asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the gradual decline in the number of allotments in this country; and whether he will consider circularising local authorities with a view to the acquisition of additional land for this purpose?

I am aware that there has been a gradual decline in the number of allotments in this country, due mainly to the demand for land for other purposes, particularly for housing in urban areas. The most effective remedy would be the acquisition of more land for permanent allotments by the local authorities concerned. A circular letter was accordingly issued to all urban allotment authorities in 1935 urging them to purchase additional land for this purpose, and there has since been an appreciable increase in the rate of acquisition.The Government's views on the subject are well known to local authorities, and every opportunity is taken both in communications addressed to the authorities and by the Ministry's local officers in the course of their duties, to impress on them the importance which is attached to the provision of an adequate number of permanent allotments. This policy will continue to be pursued, but I do not think that the issue of a further circular letter at the present time would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken by his Department, in collaboration with the gas warfare department, to produce a gas suitable and effective for the destruction of rats and rabbits?

Various experiments have been conducted from time to time by my Department, partly in collaboration with the department referred to, with the object of finding suitable and effective gases for the destruction of rats. Work of a similar character has been carried out on the gassing of rabbits, and further experiments are being undertaken during the current year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the consumption of essential foodstuffs in Great Britain, other than beer, wines, and spirits, is home-produced; what proportion is imported from overseas; and how these figures compare with the totals last year?

The following table shows in respect of certain foodstuffs the approximate proportions of the average total supplies in Great Britain in the years 1934 to 1936 represented by home production and imports together with corresponding figures for 1937 where figures for that year are available:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of new factories opened and also the number of factories closed down in Scotland, England, and Wales, respectively, in each of the last three years;(2) the number of new factories opened and also the number of factories closed down in the Special Areas of Scotland,

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the latest estimate of his Department as to the average amount of coal which is consumed in this country under present conditions in the production of a ton of steel?

It is estimated that about 2¼ tons of coal are consumed in the production of one ton of finished steel.

The following statement shows the desired information so far as it is available from the reports obtained for the purpose of the Annual Surveys of Industrial Development. The figures relate only to factories in which 25 or more people are or have been employed. Particulars for 1937 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of inspections carried out by the inspector in the Northern division at Adventure Colliery, Durham, for the years 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937, and how many were in the night-shifts?

During 1933 and succeeding years the numbers of inspections made were respectively, seven, five, eight, five, and five; a total of 30 inspections, of which one was made on the night-shift.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of money advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners

asked the Secretary of State for War the considerations which led his Department to arrange for the heating of the new headquarters at Chester by electricity; and whether, in deciding this question,

The particulars asked for are as follow:the relative cost of installation and the use of gas was also taken into account?

It was decided to use electricity instead of gas on account of the lower capital and running costs of the electrical installation.