asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the relative strength of Russia, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Great Britain, as regards air armaments?

There is, I regret, no official publication which contains the information for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when work on the Royal Air Force aerodrome at West Bridgford will commence?

There is at present no intention of establishing a Royal Air Force aerodrome at West Bridgford.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the precise functions and powers of the Air Ministry Industrial Advisory Panel, and the work accomplished by the panel since its inception?

The Panel of Industrial Advisers is composed of a number of gentlemen with experience of large-scale industrial concerns to whom I refer for enquiry and advice any specific questions on which their experience would be of value. Their function is purely advisory. They have inquired into a number of questions and are pursuing investigations on other questions which I have referred to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there is any age limit for experienced pilots wishing to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve?

Candidates for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve are required to join for a minimum period of five years and are not permitted to serve as pilots after reaching the age of 42. Accordingly the exception to the normal age limit in favour of pilots with over 100 hours flying experience, of which I informed my hon. Friend on 14th December, is not normally extended to pilots over the age of 37; but even in this respect exceptional cases would receive special consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the total number of applications from pilots over the age of 25, with over 100 hours flying experience, that have been turned down during 1938 as a result of being over age?

Twenty-eight pilots over the age of 25 and with over 100 hours flying to their credit have been accepted for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; but applications to join this Reserve may be made to any of the 22 centres in different parts of the country, and I regret I am unable to say without extensive inquiries what number, if any, of the applicants with the qualification specified have been rejected.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the attitude adopted by the Japanese authorities in allowing Japanese soldiers in the Yangtzepoo district of the International Settlement of Shanghai to sell entire buildings at a cheap price for breakup and sale of the bricks outside the area, and to demand large sums for personal protection, and for permission to carry goods outside the area; and to what extent such opportunities for illicit profit are proving a permanent obstacle to the restoration of the area to the control of the Shanghai Municipal Council?

No, Sir, and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise. The restoration of the Yangtzepoo area to the control of the Shanghai Municipal Council is at present under active negotiation with the Japanese authorities.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the formation of the Yangtse Shipping Company under Japanese control in Chinese waters; and whether, as this company is likely to exercise a monopoly, he proposes to take action to maintain British interests?

According to Press reports from Shanghai, a new Japanese shipping company to be known as the Yangtse River Steamship Company has been formed and will begin operations on the 1st January. His Majesty's Consul-General has telegraphed that he will furnish full particulars as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the tampering with British mails by the Japanese censor at Tientsin, he will arrange for British letters to be put on board British ships in Shanghai or Hongkong, and sent under cover to the British Consul in the British concession at Tientsin, there to be collected by the persons to whom they are addressed?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him to-day, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information to show that, under the patronage of the Japanese army in Manchuria, the trade of producing, distributing, and selling opium and its derivatives, such as morphia and heroin, by licensed monopolies has increased; and whether the export of this drug is confined solely to China, or whether there is any information as to its being exported to other countries?

My Noble Friend has no information to this effect. The published figures for the Manchurian budget for 1938 show, however, a marked increase in the sale and in the purchase of opium by the Government monopoly. As regards the second part of this question my Noble Friend has no information.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the announcement of a loan by the United States Reconstruction Finance Corporation of approximately 5,000,000 to China for American agricultural and manufactured products for a period of five years; and whether he can now state if His Majesty's Government will also make a loan to the Chinese Government?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The loan is, I understand, a credit designed to facilitate United States exports to China. In principle, His Majesty's Government would be glad if it is found possible to facilitate certain United Kingdom exports to China in the same way, and this question will be sympathetically considered when the Export Guarantees Bill has been passed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any further information to hand regarding the killing of Mr. Mark Flanagan by an Italian policeman in Patti, Sicily?

The full inquiries which His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome has been instructed to make have not yet been completed and may take some time.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the provision in the Anglo-Italian Agreement that the status quo in the Mediterranean shall be maintained, he will say whether such status quo included the present administrative control and status of the Suez Canal?

In the Declaration signed in Rome on the 2nd January, 1937, and reaffirmed in Annex 1 to the Protocol signed in Rome in April last, His Majesty's Government and the Italian Government disclaimed any desire to modify, or, so far as they were concerned, to see modified, the status quo as regards the national sovereignty of territories in the Mediterranean area. The matters to which the hon. Member refers do not come within the scope of this Declaration; but Annex 8 to the Protocol of April last deals expressly with the Suez Canal Convention of 1888.

asked the Prime Minister upon what date the last report reached His Majesty's Government of German war material being landed in Spain; and if he has any statement to make concerning the recent landing of such material at Cadiz by a German military transport?

