asked the Minister of Health whether any investigation has yet been made into the very high rate of lapse in approved societies managed by industrial assurance companies reported by the Government Actuary in his Report on the Fourth Valuation (Cmd. 5496, July, 1937); and, if so, with what result?

I have not yet been able to undertake an investigation into the matter to which my hon. Friend calls attention. I am in consultation with the Government Actuary.

asked the Minister of Health what was the proportion of the total cost of administration of the National Health Insurance schemes by approved societies, insurance committees, and central Government Departments for the last three financial years?

The proportions of the total cost of administration of National Health Insurance in Great Britain incurred by approved societies, insurance committees and central Government Departments respectively have remained practically the same for the last three years. Taking the cost of administration at 100, this is distributed in the ratio of 73 to approved societies, 8 to insurance committees, and 19 to Government Departments.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of administration of the contributory pensions scheme as a percentage of the contribution revenue for the last three financial years?

The cost of administering the contributory pensions scheme in 1935, 1936 and 1937 represented 4.99, 4.46 and 4.36 per cent. respectively of the contribution revenue of those years.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will issue a White Paper in connection with the former German colonies showing the European and native population, the total exports, the total square mileage, how the colonies were divided, the names of the countries, and what was the square mileage handed over to each mandatory Power?

As the statistical information desired by the hon. Member is already available in various publications, my Noble Friend does not consider it necessary to issue a special White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, for the purpose of removing misapprehensions which may be harmful to peace, he will confirm the declaration of his predecessor that, in the event of any question arising regarding the future status of mandated territories, His Majesty's Government will not commit themselves to any settlement of the problem without first giving the House the fullest opportunity of discussing same?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, to a similar question by the hon. Member for Leeds, West, yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to publish a report on the recent session of the League of Nations Assembly as a White Paper?

Yes Sir. It is hoped to publish the report early in December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a report concerning the bombing of the British steamship "Stanburn," at Valencia, on 3rd November; whether the attack was deliberate; and what is the estimated amount of the damage done to the vessel?

According to the information in my Noble Friend's possession, the British steamship "Stanburn" was struck by bomb splinters in the course of an air raid on Valencia on 3rd November. There is at present no evidence to suggest that the attack was deliberate, and it is understood that the damage done was slight and that there were no casualties.

asked the Prime Minister whether the committee of British ship-owners trading to Spain have, in cooperation with the National Union of Seamen, made any claim upon General Franco for losses incurred due to air attacks upon British men and vessels engaged in Spanish trade; what was the amount involved; and what reply has been given by General Franco?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Members for Bermondsey (Mr. Benjamin Smith) and North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the periodic broadcasting of information on British affairs and British policy to Europe in general so as to avoid the disadvantages of the inadequate knowledge of the subject which was especially manifest during the recent international crisis?

I understand that the news bulletins which are now being broadcast by the B.B.C. in German, French and Italian, and their news bulletins in English in the home and Empire services normally include summaries of important Ministerial speeches and announcements and of important Parliamentary Debates, and news of the main events in this country and the Empire. This will, I hope, adequately meet the purpose which my hon. Friend has in view.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are aware of the rapidly deteriorating conditions in various parts of China owing to Japanese measures; and what action it is intended to take to improve these conditions?

Yes, Sir, and as the House is aware His Majesty's Government have made representations to the Japanese Government in all cases where British interests have been adversely affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet any announcement to make regarding war risks further to his answer to a question on 28th September last?

As I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham (Sir R. Meller) on Thursday last, I am not yet in a position to give this information, but I hope to he able to do so shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the approximate amount of revenue which would have accrued to the Treasury if there had been an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. on imported foreign newsprint, and one of 10 per cent. on Dominion and Colonial, during the last five years?

