asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many of the masters and other officers, respectively, of the 3,433 vessels registered at ports in the United Kingdom and engaged in the coasting trade of the British Isles on 3rd April, 1911, held masters' certificates; and what were the corresponding figures for the masters and other officers of the 904 vessels engaged in the coasting trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 15th June, 1937?

The desired information could not be obtained without a detailed examination of all the agreements under which the officers were serving at the time, and the cost of such an inquiry is not, I think, justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he will state the number of Members of this House now serving in the Royal Air Force, Auxiliary Air Force Reserve, and thereby subject to King's Regulations?

Seven hon. Members of this House hold commissions, including honorary commissions, in the Auxiliary Air Force, one in the Reserve of Air Force Officers and one in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. These officers are subject to Air Force law at all times under Section 175 of the Air Force Act. In addition, one hon. Member of this House is a retired officer of the Royal Air Force liable to recall and one hon. Member holds a commission in the Auxiliary Air Force Reserve of Officers. These officers are subject to Air Force law only when they are ordered on any Air Force duty for which in their respective capacities they may be liable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he is aware that applicants from a distance for posts as civil draughtsmen are called upon to pay all their own expenses when requested by his Department to come to London for an interview; and whether, in so far as this is contrary to practice in the services, he will consider meeting these expenses in future?

I understand that it is a general practice applicable to candidature for all first appointments in the Civil Service that candidates shall bear the expense incurred in travelling to London or elsewhere for interview by a Selection Board and I regret that I cannot see my way to making an exception in favour of one class of candidate.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many unemployed in the Shetland Islands were in receipt of unemployment benefit at 31st May, 1937, and at 31st May, 1938; how many applications for benefit were received during the year from 31st May, 1937, to 31st May, 1938; how many of these were granted and how many refused; how many applications were received during this period for leave to appeal to the umpire; and how many were granted and how many refused?

The information available relates only to persons registered at the Lerwick Employment Exchange. The number of unemployed insured persons registered at that Exchange with claims admitted for insurance benefit was 514 at 24th May, 1937 and 774 at 16th May, 1938. I regret that statistics giving the other information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport, what reply he returned to the Booking Agents Association concerning restriction of duplications of long-distance coach services; and whether he will make a statement on the matters at issue?

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the reply I sent to the Booking Agents Association. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Fulham East (Mr. W. Astor) on 18th May, of which I am also sending him a copy.