asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether the rulers of the native States accept as binding the conventions of the International Labour Office;(2) to what extent a convention duly ratified by the Government of India is applied by the States?

There is no method by which the Indian States can formally accept as binding International Labour Conventions. But when a draft convention has been ratified by India the Government of India bring it to the notice of those States to which its provisions appear to be relevant and are prepared when necessary to use their good offices with the authorities of such States to induce them to apply so far as possible the provisions of the convention within their territories.

asked the Secretary of State for War which Welsh units of the Regular Army and Territorial Force will take part in the Coronation duties?

It is intended that all units of the Regular and Territorial Army in the United Kingdom shall be represented at the Coronation parade in London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the new regulations under the Weights and Measures Act, 1936, are to be issued?

I propose to issue the regulations in draft at an early date in order that the interests affected may have an opportunity of commenting upon them before they are issued in final form.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has taken any steps with the Egyptian Government for the abolition of the capitulations; and, if so, with what results?

If the hon. Member will refer to Article 13 of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Alliance of 26th August last and the annex to that article, he will see the steps to be taken by His Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government regarding the abolition of the capitulations. The Egyptian Government have, in accordance with the procedure indicated in the treaty, invited the capitulatory Powers to a conference at Montreux on 12th April. During the last few weeks His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo and the second legal adviser to the Foreign Office have acquainted the Egyptian Government with the detailed views of His Majesty's Government regarding the matters dealt with in the article in question and the manner in which effect should be given to the article: and they have established the existence of a large measure of agreement between the views of the two Governments.On 4th February the Egyptian Government despatched to the capitulatory Powers a note which contains the proposals with regard to the proposed transitional regime which the Egyptian Government are themselves putting forward. The Egyptian proposals naturally deal with those aspects of the matter which the Egyptian Government consider most important from the Egyptian point of view. His Majesty's Government hope that the Powers will receive these proposals most sympathetically, but think it necessary to make clear that there are other points which will have to be settled at the conference at Montreux which are not referred to in the Egyptian Note, and that a certain number of points which are dealt with in the Egyptian Note in general terms will have eventually to take the form of detailed and precise provisions in the future Montreux Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the latest information in his possession regarding the development of plans for making effective the non-intervention policy in Spain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to questions by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Peebles and Southern (Captain Ramsay) to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that within the Irish Free State a former officer in the Free State forces recruited a military expedition to fight against the Government of Spain, and that this expedition is now fighting in Spain against the Government; and whether he has made representations to the Free State Government that their obligations under international law, and as signatories to the Covenant of the League of Nations, are inconsistent with allowing such an expedition to be organised or to leave for Spain, and that the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870, applies equally to the Irish Free State?

I am aware that a number of Irish Free State citizens left that country towards the end of last year with the object of enlisting in the forces of General Franco. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) on 26th January. The question of prohibiting the recruitment and departure of volunteers for Spain was recently referred by the Non-Intervention Committee to the Governments concerned. I understand that the replies of the various Governments, including that of the Irish Free State Government, are now before the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which countries have expressed willingness to appoint representatives to serve on the League of Nations committee on the supply of raw materials; which have refused; and what appointments have actually been made?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Park Division of Sheffield (Mr. Lathan), to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inquire whether the German claim for the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles includes the return of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the German Chancellor has stated publicly that Germany renounces Alsace-Lorraine.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the advantages to trade and industry which have resulted from the tripartite monetary agreement between France, the United States of America, and this country, he can now state what are the prospects of stabilisation of the currency taking place?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in this House on the 5th November last during the Debate on the Address, and to my other public statements on these matters.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the number of road accidents for the year ending 26th December, 1936, in which private cars were involved?

Analysis of the first 100,000 detailed reports of accidents involving personal injury for the year beginning 1st April, 1936, shows that of the 151,341 vehicles (including 48,391 pedal cycles) involved in those accidents, 47,683—or approaching one-third—were private cars.

asked the Home Secretary the number of road accidents for the year ending 26th December, 1936, in which the driver of the car involved has not been traced by the police authorities?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it is the practice of his Department to arrange that any necessary repairs or structural alterations to the British Embassy in Berlin are carried out by British workmen?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will submit to the appropriate authority the decision as to whether post-dental surgical treatment should be a matter for the dentist or for the surgeon?

My right hon. Friend has no power to submit to any tribunal the general question raised by my hon. Friend. The question whether any particular treatment is a service which a doctor can be called on to render under his insurance contract can be settled only on the facts of each individual case.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to say that ministers of religion will definitely be included in a scheme of contributory pensions; whether he can state the figure at which the income limit will be fixed; and if an age limit has been decided upon?

As regards the first part of the question, ministers of religion, in common with other persons who are not insurable under the existing scheme, will, as my right hon. Friend informed a recent deputation from the Church of England and the Evangelical Free Churches, be eligible for admission to the new scheme of voluntary insurance for pensions: as regards the second and third parts, I cannot furnish details of the scheme in advance of the presentation of the necessary Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of houses of less than £13 a year rateable value completed in the areas of rural district councils in 1936, 1935, and 1934, respectively?

The number of houses provided in rural districts by private enterprise without assistance with a rateable value not exceeding £13 was 25,954, 27,712 and 25,922 in the years ended 30th September, 1934, 1935 and 1936 respectively. The number provided by local authorities was 4,166, 4,666, and 8,270 for the same period.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of typhoid fever have been notified each week in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole from 1st August, 1936, to 31st January, 1937; how many cases were still in hospital in November, 1936; whether any were still in hospital in December, 1936, or January, 1937; and, if so, how long had they been in hospital?

I am sending the hon. Member the desired information.

asked the Minister of Health the total revenue in England and Wales of local authorities from rates, trading services trading profits, Exchequer grants, Government grants in lieu of derating, fees, rents, and payments, special funds, and capital receipts, respectively?

The following statement shows the total income of local authorities in England and Wales in 1934–35, the latest year for which complete figures are available:

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the number of applicants for public assistance on the latest date available and also for the date six months previously?

The total numbers of persons in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales (including dependants but excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals and persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only) on 16th January, 1937 (the latest date available) were 1,289,927 and on the 18th July, 1936, 1,228,026.

asked the Minister of Health whether it will be possible to introduce during the current Session the promised legislation relating to the composition and description of articles of food; and whether he can give an undertaking that this will include provisions to prevent the sale of preparations wholly or partly composed of sugar from being sold as honey?

The Committee on the Consolidation of Local Government and Public Health law is at present considering the consolidation and revision of the food law and I hope it will be possible to introduce legislation to give effect to their recommendations in the course of the present year. This will provide a convenient opportunity for dealing with the question of definitions of articles of food and similar matters. Any provisions for this purpose will of course be in general terms which it is hoped will be sufficiently wide to include honey.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Welsh regional television station will be established?

It is one of the duties of the Television Advisory Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Selsdon, to plan the development of the television service; and I understand that when sufficient experience has been obtained of the working of the service from the London Station the committee will consider the establishment of stations in other parts of the country and will make recommendations on the subject.