asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the discontent on the part of the supporters of the Croydon General Hospital in connection with the action of the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis which, if persisted in, will prevent the continuance of the long established local street collection for that hospital?

My attention has already been drawn to this matter. As stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe) on the 29th June, the Committee which advises the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis with regard to street collections has already been in consultation with bodies representing various charitable organisations with the object of reducing the number of flag days by means of arrangements providing for combined appeals by kindred charities. It will be appreciated that the success of any such plans would be seriously prejudiced if exceptions were made. Detailed arrangements as regards hospitals are now being worked out by a conference of hospital interests on which the Croydon General Hospital is represented, and I am informed that a statement of the conclusions reached by this body is about to be issued.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the appointment of any medical officers of health as vaccination officers; and whether, in view of the fact that he has laid down a rule that vaccination officers must carry out the duties of their position personally and not by deputy, medical officers of health who accept the position of vaccination officer are allowed to delegate the actual work of the post to a clerk in the public health department?

Appointments of vaccination officers do not require my sanction, but, in the few cases in which my Department has been consulted as to the appointment of medical officers of health as vaccination officers, no objection has been raised. There is no rule that vaccination officers must in all cases carry cut their duties personally. The matter is governed by Article 17 (vii) of the Vaccination Order, 1930, under which, except in so far as provision is made by or with the appoval of the council for assistance in his office, a vaccination officer must personally discharge the duties of his office, and, where assistance is so provided, be personally responsible for the proper discharge of those duties.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of persons employed in his Department who are in receipt of salary and pension, apart from war or disability pension?

About 280 persons in receipt of Post Office pensions are at pre-

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children in elementary schools in White-haven, Cleator Moor, Egremont, Lamplugh, Waberthwaite, and Millom were receiving milk for payment and free, respectively, under the milk-in-school scheme in September, 1935, January, 1936, and May, 1936; and how many children were not receiving milk in the periods mentioned?

Following is the information:sent in employment in the Post Office. In most cases the pension is small and in all cases the present pay does not exceed the pay previous to retirement. Information is not available as to the number of Post Office employés in receipt of other forms of pension, and I regret that it could not be obtained without considerable labour and expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the number of State-aided schools in British Guiana providing primary and/or secondary education; and has he any information that will show the number of scholars that were of East Indian extraction?

The latest information available is for the year 1934. In that year 178 primary schools in British Guiana were in receipt of full grants-in-aid. Of these, 38 received special grants for the teaching of East Indian languages. Of a total of 45,231 scholars, 15,240 were of East Indian extraction. There were also 55 primary schools in remote or sparsely populated areas in receipt of grants-in-aid under the Education Regulations, and of these 11 received grants for the teaching of East Indian languages. 1,242 out of the total of 2,580 scholars were East Indians. Four secondary schools with 257 pupils also received grants-in-aid, but no detailed information is available as to the number of East Indian children in these schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the standard rate of wages paid to African workers on European farms and in the gold mines, respectively, in Kenya Colony?

There are no standard rates of wages in Kenya, but from the last available published report on Native Affairs, namely, for the year 1934, I understand that the wages paid to African agricultural labourers ranged from 6s. to 12s. a month plus rations. In the mining industry the wages ranged from 8s. to 100s. a month according to the type of work performed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the Petroleum (Production) Regulations, 1935, dated the 15th May, 1935, made under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1934, which provide for the grant of oil-prospecting and oil-mining licences to foreigners and foreign-controlled companies, subject to certain conditions; whether in the Colonial Empire generally he is aware that oil-mining licences and leases may be granted to British subjects or British-controlled companies only; and whether it is proposed to relax this condition having regard to the action taken in this country?

Yes, Sir; I am aware of the action taken in this country. In accordance with the general policy laid down some 30 years ago, oil concessions on Crown Lands in the territories for the administration of which the Secretary of State for the Colonies is responsible (excluding, of course, mandated territories) have been granted only to British subjects or companies under British control, and regulations to secure this object have been adopted in practically all relevant cases. The question whether this policy should be modified has been under consideration for some time, and as a special case the Regulation of one Dependency were amended in 1931 to permit of the operation of foreign-controlled companies. It has now been decided that the embargo should be raised generally throughout the Colonial Empire, subject to the following conditions:—(1) Terms of existing leases to be maintained and their transfer made subject (as at present) to Government approval.(2) Concessions only to be granted or assigned to foreigners or foreign-controlled companies in cases where foreigners are citizens of countries granting similar advantages to British nationals.(3) The grant of the concession to be made to a company registered in British territory.(4) Majority of employés and some of the Directors, and the chief local representative, to be British subjects.(5) As soon as the output of oil reaches a specified amount, at least 50 per cent. of the oil obtained to be refined on British territory and the plant to be capable of producing fuel oil suitable for Admiralty use.(6) The Government to retain right of pre-emption in case of emergency.