops in hospitals and clinics. As regards shops in railway stations, the House of Lords recently held, on a series of test appeals, that the premises under appeal were not railway hereditaments and should be rated separately, and effect will doubtless be given to the principles enunciated in those decisions in the assessment of such premises. Under the law governing the valuation of properties other than railway hereditaments the question of separate assessment is one for determination on the facts of each case by the assessment committee concerned. I have no power to give directions in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has given consideration to the position created by the operation of Section 9 (2) (c) of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, in respect to the product of a penny rate payable by borough and urban district councils to county councils; and whether it is proposed to introduce legislation to relieve the position?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Marklew) on 26th June.

asked the Postmaster-General which countries of the Empire are linked up by a system of intra-Empire telephonic communication; and will he endeavour to establish at an early date a service between British Malaya and the United Kingdom in view of the fact that the Dutch East Indies and French Indo-China have been in wireless communication with Europe for some years?

The Commonwealth of Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Ceylon, India, Kenya, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa and Northern and Southern Rhodesia are now linked with this country by radiotelephone. Interconnection between most of these services is provided by way of London. I understand that additional equipment is being installed in Malaya which will, it is hoped, enable a service to be established with this country in the near future.

asked the Lord President of the Council, in the case of Diesel oil extracted from British coal for high-speed engines, how much per cent. of the final product is the fraction extracted from the coal and how much per cent. is made up of imported oil?

In cases in which imported petroleum oils are added to oils obtained from coal, the proportions vary within wide limits. Experiments are, however, proceeding with fuels consisting of 98–99 per cent. of coal-oil without any admixture of imported oils.

asked the Lord President of the Council what sums have been allocated for non-commercial research work in universities during the past five years; and whether any encouragement has been given by the Government to universities to foster such research?

It is not practicable to devise a method of assessing total University expenditure on research as distinct from expenditure on other purposes, even if it were possible to formulate an adequate definition of noncommercial research. As regards the second part of the question, encouragement has been given by the Government to foster certain forms of specialised research and the amount expended to this end in the past five years is approximately £1,866,000. In addition, the Vote for Universities and Colleges, Great Britain, has provided during the past five years, £9,300,000, distributed for the main part in block grants to University institutions for their maintenance as centres of higher education and research.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that an order has been served on Deonandan Dikshit prohibiting him from residing, entering, or remaining within the Bengal presidency; and will he state whether the order in question states or specifies any charge against the man in question?

I have no information about this case, but the local government is empowered to pass orders of this nature without specifying any charge if it is satisfied that the person concerned has rendered himself liable under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Bengal Public security Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will furnish information as to the number of applications made by industries in this country under the provisions of the Ottawa Agreements Act to the tariff boards in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; and what have been the results of those applications?

The information is contained in replies which were given on the 24th February to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. G. Williams) and on the 7th May to the hon. and learned member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons). I am sending copies of these replies, which contain much statistical matter, to my hon. Friend.