asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of the aeroplanes exported from the United Kingdom in 1936 and to the latest available date in 1937?

During the year 1936, 448 complete aeroplanes of United Kingdom manufacture, valued at £1,285,000, were exported from this country; the corresponding exports during the 10 months ended October, 1937, amounted to 423 machines, valued at £1,612,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the information sent to him regarding the form of trading known as snowball trading, whereby purchasers are given goods to the value of several times the amount paid; and if he will, for the guidance and reassurance of the public, indicate what action he proposes to take to prevent innocent people being defrauded by this means?

It appears from the newspaper report which the hon. Member has sent to my right hon. Friend that organisations representing traders affected are at present actively investigating this matter. My right hon. Friend will certainly consider any representations that they may decide to make to him as a result of this inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the failure to discover the origin of recent cases of oil pollution in the Bristol Channel, he will consider offering a substantial reward for any information which may help to indicate the sources of this serious nuisance?

I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in consultation with the other Departments concerned. I would, however, remind him that, under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, prosecutions are only possible when oil is discharged, or allowed to escape whether directly or indirectly, into the territorial waters of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the waters of harbours therein.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of the committee dealing with the question of corporal punishment is likely to be available for Members of this House?

I understand that the committee, which was not appointed until the end of May, 1937, has not yet completed the hearing of evidence. The committee has already held 15 meetings and is proceeding with the inquiry as expeditiously as possible but I cannot yet say when its report will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the proposal to inaugurate a ferry with State aid for passengers and vehicles between Coulport and Ardentiny across Loch Long, for the purpose of opening up to tourist traffic the entire Cowal shore and Roseneath peninsula; and if he has any statement to make?

The hon. Member has informed me of a proposal for a ferry across Loch Long which has been communicated to him by a correspondent. I have looked into the question but it does not appear that I have any power to give financial aid in carrying out the proposal. It is open, however, to the county councils concerned to consider whether there is a case for the exercise of their powers under the Harbours, Piers and Ferries Act recently passed.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now give a revised list of share-pushing convictions, in view of the recent decision of the court of appeal in one of the cases previously referred to?

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to amend the information I gave him on 9th November and to state that on that day the Court of Criminal Appeal allowed the appeals and quashed the convictions against James Harvey Brown and William Robinson.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the total number of permanently employed Government messengers is pensionable; what considerations other than the importance of duties of an individual character and personal medical fitness govern the grant of pensionability; and whether he will consider increasing such proportion?

Approximately one-seventh of the total messengerial and paper-keeping staffs at present employed in Government Departments are established. Members of the unestablished grades are, however, eligible for promotion to the established grades of messenger and paper-keeper. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. W. H. Green) on 8th June last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the estimated annual cost of the extension of the benefits of establishment to all permanently employed Government messengers?

The cost would be substantial, but any attempted calculation would have to take into account a variety of factors the effect of which could be only approximately estimated. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to give a reliable figure for the additional annual expenditure which would be involved.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the numbers of established and unestablished permanently employed Government messengers over the age of 60 years which is the nominal age of retirement from the Civil Service; and whether such employes usually serve until the age of 65 as it is not possible for the established men to become entitled to a full pension, and as the unestablished men do not become entitled to any pension at all?

I am obtaining information with regard to the first part of the question and I will communicate further with the hon. Member in due course. No information is available centrally as to the practice of the various Departments as regards the age, within the limits mentioned, at which they commonly require members of the messengerial grades to retire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Viceroy's speech to the Indian Legislature, on 13th September last, to the effect that he had caused representations to be made to His Majesty's Government for assistance in carrying out certain Army reorganisation schemes in India; whether these representations have now been considered by His Majesty's Government; and, if so, with what result?

