asked the Minister of Health, when he expects to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of the word honey on any foodstuff exposed for sale which is not 100 per cent. the product of, the bee?

I regret that I cannot at present add anything to the replies given to my hon. Friends on this subject on 4th and 9th February, of which I am sending copies to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take action to secure larger powers for local authorities to deal with nuisances caused by the emission of smoke from industrial undertakings?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the powers already available are insufficient.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the aggregate amounts which have been granted in each of the 50 large towns of this Country, where slum-clearance operations have been carried out, in respect of compensation to dispossessed shopkeepers and in respect of payment for well-maintained houses, respectively; and whether he can give the names of the towns in each case?

The following table shows the desired information, so far as it is available:—

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the large number of endowment policies issued by companies engaged in industrial assurance which have no cash surrender value; whether such policies are still issued; and, if so, whether he will investigate their desirability from the public standpoint?

I have no information as to the number of endowment policies which have no cash surrender value, but I am aware that the majority carry rights either to a free policy or to a surrender value. The subject of industrial assurance was fully reviewed by a Committee which reported in 1933, and there does not appear to be any need for a further investigation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the additional cost to the Exchequer of raising old age pensions by 5s. a week?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10th March last to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether all Departments have now been instructed to consult the Treasury in all cases of doubt as to the interpretation of the Appropriation Act?

I am not aware that any occasion has arisen which calls for the issue of such instructions as are proposed by the hon. Member. I feel sure that Departments would, in the cases referred to, seek the advice of the Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, approximately, 150 soldiers of the Middle-

The answer to the last part of the question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Health how many scientists are at present employed in the Ministry; and how this figure compares with that of 1930?

On the 1st April, 1937, the scientific staff of the Ministry other than the medical and dental staffs totalled 13. This figure included a chemist, chemical inspector, alkali inspectors and pharmacists. The corresponding figure at 1st April, 1930, was 13. The medical and dental staffs at the same dates were respectively:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that six weeks ago complaints were lodged with the War Office and the Air Ministry that Messrs. F. W. Rigby and Company, of London, were not acting in compliance with the Fair Wages Clause as regards wages, hours, and conditions; that apparently it was agreed between the two Departments that the necessary inquiries should be made by the Air Ministry; that, although up to the present no decision has been given, the War Office gave another contract to this firm on the 24th May last; for what reason was a fresh contract granted to a firm at a time when complaints have been made against them; and whether he can now state what action it is proposed to take in order to secure compliance with the Fair Wages Clause?

Should it be found that infringements of the Fair Wages Clause have occurred the firm will be called upon to make adjustment of wages and conditions to conform to the clause. It would be unfair to prejudge the situation before the establishment of a complaint.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state when the memorial to the late Earl Haig is to be erected; and what period has now elapsed since the decision was first reached to erect this statue?

I have been asked to reply. The casting of the statue in bronze is approaching completion, and I hope that it will be ready for erection at the latter end of this year. The Resolution of the House authorising the statue was passed on the 8th February, 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made since the appointment in Palestine of an officer from Nigeria in the internal reorganisation of the treasury, with a view to relieving the district administration of the work performed by sub-accountants and to bring the Palestine treasury into line with other Colonial treasuries?

The High Commissioner has recently submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a scheme of reorganisation, which is at present under his consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is in a position to make any further statement in respect of the default of the Government of Alberta on its bonds?

I understand that a 4½ per cent. bond issue of $1,650,000 of the Province of Alberta, due for redemption on the 2nd June, has not been met, but that interest at the reduced rate of 2¼ per cent. will continue to be paid.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the total face value of the postal orders issued by the Post Office in each of the last three financial years; and what was the total amount of the poundage received in respect of them in each of these years?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Public Accounts Committee have reported that, in a certain case, the political departments of the Foreign Office did not appear to have appreciated the possibility that a certain decision might have financial consequences; and whether it has yet been found possible to make the permanent head of the Foreign Office also the accounting officer, as is the practice in nearly every other Department?

I presume that the reference is to paragraph 4 of the report of the Public Accounts Committee issued in July, 1935. It will be seen from paragraph 2 of the second report of the Public Accounts Committee issued in July, 1936, that the Treasury subsequently assured the Committee that the position at the Foreign Office is regarded as a temporary exception from the general principle on account of the abnormal conditions obtaining in that Department. These conditions remain unchanged, but, as stated in the Treasury Minute dated 19th January, 1937, on the report last referred to, the position will be kept under review.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that certain members of the crew of the steamship "Llandovery Castle" were recently sentenced to terms of imprisonment in London for refusal to obey orders; whether he is aware that this refusal consisted in declining to go to sea after the ship had had a 20-foot hole blown in its side, which hole was temporarily filled with cement; and whether, in these circumstances, he will take steps with a view to a remission of the sentences?

The degree of culpability attaching to the conduct of these men was a matter for determination by the courts which heard the evidence, and I know of no ground for questioning the decision of the courts that the circumstances warranted sentences of imprisonment. As, however, the courts which dealt with 10 of the defendants imposed sentences of six weeks, while the court which dealt with three others imposed sentences of 12 weeks, I have, with the concurrence of the justices who imposed the longer time, advised the remission of six weeks in these three cases.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many scientists are employed by his Department; and how this figure compares with that of 1930?

The number of Forestry Commission officers possessing a University degree in science or the equivalent was 37 in 1930 and 59 at the present time.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can state the approximate value of British tourist traffic in Italy in an average normal year; whether the Italian Government are anxious to promote such traffic during the present year; and, if so, what special steps do the authorities in Rome propose to take to allay the fears of many British tourists that to travel in Italy would possibly lead to incidents of a character likely to cause feelings of unpleasantness and discomfort?

I regret that the information in question is not available.