I am not prepared to give particulars about any confidential reports of this nature which may have reached His Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the offer of free transport, free housing, and free land to suitable Jewish families willing to migrate to the autonomous area of Biro-Bidjan in Far-Eastern Siberia, where an area with a splendid climate, good soil, and rich mineral deposits, half the size of England, has been set aside for a new Jewish region; and whether he will invite the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to co-operate with Jewish-aid societies in London and Paris with a view to encouraging migration of suitable families to Biro-Bidjan?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My Noble Friend is considering the suggestion in the second part of my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, between 1920 and 1935, 150,000 Jews were added to the agricultural population of the Soviet Union, one-fourth of them in Biro-Bidjan, whereas the total number of Jewish agriculturists in Palestine is estimated at 50,000; and whether he will state what reports have recently been received on the subject?

I am aware that Soviet statistics provide the information to which my hon. Friend refers; but in the absence of British consular officers in the regions concerned, my Noble Friend is without detailed reports on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now satisfied that the staff of the Home Office is adequate for the task of dealing with applications from refugees for admission to this country?

I stated on 8th December that in the previous three weeks there have been large additions and that further expansion was being made as rapidly as the need for teaching newcomers their duties permits. Since 8th December 18 more officers have been added to the staff of the Division, five of whom are experienced officers capable of handling the more responsible work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what average proportions of Suez Canal dues have been paid during the past three years by shipping of the five principal countries using the canal?

I have been asked to reply. The average proportions of Suez Canal tonnage dues paid by ships of each of the five principal flags using the canal have been calculated for the three years 1935 to 1937 as follows, from information published by the Suez Canal Company:

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the shipping dues on ships passing through the Suez Canal were last reduced; what were the dues per ton in 1937 and what are they now; and what effect the lowering of dues by Is. per ton would have upon the revenue?

Suez Canal dues were last reduced as from 15th December. The dues are now 5s. 9d. per ton for vessels with cargo, and 2s. 10½d. per ton for vessels in ballast, compared with 7s. 6d. and 3s. 9d. respectively at the beginning of 1937.With regard to the last part of the question, I fear I cannot undertake any estimate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, with certain anomalous exceptions, officers and men of the fighting services are not provided with railway warrants when proceeding on leave within an appointment; that this regulation makes it almost impossible for many officers and other ranks to visit their homes when stationed at a great distance therefrom; that this involves especial hardship at Christmas time; and whether he will consider the possibility of an early improvement in service conditions which will enable all ranks periodically to visit their homes without incurring travelling expenses which amount in some cases to a week's pay or more?

All ranks in the three Defence Services receive travel facilities at half the ordinary return fare, or single tickets at half the ordinary single fare, when proceeding on furlough. In addition, boys receive free tickets once or twice a year. I cannot hold out any hope of further concessions in regard to travelling on leave.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in the position to make any statement on the subject of the insurance of private property against war risks?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 28th September in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine) as to the inappropriateness of an insurance scheme in this connection. My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a further statement on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulty of communicating with lighthouse-keepers in times of emergency, he will consult with the Elder Brethren of Trinity House on the possibility of establishing radio-telephonic communication with all the lighthouses round our coasts?

Thirty-seven isolated stations on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland have been or are being equipped with radio-telephony. The desirability of replacing the present means of communication between other off-lying lighthouses and lightvessels and the shore by radio-telephony is at present under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what trade agreements is the importation by this country of foreign primary agricultural and dairy products a condition; and can he state also the value of these products under the headings wheat, barley, bacon, eggs, and dairy produce; and the total value of the British export trade in return?

The trade agreements with foreign countries which contain undertakings by His Majesty's Government with regard to the importation of agricultural products (including in most cases certain dairy produce) are those with Argentina, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United States of America. Particulars of imports from individual foreign countries of the commodities specified in the question are contained in Volume II of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom while figures of the trade of the United Kingdom with each foreign country are shown in Volume I of the same publication. The issues for 1937 contain particulars for each of the years 1933 to 1937.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to enable the Government to obtain information with regard to the costs of production by millers of flour and wheat offals?