This matter has been under discussion with the Government of India. It is considered that in view of the magnitude of the capital expenditure involved it would be reasonable in existing circumstances to recommend to Parliament that a special grant of £600,000 should be made to the Government of India over the three years beginning from 1st April next, to enable the Government of India to carry out the measures of mechanisation proposed with the least possible delay. This additional grant will be borne on the Vote for India and Burma Services.

asked the Postmaster-General what amounts in sterling were paid to foreign air-lines during the year 1936 and the first half of 1937 for the carrying of British mail to South America?

The amounts due to be paid to foreign air-lines during the year 1936 and the first half of 1937 for the carrying of British air mail to South America were £87,500 and £48,900 respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that telephone subscribers are allowed each quarter 50 local calls, or the equivalent in value, free of charge, he will in future allow the full deduction of 4s. 2d. to be made from the quarterly accounts of all subscribers in order not to discriminate against those who use their telephones primarily for long-distance calls costing more than 4d. each?

A substantial reduction in trunk call charges was made in May, 1936. The scheme adopted in October, 1936, for the allowance to residence rate subscribers of free local calls up to 50 a quarter was intended to encourage the use of the telephone for local calls; and I regret that I do not see my way to extend the scope of the scheme in the manner suggested.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the qualifications expected of the Director of Naval Stores; and whether hs is a naval officer or a member of the Civil Service?

The qualifications expected of the Director of Naval Stores are experience and ability. The present holder of that post, who is a civil servant, amply fulfils both requirements.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the decision of the Director of Naval Stores in matters affecting the welfare of the personnel, or on technical subjects, is final?

No, Sir. The Director of Stores is responsible for all decisions to the Board of Admiralty in these as in all other matters.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the present number of machines available for service in the Fleet Air Arm; and what is the latest information as to the Fleet Air Arm strengths of Japan, the United States of America, France, Italy, and Germany?

Following is the information:The strengths of the Fleet Air Arms of the various countries named are:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will reconsider the case of the late Oliver William Johnson, stoker, first class, official number C/KX. 85,597, who was washed overboard while serving on His Majesty's Ship "Moy," and the refusal of a pension to his mother on the ground that her husband was capable of earning the normal wages of his calling, in view of the fact that the husband is out of work and has been for some time and, in spite of many efforts, has been unable to obtain employment on account of his health?

I am causing inquiries to be made into the facts of this case and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will explain why bedding and eating utensils are not supplied to crews of the Royal Fleet auxiliaries?

The crews of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries normally employed in attendance on the Fleet are, generally speaking, provided with bedding and eating utensils. The equipment of the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries employed in freighting oil fuel is similar to that of comparable vessels in the Merchant Service; and, as bedding is supplied to crews by certain commercial tanker owners, a partial supply has been provided in the six new vessels recently acquired by the Admiralty. The further provision of bedding in the vessels of this class now awaits a decision by the National Maritime Board who have the subject under consideration. Following the general practice in the Merchant Navy, eating utensils are not supplied to the crews of Admiralty freighting tankers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why white ratings were recently discharged from the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries "Bishopdale," "War Afridi," and "Abbeydale"; and why were Chinese seamen engaged to replace them?

Sickness was experienced among the British crews of "War Afridi" and "Abbeydale," and they were relieved by Chinese crews and repatriated with their own consent and on agreed terms. As the "Bishopdale" was to be employed in the tropics on the same service, the Master asked for approval to relieve his British crew and this course was approved by the Admiralty. The usual Merchant Shipping practice was followed in all these cases. As British crews are unwilling to serve with Asiatics, it has been necessary in the past on several previous occasions to repatriate British crews and engage Chinese in lieu. The consent of the British crews has always been obtained.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty who is responsible for the direction and control of the Royal Fleet auxiliaries?

The Director of Stores is responsible to the Board of Admiralty for the direction and control of the Royal Fleet auxiliaries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet considered the first report of the committee set up by the Nyasaland Government on the co-ordination of native welfare work; whether the memorandum foreshadowed in the report has yet been completed; and whether any schemes for carrying out the recommendations of the committee are under consideration?

