asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the rapid deterioration of conditions in the cotton industry, he is yet in a position to undertake to introduce a Bill to enable the industry to reorganise itself to meet foreign competition in the export markets?

I can add nothing at present to the reply which I gave on 22nd March to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bury (Mr. Chorlton).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to prevent foreign-made textile goods, which have been imported into this country for finishing and/or other processes, from being exported from this country stamped with a statement wrongfully indicating that they have been made in England?

If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of cases where such marking is being applied, I will consider whether action can be taken under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause inquiry to be made into wages and conditions of labour in the rubber footwear industry in the Dominions and Colonies responsible for the importation of such goods into the United Kingdom?

No, Sir; I have no power to cause such an inquiry to be held. I am, however, sending the hon. Member certain information as to wage rates in the rubber footwear industries in Canada, Australia and Hong Kong.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what inclusive annual rental is paid by Imperial Airways, Limited, for the use of Croydon Airport?

The figure asked for is £225 11s. 8d.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the names of firms in Willenhall and Wednesfield holding Air Ministry contracts at the present time?

The recording of contracts on a geographical basis is not normally required for administrative purposes. Such examination of the records of the department as it has been practicable to make without disproportionate expenditure of time and labour shows that the following firms in these districts are at present carrying out contracts for the Air Ministry:

• H. Harrison and Sons, Limited, Willenhall.
• Armstrong Stevens and Son, Willenhall.
• E. Nicklin and Sons, Willenhall.
• S. Parkes and Company, Limited, Willenhall.
• A. E. Jenks and Cattell, Limited, Wednesfield.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in consequence of the alterations to the hull of His Majesty's Ship "Warspite," the captain has instructions not to put the helm hard over at full speed?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the results of the recruiting campaign are small and tend to deter rather than encourage recruits, he will cease publishing these figures?

I am not sure what my hon. Friend means by "the recruiting campaign." If he is referring to recruiting for the Regular Army, during the seven months from August, 1937, to February, 1938, the recruit intake increased by 33 per cent. compared with the corresponding period in the previous 12 months. The intake for the first four weeks of March has been 80 per cent. over that for the corresponding period in 1937.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the recent acquisition of land in Wiltshire and the proposed further purchase of adjoining land, he has considered the representations from an approved society that such acquisition, and particularly the use of such land for troops, will seriously interfere with the carrying on of their convalescent home, which is being used for female members including insured persons; and what course does he propose to take in the matter?

I anticipate that the society will not have any cause for complaint, but if they should, they can notify the local military authorities, who would certainly treat with the utmost consideration any representations the society may make.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of horses employed in the riding school at the Royal Military College. Sandhurst, were recently destroyed on the ground that they were 11 years old; whether it is the practice to destroy horses at this age irrespective of their fitness for service; and, if so, will he consider the possibility of retaining fit horses of this age in the service or their sale to suitable employers?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. The answer to the third part is that none of those considered fit for civilian use are sold for destruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the Government of Eire have passed legislation affecting industrial assurance which imposes additional financial burdens upon British industrial assurance societies and companies, and that doubt exists as to the legality of those concerns operating in Eire; and whether he can make a statement on the matter?

I am aware that an Act affecting industrial assurance has been passed in Eire, but the part of the Act dealing specifically with industrial assurance has not yet been put into force. I am not aware that it imposes additional financial burdens upon United Kingdom societies and companies. I understand that the position of United Kingdom offices in connection with this legislation is under consideration generally, but I am not able to make any statement at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state the action which is being taken on the matter of contracts for roads in the Isle of Seychelles being given to the editor of the Reveil Seychelles; and whether the Governor's report shows that the work was satisfactory?

I have not yet received the report from the Governor to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. McEntee) on 23rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the conditions of appointment of the Government dentist in the Isle of Seychelles; and is there a higher charge for his services than is the case when the services of other dentists are engaged?

I have recently approved a proposal put forward by the Governor of the Seychelles that the part-time services of a local dentist at the Government Hospital should be retained by the Government for a fee of Rs.3,000 a year, with the main object of attending to the dental needs of primary school children. The arrangement provides that the dentist should devote three days of seven hours each a week to Government work; that he should be supplied by the Government with dental enquipment, for the use of which a deduction of Rs.300 a year is made from his fee; and that he should undertake not to charge in private practice fees in excess of a scale approved by the Government. The Government of the Seychelles does not employ any other dentists for similar work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the number of trawlers laid up at each of the main fishing ports, stating separately the number which are long-distance trawlers, and the number of each category which are still being employed at these ports?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of dog-racing tracks in existence in this country?

I regret that there are no official statistics on this point.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the number of male members of the Civil Service, of serving age, who are members of the Territorial Army, the Royal Volunteer Naval Reserve, or the Auxiliary Air Force; and what inducement, in the shape of holidays with pay, is offered to those members of the Civil Service who join the auxiliary forces?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Treasury instructions with regard to the conditions of enlistment of civil servants in the Territorial, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces. Broadly the position in the matter of leave is that civil servants who attend the full period of annual training

I have been asked to reply. My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the position at the ports varies from time to time. According to the information in the possession of the Fisheries Departments, however, the numbers of steam and motor trawlers laid up at, or operating from, the principal fishing ports in Great Britain on 25th March last were approximately as follow:in camp, etc., are, if their normal leave allowance does not exceed three weeks, allowed an additional fortnight's special leave with pay. If their normal leave allowance is a month or more they are allowed an additional week's special leave with pay. I am afraid that information is not available centrally as to the numbers of civil servants who are members of the Forces in question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the need for preventing further conflict in Europe, he will take steps to promote at the earliest opportunity a Danubian conference to consider the remaining problems of minority populations in Central and South-Eastern European countries?

His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of these problems which are exceedingly complicated; but it appears doubtful whether the discussion of such contentious issues at an international conference would, under the conditions at present prevailing, really serve the purpose which the hon. Member has in view.

asked the Prime Minister what opportunities are offered to the educated Sudanese of expressing their views to, and of being consulted by, the Sudan Government?

It has always been the policy and practice of the Sudan Government to encourage informal consultation with responsible educated Sudanese and the improvement of such informal con- tacts is under consideration. It must, however, be remembered that a great majority are in Government service and are therefore subject to the rules normally applicable to civil servants. An increasing number of retired officials and a few educated non-officials are beginning to take a useful part in the administration of local government, and it is hoped that this field will provide an increasingly valuable sphere of co-operative activity.