asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of married women who, at the present moment, are carried on the strength of the British Army, and the known number of women married to serving soldiers who are not so carried?

It is estimated that something over 20,000 soldiers (exclusive of those in India), are in receipt of marriage allowance, and that of these approximately 15,000 are on the married quarters roll. I have no means of knowing how many soldiers under the age of 26 are married.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the shortage of officers and men on 1st June last as compared with 1st May last, and 1st June, 1936, in the Regular and Territorial Army, respectively; and the figures of establishments at the relative dates?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of the revenue of the League of Nations was provided by the British Empire during the last year for which figures are available?

The number of units of contribution payable by His Majesty's Governments in the Commonwealth for 1936 was 257 out of a total of 931. For 1937 the figures will be 249 out of 923.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the last representations were made by Great Britain or the League of Nations to the United States, Japan, Germany and Italy, respectively, with a view to persuading those countries to take a more active part in League affairs; and what was the nature of the reply in each case?

The Council and the Assembly of the League of Nations

The figures are as follow:constantly invite the Governments of States which are not members of the League to participate in League conferences and committees on technical questions, and non-member States do in fact frequently collaborate in many aspects of the League work. It would be impossible, in the space of an answer to a question in this House, to give details of all such invitations and of the replies thereto. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for their part warmly welcome the participation of non-member States in the activities and work of the League in all cases in which the Governments of those States feel able to collaborate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that Great Britain is a party to the Treaty of Trianon and the Minority Treaty, he can give an assurance that all possible steps are taken by him to ensure that the Hungarian minorities in Czechoslovakia, Jugoslavia, and Rumania are properly protected and accorded religious and scholastic autonomy and equality of treatment which they are guaranteed by these treaties?

The treaties in question provide that the minorities stipulations constitute obligations of international concern and are placed under the guarantee of the League of Nations. His Majesty's Government have always played and 'hill continue to play their full part in the administration of these treaties.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will have placed on sale copies of the document embodying the draft of the proposals for the reorganisation of the electricity supply industry?

Copies of the document have already been placed on sale by His Majesty's Stationery Office, price 1s. each.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make a further statement as to the meaning of the words Owner of the premises, in Regulation 95 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1937?

As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, I have no power to interpret the law, but I am advised that this expression in the Regulation and in the Road Traffic Act, 1930, means normally the occupier of the premises, or any other person, such as a duly authorised officer of a company, empowered to permit entry into the premises.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now in a position to state what amendments he proposes to make in the regulations referring to the testing of brakes on private motor cars?

Yes, Sir. I have circulated to representatve associations (in accordance with Section III (2) of the Road Traffic Act, 1930) a draft amendment to Regulation 95 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1937, as follows:

asked the Home Secretary how many motorists have been fined for not stopping at halt signs in the last six months?

I regret that separate figures relating to this offence are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take during the current year to provide a uniform surface for the main roads now under his control; and whether he proposes in due course to provide all these roads with a concrete surface?

I am taking steps to ensure a surface of uniform non-skid quality, and, when reconstruction works are undertaken, to use the same type of construction on long stretches of road. As at present advised I do not propose to stipulate for concrete surfacing to the exclusion of all other types of surfacing.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing congestion of traffic on the Cambridge arterial road; and whether the county council are putting into effect their proposal to provide a second carriage-way along this road?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the same subject on the 9th June, 1937, to the hon. Member for Enfield (Mr. Bull).

asked the Minister of Transport whether any inquiry has been made by his department as to whether the new houses built or being built along the Cambridge arterial road contravene the provisions of the Ribbon Development Act; and, if so, whether he will have an investigation made to see whether any amendment to that Act is necessary to prevent the benefit to transport being nullified?

From the inquiries I have made I am satisfied that the two county councils concerned are giving effect to the principles of the Act in regard to this road; but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I shall be happy to make further inquiries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the estimated grant from the Road Fund that would be necessary if his offer in respect to Charing Cross bridge is accepted?

Until a detailed scheme and estimate have been prepared and agreed it is not possible to state the amount of grant which might be payable from the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the percentage grant made to urban authorities which are accorded most favourable treatment?

The rates of grants to Urban authorities for highway improvements vary according to the classification of the road and the nature of the improvement and, for certain descriptions of work, according to the financial circumstances of the authorities concerned. In general, the rate of grant for improvements to Class I roads in built-up areas is 50 per cent. of the net cost; but for schemes of exceptional magnitude and traffic importance in such areas I am prepared, if certain conditions are fulfilled, to consider a grant at the rate of 60 per cent. of the net cost.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the comparative cost per head per week of able-bodied unemployed in 1934 in the transitional payments and Poor Law classes; and the present cost to the Unemployment Assistance Board?

In December, 1934, immediately prior to the termination of the Transitional Payments scheme, the average weekly payment to applicants in receipt of transitional payments was 21s. 11d. A corresponding figure for the able-bodied unemployed of the Poor Law classes is not available. In the week ended 29th May, 1937, the average weekly payment to applicants in receipt of unemployment allowances, including the persons transferred from the Poor Law classes to unemployment assistance after the second appointed day, was 23s. 11d.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the names of the Government Departments employing photo printers, photostat printers, and the numbers of photo printers, photostat printers, etc., assistant photo printers and photostat printers, etc., employed in these Departments, showing the numbers of male and female employés of these grades?

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Glasgow magistrates had an application recently before them asking for an extension of hours in certain unlicensed catering trades; what decision has been arrived at; and if any extension on 10.45 p.m. on week-days and 8 p.m. on Sundays is proposed by the Glasgow magistrates during the period of the Glasgow exhibition to suit the convenience of visitors?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the event of an extension of the opening hours of catering establishments in Glasgow being granted during the period of the Glasgow exhibition, steps will be taken to limit the working hours of assistants?

I understand that an application for amendment of the by-laws by which the hours of registered places for public refreshment in Glasgow are governed was discussed by the magistrates on the 23rd March of this year, when it was agreed to defer consideration of any proposed extension of hours for a period of six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make further inquiry into the question of the ages of the senior officers in the Ayrshire police force and inform this House of the result of such further inquiry?

I have made inquiry and am informed that the ages of the 13 senior officers of the Ayr County Police Force range from 44 to 62.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trawlers were laid up in Aberdeen at the end of May, 1937, 1936, and 1935, respectively?

Including vessels undergoing overhaul the numbers of trawlers laid up at Aberdeen at the end of May were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were completed in Aberdeen during each of the first five months of 1937; and how many it is estimated will be completed during June, July, August and September?

The Corporation of Aberdeen completed 24 houses in January, 24 in February, and 92 in May, 1937. No houses were completed in March or April. The corporation expect to complete 56 houses in June, 58 in July, 64 in August, and 62 in September.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any payments have yet been made to the widows and/or dependants of the men who lost their lives on His Majesty's Ship "Hunter"?

Payment of pension to the three widows commences to-morrow. Up to to-day inclusive they have still been in receipt of Naval allotments and marriage allowances. Payments to other dependants cannot commence until their eligibility, which is now being investigated, is established.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Government of Alberta are paying interest at 2½ per cent. to those bondholders who signed an undertaking accepting this rate as a full settlement; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to assist those United Kingdom bondholders who are receiving nothing?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the offer by the Alberta Government referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, he has already referred to the Canadian Government representations made to him by the Bond and Stock Holders Protective Committee for Great Britain.