I am not prepared to invite Parliament to impose special obligations on the milling industry in this matter.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether overseas credits are available for trade with the Colonies; and, if so, to what extent such credits have been made use of in the last three years?

Guarantees given by the Export Credits Guarantee Department are available in connection with the export of goods from the United Kingdom to any country including, of course, the Colonies. It is not the practice to state the amount of guarantees given in respect of exports to particular countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if the Board will authorise the building of a new secondary school for girls at Lowestoft, in view of the fact that whereas the present mixed secondary school was built for 320 children, it now has to provide accommodation for 511 children?

As my hon. Friend is aware, a deputation from the local education authority is coming up to discuss the matter next month. The Board's final decision will be deferred until the views expressed by the deputation have been considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will define the position now being adopted by the Board on the issue that the curriculum in secondary schools examined by the universities, approved for the purpose, is not a proper concern of the universities, in view of the fact that some of the universities, in their regulations for conducting these examinations, reserve the right to approve both the curriculum and the course of study pursued preliminary to the examination?

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's assumption that the Board are adopting any new attitude in this matter. It is a generally accepted principle that the external school examinations should follow the curriculum and not determine it, and it is an equally recognised principle that the content of the curriculum is a matter for the school authorities. These principles are not vitiated by the fact referred to in the last paragraph of the question. The right of universities to prescribe conditions for matriculation has never been doubted, and any confusion that may have arisen is, in my view, one of the unfortunate results of awarding matriculation and school certificates on the results of one and the same examination.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the latest figures in his possession showing the number of persons in receipt of old age pensions, and how many of them are getting relief from the Poor Law authorities?

The number of old age pensioners in England and Wales on the 3oth September, 1938, was 2,355,702. On the 1st January, 1938, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of old age pensioners in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales was 230,652.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he proposes to make the necessary amendments to National Health Insurance law, so as to ensure that the State grant should be distributed so as to provide a greater degree of equality;(2) whether he contemplates taking the necessary steps to bring about uniformity in the cash benefits to all members of approved societies;(3) whether he proposes to take any steps to make dental and ophthalmic benefits available to members of all approved societies?

The questions relate to matters of a highly controversial character, regarding which a deputation has been received within the last few days by my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. While these matters are receiving careful consideration, I must point out that they involve fundamental changes in the system of administration of National Health Insurance through approved societies, and my right hon. Friend cannot give any undertaking with regard to the introduction of amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the widespread damage to health and property caused by the emission of smoke and soot from industrial furnaces and domestic grates, he proposes to encourage the establishment of a smokeless zone in and around Manchester; and what progress has been made towards the completion of these arrangements?

I understand that the Manchester Corporation have been advised that they would need to obtain special powers from Parliament to enable them to prescribe smokeless zones. Until I have had an opportunity of seeing the proposed clauses in any Bill which the corporation may promote for the purpose, I could not anticipate what advice I should offer to Parliament on such a Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether any payment, and, if so, what amount, was made to the Union Minière du Haut Katanga in respect of the loan, for a period of several years, by that body of a large supply of radium to the Radium Beam Therapy Research, as described in the Report of the Medical Research Council, No. 231, page 7; whether, in the absence of any remuneration for the loan, suitable acknowledgment will be made to the Belgian company; and whether provision will be made from British funds for this necessary equipment for research?

I have been asked to reply. No payment has been made in respect of the loan, but two grammes of the total quantity of 10 grammes originally lent have been purchased for the purposes of the radium beam therapy research, one by the Royal College of Surgeons and one by means of a private benefaction. Public acknowledgment of the generous action of the Belgian company in this matter has been repeatedly made in the reports of the Medical Research Council. As regards the last part of the question, the matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused to people entitled to regular payments under maintenance orders at the Stratford court because they are compelled to call for the money between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and what are the reasons for the clerk of the court refusing to send the money?

The responsibility for such arrangements rests on the Justices, but my right hon. Friend has caused inquiry to be made and he is informed that there is no hard and fast rule requiring persons entitled to moneys under Maintenance Orders to attend at the court house. If difficulty arises in any case, arrangements are made for transmitting the amounts by post and in fact approximately two-fifths of the weekly payments are sent by post.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the complaints made by many licensing justices about applicants who make it a regular practice to apply for occasional licences for the supply of intoxicants; whether he can say in how many courts rules have been devised to formalise procedure in this matter; and if any advice has been or will be offered by the Home Office to magistrates concerning the necessity for such rules?