The values of foreign newsprint imported during the last five years were £4,847,421 and of Empire newsprint £13,384,814. It is not practicable at the present time to estimate what revenue would have been produced by the rates of duty suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

NUMBER OF COUNTY COUNCILLORS IN SCOTLAND.
County Council.			Number of Members representing Landward Area.	Number of Members representing Large Burghs.	Number of Members representing Small Burghs.	Total.
Aberdeen	…	…	56	—	21	77
Angus	…	…	30	11	29	70
Argyll	…	…	34	—	19	53
Ayr	…	…	41	24	26	91
Banff	…	…	22	—	23	45
Berwick	…	…	28	—	6	34
Bute	…	…	11	—	14	25
Caithness	…	…	22	—	14	36
Clackmannan	…	…	8	—	14	22
Dumfries	…	…	35	14	11	60
Dumbarton	…	…	34	22	17	73
East Lothian	…	…	26	—	20	46
Fife	…	…	46	24	40	110
Inverness	…	…	57	21	4	82
Kincardine	…	…	21	—	11	32
Kinross*	…	…	11	—	4	15
Kirkcudbright	…	…	22	—	11	33
Lanark	…	…	54	36	3	93
Midlothian	…	…	34	—	21	55
Moray*	…	…	22	—	22	44
Nairn*	…	…	9	—	6	15
Orkney	…	…	20	—	11	31
Peebles	…	…	15	—	11	26
Perth*	…	…	47	20	16	83
Renfrew	…	…	25	50	15	90
Ross and Cromarty	…	…	36	—	14	50
Roxburgh	…	…	28	—	24	52
Selkirk	…	…	7	—	23	30
Stirling	…	…	40	20	12	72
Sutherland	…	…	19	—	1	20
West Lothian	…	…	30	—	22	52
Wigtown	…	…	21	—	11	32
Zetland	…	…	24	—	12	36
Total	…	…	935	242	508	1,685
* The County of Kinross is combined with the County of Perth for certain purposes as is the County of Nairn with the County of Moray. The members of the county councils of the two counties forming the combined county form the county council for the combined county.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers or heads of departments in local authority schools in Scotland have been exchanged temporarily under the existing arrangements with foreign teachers during 1938?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give in total and separately the number of councillors representing the landward area, and the number representing the burghs, in each of the Scottish County Councils?

The particulars requested are given in the following table:

Sanction has been given to the interchange of five Scottish teachers from foreign countries for the school year 1937–38, and to two such interchanges for the year 1938–39. All these interchanges were with teachers from the United States of America.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether consideration has been given to the request put forward by representatives of Scottish district councils who recently visited him for the payment of allowances on the same scale as at present paid to county councillors; and whether it is proposed to take action in the matter?

I had an opportunity of discussing this matter recently in Glasgow with representatives of the district councils concerned. While I shall keep their representations in mind, the hon. Member will appreciate that any alteration of the present law would involve legislation, as to which I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any information as to the condition of the ferry operating at North Kessock, Inverness, with regard to overcrowding, lack of cleanliness, dangerous condition of piers, and inadequate service; what complaints on this matter he has received from the local authorities concerned; and whether it is proposed to take any action?

No complaints have been made to me by local authorities; but I have received from the County Council of Ross and Cromarty a copy of a representation made to them on behalf of North Kessock residents in which complaints are made on the grounds referred to in the question. Under the Harbours, Piers and Ferries (Scotland) Act, 1937, the local authorities may apply for my authority to take over the ferry by agreement, or if necessary compulsorily. Until such application is made I have no power to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of air-raid precautions wardens required for Scotland and the number who have received full training up to date?

The number of air-raid wardens estimated to be required in Scotland is approximately 50,000. Up to the 31st October 40,427 wardens are recorded as having been enrolled, of whom just over 11,000 had then completed their anti-gas training.

asked the hon. Member for West Swansea, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that the Commissioners propose to establish a new trustee scheme for the charity lands and unknown donor's dole at Nether Poppleton, Yorkshire, with a body consisting of three representative trustees appointed by the parish council and two co-optative trustees; that the four existing trustees are to be appointed as the first co-optative trustees for seven years, thus giving them a majority vote for that period despite the permanent constitution of the body; that one of these co-optative trustees has from time to time received benefit from the charity; that two trustees appointed under existing powers by the parish council in April, 1938, have been refused access to the accounts by the existing trustees; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the existing trustees concerned shall not be members of the new body, and that the permanent constitution of the new body shall apply from the outset?

