asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the House any information as to whether the booking ban has been removed from Channel Air Ferries Services between Heston-Croydon-Isle of Wight, Brighton-Isle of Wight-Bournemouth-Bristol-Cardiff, and Plymouth-Penzance-Isles of Scilly, respectively?

The railway companies have expressed their intention of removing the ban on air bookings, and negotiations are in active progress between the operating company and the railway companies concerned regarding the three services referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement as to the arrangements which are to be made for the opening of the all-flying-boat service between England and Australia?

It is anticipated that the through service conducted entirely by flying boats between England and Australia will be in full operation by the beginning of August. A public announcement as to the exact date will be made very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any licences have been given in the past 12 months for the export of arms to Japan; if so, for what amount; and what was the date of the last licence so issued?

Ten licences have been issued during the last twelve months for the export of war material to Japan. The last was dated the 14th February, 1938. As I have previously explained, His Majesty's Government consider that it is contrary to the public interest to publish particulars of licences issued for the export of arms and ammunition to particular destinations; but the total value of the arms, ammunition and military and naval stores registered as consigned from the United Kingdom to Japan from the 1st June, 1937, to the 30th May, 1938, was £108,246.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, to meet the popular wishes, he will consider introducing on some current stamp the portraits of the Queen and Princess Elizabeth?

It has always been customary for the head of the reigning sovereign to be the main feature of the design of postage stamps of this country, and I am sorry that no departure from this tradition can be made in respect of postage stamps of the permanent series.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army vocational centres at Aldershot, Chisledon and Hounslow are to be finally closed down; and, if so, whether the instructors at Aldershot have received notice terminating their services?

As regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies which I gave on Tuesday last. The answer to the second part is "Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister for Health (1) whether he will consider in the near future an extension of the Housing Acts which will enable building society advances to be made up to 95 per cent. in approved cases, in order to extend the benefit of house-purchase to a greater proportion of the community and to put an end to the undesirable increase of municipal indebtedness;(2) whether, in view of the fact that over £60,000,000 is now owing to local authorities in connection with housing mortgage loans, he will arrange that in future such commitments shall be transferred to the building societies, in order to enable a greater proportion of the population to proceed with the purchase of their own houses?

I do not, as at present advised, contemplate taking steps for the purposes proposed. I doubt if action of the kind proposed would, by itself, have the effect suggested in the Questions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the difficulties thrown by local authorities in the way of Sunday trading by fish-fryers; and whether, in view of the need for popularising the consumption of fish, he will consult with public bodies concerned with a view to the adoption of a different policy?

I do not appear to have heard of any difficulties of this kind except in one instance where the Local Authority although prepared to make an Order under Section 5 of the Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act, 1936, permitting the sale on certain Sundays of fried fish and chips at fried fish and chip shops during certain hours of the day, were not prepared to allow such trading for the longer hours desired by the traders affected. I shall, of course, be ready to consider any other cases that may be brought to my notice, but I do not see any sufficient grounds at present for any action on my part in the direction suggested. I may point out that it was at the express request of the organisation representing the trade that the sale of fried fish and chips at a fried fish and chip shop was excluded, in the First Schedule to the Act, from the transactions for the purposes of which a shop may be open for the serving of customers on Sunday.