If any applicant applies more frequently than the Justices think justifiable the remedy is in their own hands and I do not think my right hon. Friend could usefully give any guidance to Justices as to the manner in which they should exercise the discretion vested in them by law to consent to such occasional licences.

asked the Home Secretary when the Committee, appointed by him in July last to investigate competition between private-hire vehicles and taximeter-cabs, are likely to present their report?

I understand that the Committee hope to present an interim report shortly after the Christmas holidays.

asked the Home Secretary whether any special steps are being taken in this country to counteract the illicit importation of drugs which factories in the Chinese territory under Japanese military control are now turning out in vast quantities for world sale and distribution?

The importation of all dangerous drugs into this country is prohibited except under licence and a careful watch is maintained at all ports to prevent illicit importation. There is no reason to suspect that drugs manufactured in the Far East are entering this country.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, with regard to permanent trenches dug during the crisis, it is proposed to call the attention of local authorities to the need for familiarising their public with the existence and locality of such trenches?

I recognise that public shelters of all kinds would be robbed of their full value if the public were not familiar with their situation, and I will consider what is the best way of securing the object which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the rearrangement on grounds of economy of the services of the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will take steps to ensure that the news broadcasts in foreign languages are continued?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 5th December to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cardiff South (Captain A. Evans).

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present position with regard to trade union organisation in the British Broadcasting Corporation, and what is the part it plays in negotiating salaries, wages and conditions for the staff?

As the hon. Member is aware, the general question of staff representation in the British Broadcasting Corporation was considered by a committee consisting of Sir James Rae, Mr. J. W. Bowen and Mr. G. L. Darbyshire, and their report recommending the introduction of Whitley machinery was circulated by the corporation to its staff for consideration and discussion. I am informed that a ballot of the staff has now been held, which shows a majority in favour of a Whitley scheme; and that steps are being taken by the corporation to bring such a scheme into operation for all sections of the staff. The position of the corporation under such a scheme in relation to associations or unions is dealt with in the report, a copy of which I shall be happy to forward to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the wire broadcast relay system operated by the General Post Office has increased the number of its subscribers during the past 12 months; and what percentage of the number of wireless licence holders do those subscribers represent?

The wire broadcast relay exchanges are at present operated not by the Post Office, but by private concerns under licence. During a recent period of 12 months the number of subscribers increased by 2,130. They now represent 2.85 per cent. of the total number of wireless receiving licence holders, or about 1 in 35 of the subscribers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the lifts in the King Edward building of his Department were installed in 1911; when they were last examined; and is he satisfied that the continued use of the same is safe?

These lifts were installeld in 1910. They are examined and tested monthly, and I am satisfied as to their safety.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the large number of motor accidents which occur during periods of rain are due to the fact that when motor drivers are turning corners their vision becomes blurred by the presence of moisture and dirt on their windscreen, he will have Post Office vehicles installed with dual windscreen wipers?

I can find no evidence to support the suggestion that Post Office motor vehicles have been involved in a large number of accidents owing to the absence of dual windscreen wipers. All Post Office motor vehicles comply fully with the Regulations made under the Road Traffic Act and I see no reason to go beyond them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when it was decided that £500 in one year should be the limit for an individual depositor in the Post Office Savings Bank; and whether he is prepared, by legislation or otherwise, to increase the limit to £1,000?

The limitation to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was laid down by Treasury Order in 1923. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the provisions of Article 22 of the League Covenant that the whole of the mandated territories were to be kept open to freedom of opportunity in trade and commerce for all nations members of the League, it has been decided as a matter of Imperial policy that no British action is to be taken to close the doors of these territories against those Powers who have withdrawn from membership of the League; and whether His Majesty's Government intend to continue this policy?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, the primary consideration is the interest of the mandated territories, but the question of equality of treatment can be reopened at any time, either generally or in respect of a particular country or countries.

asked the First Cornmissioner of Works what arrangements are being made for the disposal of the stone which is now being removed from the Victoria Tower?

As was the case with the stone removed from other parts of the building, applications from purchasers are being dealt with by the Superintendent of Works (Mr. Holman) at the Houses of Parliament. The ornamental pieces are being sold for use as sundials and garden ornaments at various fixed prices; large stone, suitable for rock gardens, at 7s. 6d. a ton, and smaller stone at 3s. a ton. Purchasers make their own arrangements for removing the stone.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give any information in connection with the explosion on the destroyer "Woolston," on Monday last, when a seaman lost the top joints of four fingers; what compensation will be paid; and what kind of work will he be able to do?