The Charity Commissioners are proposing to establish a scheme on the lines stated by the hon. Member for Normanton and instructions for the publication of the scheme in the parish of Nether Poppleton are about to be given. The four existing trustees who have held office since their appointment at a parish meeting in the year 1918 are proposed, having regard to their lengthy service to be retained as the first co-optative trustees and to be entitled to hold office for a term of seven years. The appointment of trustees purported to have been made by the parish council in April, 1938, would appear to be of doubtful validity. If the name of the existing trustee who is alleged to have received benefit from the charities, and particulars of the benefits received, are supplied, the matter will be investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cotton trade operatives were engaged in that industry on 30th September last; and how many cotton operatives on the same date were registered as applicants for unemployment insurance benefit and/or unemployment assistance?

Out of an estimated total of 413,870 insured persons aged 14–64 in the cotton industry classification in Great Britain at July, 1938, 94,682 were recorded as unemployed at 17th October, 1938, the nearest date to 30th September for which figures are available Figures showing the numbers in receipt of insurance benefit and unemployment allowances are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were employed in the mining industry in Lancashire on the 30th September last; and how many mine workers in the same county on the same date were registered as applicants for unemployment insurance benefit and / or unemployment assistance?

At 1st October, 1938, there were 57,512 wage earners on the colliery books in Lancashire. Out of an estimated total of 69,840 insured persons, aged 14–64, in the coal mining classification in Lancashire at July, 1938, 11,621 were recorded as unemployed at 17th October, 1938, the nearest date to 30th September for which figures are available. Figures showing the numbers in receipt of insurance benefit and unemployment allowances are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport what is now the prospect of the Benbecula bridge scheme beginning at an early date; and the final estimated cost and the financial aid expected from each of the authorities concerned in the negotiations?

The work will probably be commenced next month. The Road Fund will bear 75 per cent., the Department of Agriculture 15 per cent. and the Inverness County Council 10 per cent. of the approved cost, which is estimated at £36,995.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the serious decline in the trade of the port and harbour of Llanelly; and whether, in view of the advantages of the port as the nearest Bristol Channel port to the ocean and its comparative invulnerability, he will consult with the port authorities, with a view to its development?

I am aware that the trade of this port has recently declined. I am also aware that considerable expenditure would be required to modernise the equipment of the port and that it is suffering from its inability to accommodate the larger vessels engaged in South Wales trades. The whole position has been exhaustively reviewed by my Department with the trustees, but it appears that the latter have not been able to meet the expenditure involved in improving the port. I regret that I have neither power nor funds to grant financial assistance for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport what committees connected with his Department are now in being; and if he will state in each case the name of the committee, whether it is classified as departmental, advisory, or otherwise; whether it is a statutory committee or otherwise; when it was appointed; and whether it consists of or includes representatives of interests concerned?

The following is a list of the committees connected with my Department, other than those composed exclusively of officials, which are now in being:

(1) Statutory Advisory Committees, including representatives of interests concerned:

• Transport Advisory Council. Appointed February, 1934.
• London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee. Appointee December, 1924, re-appointed every three years.

(2) Non-Statutory Committees, all including representatives of interests concerned:

• Railway Employment (Safety Appliances) Standing Advisory Committee. Appointed April, 1906.
• Standing Committee on Mineral Transport. Appointed February, 1927.
• Experimental Work on Highways (Technical) Departmental Advisory Committee. Appointed July, 1933.
• Departmental Committee on Highway Law Consolidation. Appointed January, 1938.
• Road Transport (Defence) Advisory Committee. Appointed September, 1938.

