asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will provide particulars of marine propulsive and auxiliary machinery imported and exempted under Section 11, Part 1, of the Import Duties Act, 1932, during each of the last three years, giving the values and the principal types and power?

The following statement shows the value of prime movers and parts thereof imported into the United Kingdom in 1934, 1935 and 1936 and exempted from duty tinder Section 11 of the Import Duties Act, 1932. Particulars as to the power of the various types listed below are not available, nor are separate records maintained in respect of auxiliary machinery.cost per superficial foot of non-parlour houses included in contracts let by, or in direct labour schemes of, local authorities in England and Wales during each of the following months: March, 1935, June, 1935, September, 1935, December, 1935, March, 1936, June, 1936, September, 1936, December, 1936, and March, 1937?

The following statement shows the particulars desired by the hon. Member so far as direct labour schemes commenced and contracts let by local authorities in England and Wales, other than the London County Council, are concerned.

Month and average cost per superficial foot of non-parlour houses, excluding small one-bedroomed dwellings.
	s.	d.
March, 1935	8	2¼
June, 1935	8	4¼
September, 1935	8	4¼
December, 1935	8	5¾
March, 1936	8	4¾
June, 1936	8	4
September, 1936	8	8½
December, 1936	8	6½
March, 1937	8	10¾

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been drawn to the inaccuracy of dates of the reign of Charles II inscribed on the front of the Houses of Parliament facing the river; whether he will take steps to have the matter corrected; and whether he will cause a record of the interregnum period, 1649 to 166o, to be inscribed on the same wall to commemorate the Protectorship of Oliver Cromwell?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): My Noble Friend understands that Charles II became King de jure in 1649, the date given in the inscription, and that the first Statute of his Kingship de facto, which commenced in 1660, is described as of the twelfth year of his reign. As the inscription is part of the original architectural treatment of the building, my Noble Friend does not see any advantage in making a change at this date.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a recent candidate for the prison service, F.H.L., of Barnsbury, London, N., who passed a strict medical examination and other scrutinies as to character, was failed at an interview by an assistant commissioner because he failed to reMember with absolute certainty the number of halls in Leeds prison through which he passed only about once; and whether, seeing that in view of the prospect of joining the prison service the candidate gave up a good position he had held for 10 years and is now unemployed, his application can be reconsidered?

The suggestion that this candidate was rejected merely because he failed to answer a particular question is mistaken. The decision was reached on a review of his qualifications as a whole, after he had been under instruction for some four weeks, and after full consideration of reports by the Governor and of others responsible for the instruction of probationers. Like all other candidates who are accepted for training, he was warned beforehand that his engagement was provisional only in the first instance and might be terminated at any time during the training course if he were found to be unsuitable. My right hon. Friend regrets that the question of his engagement cannot be re-opened. In the selection of candidates for training every effort is, of course, made to choose only men who appear likely to make good officers, but some men who make a good impression at the original interview are found after a period of trial not to be suitable for the duties.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make inquiries into the case of Vincent Arpeno, a British subject, aged 26, of Darwin Buildings, Walworth, who was convicted in April at the London Sessions to three months imprisonment for receiving stolen coke; and whether, in view of the prisoner's previous good character, as testified by the police, and the fact that no evidence of complicity was produced against him on a plea of guilty, he will consider remitting the remainder of the sentence?

I am informed that the defendant in this case appeared at Tower Bridge Police Court on 4th March, and on pleading guilty was sentenced to three months imprisonment, and that on 9th April his appeal to Quarter Sessions against sentence was dismissed with costs. I understand that the facts as to the defendant's previous character were fully before the court on both occasions, and I regret that I can find no ground which would justify me in advising any interference with the sentence.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation to effect a reduction in the maximum amount allowable for election expenses?

I am not aware of any general desire for such legislation.

asked the Home Secretary whether, before the House considers the Factories Bill on the Report stage, he will consider the publication of the information he has collected from industries to which he has applied on the subject of the working hours of young persons?