The first annual report of this valuable committee was forwarded to me in August, and steps have already been taken by the Government of Nyasaland to implement many of the committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present position of the colony of Hong Kong; what is the decline in trade; what are the numbers of persons who have taken refuge in the island; how these are being maintained; and what is the financial position of the Government and the economic position of the community at the present time?

I am glad to state that the latest reports from Hong Kong show that the Sino-Japanese conflict has not resulted as yet in any decline in the trade of the colony.The monthly totals of imports and exports for recent months show a considerable rise over the monthly average for the year and a still greater rise over the comparable months for 1936. Excluding treasure, the monthly average of imports and exports from January to June, 1937, amounted to Hong Kong $84,219,000. The figures for the last few months for which returns are available are:

It should be borne in mind, however, that the colony is at present handling a considerable quantity of imports which would normally have gone direct to Shanghai. It is scarcely possible to estimate this quantity.No statistics are available for the number of Chinese who have taken refuge in the colony, though the number is considerable. The British refugees from Shanghai number approximately 3,500 women and 300 men, the majority of whom have made private arrangements. The maximum number who were housed and maintained in Government centres amounted to 750 and those at present so maintained number approximately 400.Under all the circumstances the financial position of the Colonial Government appears to be satisfactory. The 1936 Estimates of the Colonial Government budgeted originally for a deficit of nearly Hong Kong $3,000,000, but actually resulted in a surplus of $500,000. The revised estimate for 1937 shows that the original estimated deficit of $3,500,000 has been reduced to less than $1,000,000, and I am now informed that the revenue collected up to the 15th of November is in excess of the estimate for the full year and $3,000,000 more than that collected up to the same date in 1936. It is estimated that the Colonial Government will have at the end of this year a surplus of assets of approximately $12,000,000, mainly in the form of liquid assets.There are at present no signs of economic depression in the community generally. Though the general cost of living has risen, as would be expected in the circumstances, it appears that in spite of the difficulties of its position, Hong Kong is succeeding in maintaining its commercal life.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any information as to the total number of unemployed persons, and also the number on public relief, in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, in each year since 1929?

Statistics which would enable me to give a complete answer to the Hon. Member's question are not in my possession, but I am sending him a memorandum containing such information on the questions raised as is available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that private residents are unable to enforce the removal of any vehicles parked outside their front door except as the result of police or legal action, he will consider introducing legislation to give residents this right?

I think that the House would hesitate to give to every resident who found outside his house an unknown car the right to move it along the road, a course which might involve very considerable risks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has given consideration to the two resolutions passed by the Loughton, Bucks, parish council on the 25th October, 1937, and forwarded to him on the subject of the London-Holyhead Road, A.5, between Loughton and Stony Stratford; whether he is aware of the grave danger to pedestrians and traffic under existing conditions; and when he proposes to take action in the matter?

Yes, Sir. I am trying to arrange for the provision of a temporary

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give an approxi-

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has any statement to make concerning the loss of aircraft plans from the offices of Parnall Aircraft, Limited?

I understand that the missing plans have so far not been recovered but that investigations are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the total number of those offering themselves for military service accepted as recruits, and the total number of men rejected as unfit for service in the year 1936 and the first nine months of 1937 in England and Wales; and what were the separate figures relating to recruits and rejections for the same period in the various regions divided according to the Registrar-General's grouping?

Following is the answer: As regards the last part of the question, I can only give figures for the several recruiting areas.mate estimate of the losses due to poultry diseases; and what progress is being made with research into the means for their-prevention?

No official estimate of the losses due to poultry diseases has been made, but the National Veterinary Medical Association have estimated that the loss from disease directly and indirectly probably amounts to over £4 million annually. This figure refers only to losses among laying birds. As regards research, I would refer my hon. Friend to the annual volumes published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, entitled Reports on the Work of Agricultural Research Institutes in the United Kingdom, and also to the published reports of the Agricultural Research Council.