(3) Non-Statutory Committee, appointed jointly with the Home Office.

• Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles Departmental Committee. Appointed July, 1938. The Committee consists (apart from the Chairman) of Members of Parliament and one Member of the Transport Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the village of Auchertool has to use paraffin lamps for street lighting and for light in the houses and the village hall; that the local distillery supplies its own power for lighting; that the premises obtained for air-raid precautions are now being connected with the distillery power for lighting purposes; and in view of the fact that the Fife Power Company is supplying light all around the village, will he take steps to bring about an understanding between the Fife Power Company and the distillery company in order to ensure an adequate supply of modern lighting for this village?

I am informed by the power company that while the distillery have been approached with a view to their taking a public supply, they are not at present prepared to do so. In these circumstances the company see no immediate possibility of extending a supply to the village on a reasonably economic basis.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many persons are annually obliged to leave the cotton trade as a result of ill-health which can be traced to the circumstances of their employment; and whether he will take steps under the new Factories Act to ensure that all cotton mills follow the example of those in which genuine efforts are made to eliminate dust, floating fibres, and anything likely to be injurious to the health of the worker?

My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the importance of suppressing the dust so far as is practicable, and I can assure the hon. Member that the Factory Department will do all they can to secure a satisfactory observance of the enlarged requirements contained in the new Factories Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take immediate steps to enable a British woman to retain her nationality on marriage to an alien, in view of the urgency of the question in times of international tension?

When the Noble Lady asked a similar question on 6th July last, my right hon. Friend pointed out that much attention had been given to this matter and that it had been the subject of consultation at successive Imperial Conferences. At the Conference held last year it was not found possible to reach agreement on an alteration of the existing law and, while my right hon. Friend appreciates the considerations which the Noble Lady has in mind, under the existing law there is no action he can take.

asked the Home Secretary how much of the £40,000,000 which it is estimated that the public spends annually on football pools is returned to them in prize money?

I understand the figure quoted has been given in a newspaper article as a "tentative estimate" of the "prospective receipts during the present season." My right hon. Friend has no official information as to the amount of the receipts or the amount returned in prize money.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government will consider inserting in every trade treaty a clause authorising the raising or lowering of the tariff wall in proportion to the changes in the other party's currency?

Such a system would be administratively impracticable. It would in any case have the undesirable effect of introducing great uncertainty in trade. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that most commercial agreements are terminable at short notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as regards the various trade agreements which have been negotiated since 1931, he can state the names and nature of those agreements which have made specific provision for the increase of British textile imports?

LIST OF TRADE AGREEMENTS, ETC., CONCLUDED SINCE 1931, WHICH CONTAIN SPECIFIC CONCESSIONS AND/OR OTHER SAFEGUARDS FOR UNITED KINGDOM TEXTILE EXPORTS.
(Omitting Agreements no longer in force.)
I.—Trade Agreements with Empire Countries.
Cmd. No.				Country.			Date of coming into force.
4174	…	…	…	Australia	…	…	2Oth August, 1932.
4174	…	…	…	South Africa	…	…	20th August, 1932.
4174	…	…	…	Newfoundland	…	…	20th August, 1932.
4174	…	…	…	Southern Rhodesia	…	…	20th August, 1932.
4174	…	…	…	India	…	…	20th August, 1932.
4174	…	…	…	New Zealand	…	…	20th August, 1932.
5382	…	…	…	Canada	…	…	1st September, 1937
5728	…	…	…	Eire	…	…	19th May, 1938.

