asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, where provision now exists under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, for the formation of new small burghs, apart from Regulation 2, etc., in the Statutory Rules and Orders made by his Department on 5th June, 1934, under Section 70 (1) (b) of the Act; whether he is aware that no provision is made in the same Act for the formation of new large burghs now, and there are other types of burghs under Section 4 (4) of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, with less than 20,000 of a population to be provided for as small burghs under the Act than simply police burghs?

Provision for the creation of new burghs is contained not in the Act of 1929 or the regulations referred to, but in the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts. Apart from the procedure laid down by those Acts, the only way in which a new burgh can be created at this date is by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of ex-Service men who were inmates of and died within the last seven years in the criminal lunatic asylum at Perth to the nearest convenient date; how many were in receipt of disability allowances awarded in consequence of wounds or injuries in the Great War; and how much, if any, the Prison Department contributed towards the funeral expenses in each case?

Three ex-Service men died in the Criminal Lunatic Department of Perth Prison during the seven years ended the 31st ultimo. One of these men had been awarded a disability pension on account of an eye wound received in the Great War, but that pension was suspended when he was admitted to the Criminal Lunatic Department. In his case and in one of the other cases the whole of the burial expenses were paid by the Prisons Department for Scotland. In the remaining case the burial expenses were borne by the relatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Glasgow Corporation and other local authorities are finding it difficult to obtain an adequate supply of bricks, timber, and other material for housing schemes and that there is a shortage of iron rods for reinforced concrete buildings; and will he take action to secure preference for local authorities in the matter of supplies for housing contracts?

No serious difficulties in obtaining supplies of bricks, timber, or other materials have come to my notice, although I am aware that there has been some delay in obtaining steel rods and metal fittings. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer to the replies given to the hon. Member on 16th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Highland Economic Committee is likely to make a report; and if he has any statement to make on the matter?

The committee have held five meetings and have instituted regional inquiries into conditions in Ross and Cromarty (mainland), Argyll, Sutherland and the Hebrides. No indication can yet be given as to when a report may be expected.

asked the Lord President of the Council what are the present approximate world stocks of sugar; how these compare with stocks available at a comparable date in 1934; and whether, in view of the reduction due to increased consumption, he will reconsider his decision that it is still desirable to limit sugar production within the British Empire provided that it is efficient?

The approximate visible world stocks of sugar on the 1st March, 1937, were, in accordance with figures recently published, 5,834,000 tons; and on the 1st March, 1934, were 7,636,000 tons, of which 1,665,000 tons were segregated under the Chadbourne Scheme and were therefore not available for disposal. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Birkenhead, West (Lieut.-Colonel Sandeman Allen), on 25th March last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total weight of articles containing sugar exported in each of the calendar years 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much sugar has been imported from foreign countries during the last three years to be refined and consumed in Great Britain and to be refined and re-exported, respectively?

The quantity of imported non-Empire sugar delivered for refining in each of the years ended 30th April, 1934, 1935 and 1936 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now able to make a statement with reference to the German and Italian replies to British suggestions for a Western air pact, and general European security problems?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of tin mines in operation in March, 1936, and at the present time?

At the end of March, 1936, six mines were producing tin ore and development work was being carried on at four other mines. Comparable figures at the present time are seven and four respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the total amount and percentage of output of coal cut by machinery during 1936 in each mining district?

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will indicate the acreage of agricultural land used since 1919 for building, road extension, reservoirs, aerodromes, and other nonagricultural purposes; and whether, in view of the importance of food production in any national emergency, he is seeking powers to ensure, firstly, that a sufficiency of land is reserved for agriculture in connection with schemes adopted under the Town and Country Planning Act and, secondly, that there is some regulation of land acquisition by bodies dealing with afforestation and land settlement under national auspices?

The area of land under crops and grass in England and Wales (on agricultural holdings of one acre or more in extent) declined by 1,884,839 acres between 1919 and 1036, but I am unable to say what proportion of this land is accounted for by the several non-agricultural purposes to

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the quantity and value of the principal home-produced agricultural products in 1931 and at the latest convenient date?

The information desired by my hon. Friend is too voluminous to be suitably given in answer to a Parliamentary question. I am sending him a table of the relevant figures.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons, men and women, respectively, placed in employment during the past 12 months by the Employment Exchanges of Great Britain?

The number of separate individuals placed in employment is not known, but the total numbers of vacancies filled by Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux in Great Britain between 24th March, 1936, and 15th March, 1937, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether the salary limits of unemployment insurance extension to be proposed by his Department will be the same as for health insurance extension?

The raising of the salary limit for unemployment insurance is still under consideration.