asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many agricultural estates above,£12,500 net value, in the last financial year, were charged reduced Estate Duty under the provisions of Section 23 of the Finance Act, 1925; and by what amount the duty so charged was less

The information is as follows:than would have been charged at current rates unreduced by the operation of the said Section 23?

The number of estates containing agricultural property on which relief from the current rates of Estate Duty was granted under Section 23 of the Finance Act, 1925, was 1,550. The total relief of duty granted in the last financial year was approximately £400,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate nominal value of the 2½ per cent. National Defence Bonds held by Government Departments?

I cannot undertake to furnish details of this character.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the cleaning materials required for soldiers' equipment are paid for from funds provided by the War Office or from private regimental funds?

War Office funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Ever Ready Company, Limited, who are Government contractors, have been in dispute with their engineers' labourers since April last, because the firm were paying their engineers' labourers 6½d. per hour plus a bonus on output that the men could earn; that under the engineers' agreement the engineers' labourer's rate is 8½d. per hour for a 47-hours week plus 17s. war wage; what rate of pay the firm are now paying their engineers' labourers; and whether, as the rates that the firm were paying before the dispute were a violation of the fair wages clause, and seeing that the firm refused to meet the men's representatives before the dispute with a view to getting the matter settled, he will now state what action he intends to take in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for the Consett Division of Durham (Mr. D. Adams) on 8th June. The unions concerned have, so far, not responded to the invitation to call at the War Office to discuss this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company has yet obtained the report on measures that could be taken in co-operation with the Health Committee of Liverpool to abate the serious smoke nuisance in the central area of Liverpool?

I am afraid that the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. The report mentioned in my answer to his earlier question is being obtained by the Railway Company for their own guidance, and is not intended for publication. I am informed that the matter is being considered by the technical staffs of the Company and the City in cooperation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the rate of mortality from tuberculosis in each of the administrative counties and county boroughs in Wales for the year 1936, and the corresponding rate for England and Wales as a whole?

The following table gives the information requested by the hon. Member:—

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the maternal mortality rate for each of the administrative counties and county boroughs in Wales for the year 1936, and the corresponding rate for England and Wales as a whole?

The following table gives the information requested by the hon. Member:

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the total number of rejected pension appeals by war widows whose husbands were in receipt of 100 per cent. disability pensions?

I regret that the records of my Department have not been so classified as to enable this information to be given.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to paying the holiday travelling expenses home of the artificer apprentices who have been sent to Rosyth, and so lessen the hardships inflicted on these lads of being so far away from their homes?

Before these boys are transferred to Rosyth I will consider whether any assistance can be given towards the travelling expenses of those who entered the Navy last August under the impression that they would be trained at Chatham.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when consideration will be given to the appointment of civilian superintendents in charge of the dockyards, in view of the programme for construction upon which the yards are engaged?

It is not the intention of the Admiralty to depart from the present practice of appointing naval officers as superintendents in charge of His Majesty's Dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, despite the Government's pledge that ex-service men will be given preference of employment in temporary clerical posts in the Government service, non-ex-service staffs have recently been appointed temporarily to clerical posts in certain of His Majesty's Dockyards; that ex-service men with clerical qualifications and in some cases with previous Government service are registered as unemployed in the Employment Exchanges of the towns concerned; and whether he will ensure that the necessary steps are taken to bring to an end this evasion of the Government's pledge to ex-service men?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the employment of a small number of storehouse assistants and storehouse boys on office work. This arrangement has been necessitated by the great expansion of work in the dockyards, which made it essential to find, very urgently, staff with some experience for the duties in question. It has, however, been made clear that the arrangement is a purely temporary one. Evey endeavour is being made to obtain suitable permanent clerical staff, and the storehouse grades will then be returned to their ordinary duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) whether he has yet received the resolution of the Southern Rhodesian Parliament favouring the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia; and, if so, whether such resolution has been considered and what recommendation or action has been taken in relation thereto;(2) whether the question of amalgamation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia has been or will be discussed at the Imperial Conference during the present visit of the Premier of Southern Rhodesia; and, if such discussion has taken place, whether he is in a position to make a statement on the subject?

The Resolution of the Southern Rhodesia Legislative Assembly was forwarded to me last year. The substance of the answer returned to it was given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies in a reply to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 17th November last. No discussions on this question have taken place at the Imperial Conference, but as explained by my right hon. Friend in answer to a question on the 2nd June, he and I have had an opportunity of hearing the views of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia during his present visit to London. I am not at present in a position to add to the answer given on the 2nd June.