II.—Agreements, etc., concluded with Foreign Countries.
Cmd. No.		Country.		Date of coming into force.	Nature of Agreement.
5324	…	Argentina	…	20th November, 1936	Trade and Payments Agreement.
4424	…	Denmark*	…	20th June, 1933	Trade Agreement
5400	…			20th June1936
4500	…	Norway	…	7th July, 1933	Trade Agreement.
4421	…	Sweden	…	7th July, 1933	Trade Agreement
4331	…	Iceland	…	28th June, 1933	Trade Agreement
4472	…	Finland	…	23rd November, 1933	Trade Agreement.
4680	…	Lithuania	…	12th August, 1934	Trade Agreement.
4736	…	Estonia	…	8th September, 1934	Trade Agreement.
4753	…	Latvia	…	12th October, 1934	Trade Agreement.
4963	…	Germany†	…	1st November 1934	Payments Agreements.
5787	…			1st July, 1938
4984	…	Poland	…	14th March, 1935	Trade Agreement.
5274	…	Turkey	…	17th September, 1936	Trade and Clearing Agreement.
5756	…	Turkey	…	1st July, 1938	Trade and Clearing (Supplementary; Agreement,
5343	…	Uruguay	…	3rd February, 1936	Trade and Payments Agreement.
5288	…	Peru	…	On ratification‡	Trade Agreement.
5694	…	Italy	…	28th March, 1938	Trade Agreement.
5867	…	Cuba	…	10th September, 1938	Trade Agreement.
5823	…	French Morocco	…	On ratification	Commercial Treaty.
* The Agreement of 1936 maintains in force the Agreement of 1933 subject to certain modifications.
† The Agreement of 1938 modifies the Agreement of 1934.
‡ Articles 4 and 5 are in force provisionally as from 9th October, 1936, subject to three months notice of termination.

Tariff preferences and other duty concessions have been secured for textile goods in the agreements concluded with the Dominions and India at the Ottawa Conference and subsequently, and concessions or other safeguards relating to tariffs, quotas, purchase arrangements or exchange facilities have been secured specifically for textiles in trade or payments agreement with some 17 foreign countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, (1) whether he will have investigation made into complaints of deficiency of essential medical stores during a recent voyage of the steamship "Corinthic," completed at Hull on the 25th October last, the complaints having specific reference to the absence of proper surgical dressings and bandages when a member of the crew had a foot badly scalded;(2) whether he will have an inquiry male into the circumstances of the refusal by the master of the steamship "Corinthic," during a recent voyage to give a member of the crew permission to lodge a complaint with the British consul or representative in or near Mobile, United States of America?

I have made inquiries into this case and I cannot find that the master refused permission to any member of his crew to lodge a complaint with the consul or that there was at any time during the voyage a shortage of proper surgical dressings and bandages.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware

Event held at	Postal business transacted at the Pavilion						Telegrams dealt with at the
	Value of stamps sold.			Number of parcels accepted.	Number of packets registered.	Number of Postal Order transactions.	Pavilion.			Head Office.
							Ordinary.		Press number of pages	Ordinary.		Press number of pages.
							Forward.	Received.		Forward.	Received.
	£	s.	d.
Neath, 1934	14	17	2½	8	7	21	209	—	809	371	156	561
Caernarvon, 1935	2	17	7	3	1	4	271	—	1,213	397	214	855
Fishguard,1936	12	12	7½	11	7	—	359	—	1,595	327	252	435
Machynlleth, 1937.	11	5	11	7	5	3	380	—	919	514	261	1,153
Cardiff, 1938	29	11	10	1	8	—	407	—	649	192	140	658
The telephone business transacted for the 1938 Eisteddfod amounted to £24 13s. 10d. Figures of telephone business for the years 1934–37 are not available.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, the position of the shipbuilding industry generally is engaging my attention. I would remind my hon. Friend that the facilities provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department are available in respect of orders for ships placed in this country by overseas buyers.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of business transacted by his Department at the National Eisteddfod of Wales for each of the last five years?

The information requested is contained in the following table:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the official statement that the prices realised at the autumn sales of store sheep have proved less unsatisfactory than was at one time anticipated, he can state the prices thus obtained and how they compared with similar prices last year?