I have not applied to particular industries for information on this subject, but I hope and expect as a result of my statements in Standing Committee to receive information from various sources and, in particular, from the representatives of employers' and workers' organisations. Some of this information will, no doubt, be given verbally and in an informal way, and there would be difficulties, I think, in drawing up and publishing any formal document. The new Clause, which I promised, will not be deferred till Report stage, but is being put down for consideration in Standing Committee and the statement which will be made on behalf of the Government in moving that Clause, together with the subsequent discussions on it in Committee, will, I hope, afford all necessary information.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the agreement reached at the International Sugar Conference will oblige this country to continue to import foreign sugar to the extent of over 600,000 tons annually for the next five years; and whether the matter will be discussed at the Imperial Conference, in view of the fact that it will seriously affect the increase of sugar imports from the Empire into this country?

I have been asked to reply. The agreement reached by the International Sugar Conference does not in form oblige this country to import foreign sugar. All countries exporting sugar have come to an agreement by which they will regulate their exports to the free market, in accordance with an approved scale, for a period of five years. Empire countries exporting sugar no less than foreign countries have taken a part in this arrangement and the agreement provides that Empire countries shall obtain an equitable share of any expansion in the market for sugar in this country. The Members of the British Commonwealth concerned were represented by separate delegations at the International Sugar Conference, and there would therefore be no object in discussing the matter again at the Imperial Conference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much money has been expended by his Department for research purposes in each complete year since 1920; and in what directions the money has been expended?

The total expenditure on research charged to the Ministry's Vote during each of the financial years, 1920 to 1936 inclusive, was as follows: 1920—£245,263, 1921—£146,284, 1922—£211,428, 1923—£214,426, 1924—£277,029, 1925—£30,419, 1926—£314,727, 1927—£292,689, 1928—£292,761, 1929—£337,156, 1930—£445,047, 1931—£421,761, 1932—£317,127, 1933—£314,266, 1934—£311,554, 1935—£321,248, 1936—£340,923.These sums have been expended in the following main directions: (

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of the 27 trade unions referred to in Appendix XXIX, page 133, of the Ministry of Labour's Report for 1936, Com- mand 5431; and will he state the male, female, and total Membership of each of such trade unions?

Of the 27 organisations in the "Paper, Printing, etc." group in the Table referred to, 20 are registered trade unions which are required, under

Name of Union.	Membership at end of 1935
	Males.	Females.	Total.
National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers	36,440	30,800	67,240
London Society of Compositors	14,174	6	14,180
Association of Correctors of the Press	1,498	—	1,498
Printing Machine Managers' Trade Society	4,609	—	4,609
Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers and Auxilliaries thereto of Great Britain and Ireland.	7,585	—	7,585
Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers.	6,949	—	6,949
London Society of Music Engravers	47	—	47
Map and Chart Engravers'Association	42	—	42
Society of Women employed in the Bookbinding and Printing Trades	—	2,410	2,410
Monotype Casters and Typefounders' Society.	817	8	825
National Society of Electrotypers and Stereotypers	3,781	—	3,781
National Union of Journalists	5.712	207	5,919
National Union of Press Telegraphists	498	9	507
Pattern Card Makers' Society	476	16	492
Wall Paper Workers' Union	2,280	1,000	3,280
Amalgamated Society of Paper Makers (now amalgamated with another Union).	4,462	311	4,773
Wall Paper Block Printers' Trade Union	48	—	48
Hollins Paper Mill Protective Society	156	14	170
Scottish National Union of Ticket Writers	11	—	11
Bristol Society of Printers' Assistants and Paper Bag Workers (now dissolved).	14	8	22
Total	89,599	34,789	124,388

As regards organisations which are not registered under the Trade Union Acts, statements of Membership are obtained annually by the Ministry of Labour on the understanding that they shall be used only in compiling general statistics. I am not, therefore, in a position to give separate figures of the Membership of the seven unregistered organisations included in the figures, but their total Membership