asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what are the total numbers of persons employed by the Forestry Commission at the present time, giving the principal officers, deputy surveyors, divisional officers, district officers, foresters, foremen, clerical staff, manual workers in the forest, summer and winter figures, and any other employés, separately?

The numbers of persons employed in various classes and grades in the Forestry Commission are set out in detail in the Civil Estimates (Class VI) for the year ending 31st March, 1937, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 24th February last and subsequently published.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (1) whether any provision has been made, in the event of ports on the East Coast being rendered inaccessible by enemy action, for additional accommodation at ports on the South and West Coasts, and for the transport thence of food and merchandise to the various centres of population;(2) Whether he has called into consultation the heads of organisations concerned with road transport with a view to perfecting arrangements for the adaptation of road transport to national needs which would arise in time of war or other emergency?

A Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence has made very close investigations into the problems connected with a possible diversion of imports which enter normally through ports on the East Coast, the object being to have adequate plans in readiness for any emergency, Their work is still continuing, but from their investigations up to the present it does not appear that additional facilities at other ports will be needed. Until further details are examined, for instance the facilities for handling particular commodities, it is not possible to define the position exactly. The same Sub-Committee is considering the distribution of imports from the ports of landing and is in contact with representatives of both rail and road transport interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the recent inter-governmental conference on the legal status of refugees from Germany; and whether His Majesty's Government is prepared to conform to the arrangement arrived at for regularising their position?

The Inter-Governmental Conference convened by the High Commissioner for Refugees (Jewish and other) coming from Germany met at Geneva from 2nd-4th July, and a provisional arrangement concerning the status of German refugees was drawn up. His Majesty's Government were represented at this Conference and are prepared to conform to the arrangement concluded subject to minor reservations which are at present under consideration.