Description.		1938.	1937.
Southdown and Hampshire Down	Ewes	32s. 6d. to 54s.	55s. to 75s. 6d
(Lyminge, Wilton and Findon.)	Lambs	31s. to 50s. 6d.	35s. to 55s.
Clun	Ewes	36s. to 55s.	63s. 6d. to 76s 6d.
(Craven Arms and Leominster.)
Kerry Hill	Ewes	30s. 6d. to 50s.	55s. to 72s.
(Craven Arms, Leominster and Kerry.)
Crossbred	Ewes	30s. to 33s. 6d.	45s. to 52s. 6d.
(Kerry and Wilton.)	Lambs	25s. to 34s.	36s. to 42s. 6d.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons employed in the coal industry of Great Britain in December, 1918, March, 1926, and for the latest date on which figures are available, giving separate figures for underground workers?

The information is as follows:

Number of persons Employed at Coal Mines in Great Britain in the years 1918, 1926 and 1938.
Years.	Total Number of Persons Employed (including Clerks and Salaried Persons).	Number Employed Underground
1918*	989,100	779,400
1926 (at 13th March).	1,115,600	890,000
1938† (at 5th November).	784,800	611,000
* The figures relate to the number of persons ordinarily employed during the year.
† Estimated figures.

asked the Secretary for Mines the wages cost per ton and the rate per ton of the proceeds at the pithead of coal raised in Yorkshire in the month of January, 1936, and January, 1938, as certified by the joint accountants in the ascertainments for those months?

The prices of store sheep and lambs returned by the market reporters of the Ministry in respect of the principal sheep and lamb sales from which reports were obtained in August and September are given in the table below, with comparative figures for 1937. I would point out, however, that the prices realised last year were generally above those ruling at the similar sales in 1936.

In Yorkshire the wages costs per ton of saleable coal raised were 8s. 2d. during January, 1936, and 9s. 4¾d. during January, 1938; comparable figures of proceeds were 13s. 5½d. and 15s. 5½d.

asked the Secretary for Mines the wages cost per ton of coal commercially disposable in Yorkshire for the months of January, 1936, and January, 1938, as certified by the joint accountants?

The figures are 8s. 9d. and 10s. 1½d. respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of the coal produced in Great Britain and the output per man-shift worked in 1918, 1925, and for the last quarter for which figures are available?

The information is as follows:

Great Britain.
	Out put of Saleable Coal.
	Total.	Per man-shift Worked.
	Tons.	Cwts.
1918	227,749,000	17·75*
1925	243,176,000	18·02
April to June, 1938	54,066,000	22·64
* This figure refers to the period July to December, 1918, only as figures of output per man-shift for the first six months of that year are not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the number of coal mines, anthracite, steam, and bituminous, respectively, closed in the area of the Swansea inspectorate division in the past 10 years; the number of persons who have

Pits which have been closed since 1st January, 1929, and have not since re-opened.
County.			Anthracite Mines.		Other Mines,†
			Number of Pits.*	Number of Wage-earners employed at date of closing	Number of Pits.*	Number of Wage-earners employed at date of closing.
Brecon West	…	…	8	1,265	—	—
Carmarthen	…	…	14	1,763	6	956
Glamorgan West	…	…	13	944	36	3,270
Pembroke	…	…	3	342	3	40
Total	…	…	38	4,314	45	4,266

New pits opened since 1st January, 1929, which are still working.
County.			Anthracite Mines.		Other Mines.†
			Number of Pits.*	Number of Wage-earners employed at present date.	Number of Pits.*	Number of Wage-earners employed at present date.
Brecon West	…	…	—	—	—	—
Carmarthen	…	…	2	180	—	—
Glamorgan West	…	…	3	1,306	11	591
Pembroke	…	…	2	275	—	—
Total	…	…	7	1,761	11	591
* Employing ten men or over.
† Mines working steam coal only cannot be separately distinguished.

The incidence of employment in a particular district is not necessarily governed by the number of persons employed at mines which either opened or closed during the period under review. Consideration must be given to the fluctuations in the numbers employed at other mines.Such figures of wage-earners as are available for the Swansea Inspection Division, viz., 48,000 at 15th December, 1928, and 47,500 at 11th December, 1937, show little change in the number of wage-earners employed during the period.

asked the Secretary for mines the quantity and the value of the coal exported from Great Britain in

The following is the information:1919, 1925, and for each of the last five years?

The information is as follows:

Year.		Coal exported as cargo from the United Kingdom
		Quantity.	Total Declared Value f.o.b.
		Tons.	£
1919	…	35,249,568	83,213,714
1925	…	50,817,118	50,477,211
1933	…	39,067,926	31,426,236
1934	…	39,659,880	31,854,490
1935	…	38,714,104	31,558,678
1936	…	34,519,384	29,299,239
1937	…	40,338,030	37,653,529

Note.—In 1919, shipments to the Irish Free State are excluded.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal-cutting machines and of coal conveyors in operation in the coal industry of Great Britain in December, 1918, March, 1926, and at the latest date on which figures are available?

Particulars of the number of coal cutters and conveyors in use are collected only in respect of a calendar year, and not for a particular date. The available information is as follows:

Number of Coal-cutting Machines and Conveyors in use at Mines under the Coal Mines Act in Great Britain in the years 1918, 1926 and 1937.
Year.		Number of coal cutting Machines in use.	Number of Conveyors in use below-ground.
			At Coal Face.	Elsewhere.
1918	…	4,041	613	not available
1926	…	6,512	1,667
1937	…	7,781	5,287	2,013

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board intends to make a contribution order under Section 128 (1) of the Education Act, 1921, against the Heston and Isleworth authority for the cost of educating certain Heston and Isleworth children in the Brentford and Chiswick St. John's Roman Catholic School?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce the Board's decision on this matter.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that when the Public Trustee took over the Moody Will Trust, P/541, he accepted and passed incorrect figures; that, in July, 1937, the residuary legatee was kept waiting for the yearly account and payment without notification; that again in 1938 the yearly account was incompletely presented; and whether he will have special enquiry made into the matter with a view to preventing such mistakes in future?

My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, has made investigation into the matter to which the hon. Member refers, and, as a result, he cannot accept the allegations which have been made. He is, on the contrary, satisfied that the Public Trustee has carried out his duties relating to this Trust with due care and propriety.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any formal and official notification has been given to the chiefs and their pitsos of the High Commission Territories informing them that the Government of South Africa had applied for the transfer of the administration of their countries; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the terms of any such official communications?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what committees connected with his Department are now in being; whether he will Mate in each case the name of the committee; whether it is classified as departmental, advisory, or otherwise; whether it is a statutory committee or otherwise; when it was appointed; and whether it consists of or includes representatives of interests concerned?

The particulars asked for are as follow:

Name of Committee.	Kind.	Statutory or not.	When Appointed.	Interests Represented.
Ancient Monuments Boards:	Advisory	Yes	March, 1914
(1) England	—	—	—	Royal Institute of British Architects.
				Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England.
				Board of Education.
				Society of Antiquaries, London.
				British Museum.
				Royal Academy.
(2) Wales	—	—	—	Board of Education.
				Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Wales.
(3) Scotland	—	—	—	Society of Antiquaries, Scotland.
				Scottish Education Department.
				Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Scotland.
Bird Sanctuaries Committee, England.	Advisory	No	January, 1922.	Zoological Society of London.
				Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
				Various ornithologists.
Bird Sanctuaries Committee, Scotland.	Advisory	No	1925	Various ornithologists.
Osborne House Committee.	Advisory	No	1903	War Office.
				Admiralty.
				Air Ministry.
				Colonial Office.
				India Office.
				Medical representatives.
Osborne Consultants' Committee.	Advisory	No	1903	Ditto.