This unfortunate accident was due to hangfire of a cartridge during sub calibre firing, and resulted in injury to the hands of one man, with whom I should like to express my sympathy. The compensation paid will depend upon the degree of permanent disablement resulting from the injury found to exist on the man's discharge from the Royal Navy. It will probably be impossible for some months to estimate the man's ultimate capacity for work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of vacancies for executive warrant officer, gunner, gunner (T), and boatswains, respectively, in the present financial year; the numbers so far promoted since 1st April; the number of candidates at present undergoing training and waiting to do so; whether the shortage of candidates still persists in any branch; and the number of retired officers re-employed in each branch?

Based on the estimated requirements for officers up to 31St March, 1939, the following shortages of Active List gunners, gunners (T), and boatswains, exist at the moment:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the recent decision to pay full pay continuously to flag officers and captains on the active list of the Royal Navy, the numbers of officers promoted to these ranks in future will be limited, as in the cases of warrant officers and petty officers, to the bare requirements of the service?

The answer to the question is in the affirmative but I would point out that the bare requirements in all cases must include a certain margin for contingencies.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the King's National Roll Council has now dealt with his suggestion as regards the amendment of the conditions of enrolment in the King's National Roll scheme to provide that Government Departments, municipal authorities, and firms engaged on Government work shall employ at least one ex-service man who is 50 per cent. or more disabled to every 100 male employés as part of their quota of disabled ex-service men employed under the scheme?

Yes, Sir; the suggestion was considered by the King's Roll National Council at their meeting on the 6th December. The council felt that my hon. Friend's suggestion would be very difficult, if not impossible, of application, and decided that they could not recommend it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in order to mitigate the heavy unemployment in depressed areas, he will consider making special Exchequer grants to such local authorities as will expedite and bring forward public works schemes that may otherwise be executed a few years hence?

No, Sir. The Government's policy in this matter has been explained on many occasions, and I have nothing to add to previous statements on the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make arrangements for the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Schemes to be reprinted, incorporating the numerous amendments which have been made since the schemes were first brought into operation?

I will gladly consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what have been the annual changes in the amount of butter and cheese produced in this country since the Milk Marketing Board was set up?

The amounts of butter and cheese produced annually in England and Wales since the commencement of the Milk Marketing Scheme in October, 1933, are estimated to have been approximately as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that adequate research work is at present being carried out by the Milk Marketing Board; and whether he can make a statement with regard to the circumstances under which important research work on problems affecting the manufacture of butter and cheese which were to be conducted at the National Institute of Research in Dairying at Reading has been held up for over 18 months owing to the refusal of the board to permit part of the grant authorised for this research to be expended for the provision of facilities of a capital nature without which permission the research cannot proceed?

In reply to the first part of the question, my hon. Friend will appreciate that expenditure by the Milk Marketing Board on research schemes is a matter entirely within the board's discretion. The board has, however, already spent a sum of £35,000 on research.As regards the second part of the question, I am advised that the board's Research Committee, on which buyers as well as producers are represented, has adopted the principle of confining its aid to the maintenance costs of research schemes and has not been willing to aid expenditure of a capital nature.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much land actually derelict or going derelict exists in Wales; and whether, when the existence of such land is brought to the notice of his Department, he takes any action to ensure that it is properly farmed?

Although my Department receives information as to land not properly cultivated, exact figures of the acreage of land in Wales that may be described as being in a derelict condition or becoming derelict are not available. I have no power to compel farmers to take such measures as may be considered necessary to secure the proper cultivation of the land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the home consumption of wheat, barley, oats, meat, bacon, eggs, and dairy produce is now being produced in this country compared with 1914?

The following statement gives the estimated proportions of the total supplies of each of the commodities mentioned which were produced in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the years 1936 and 1913, which are the years nearest to those mentioned for which such estimates have been made:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that over 80 per cent. of the total indebtedness of British farmers, amounting to £62,000,000, is in respect of advances from the joint stock banks, he can state what is the approximate interest charged on this indebtedness; and whether he will take steps to assist farmers by enabling them to borrow at a rate of interest lower than that charged by these banks?

I have no definite information about the rate of interest charged by joint stock banks on advances to farmers. As regards the second part of the question I would refer to the reply given to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham. I would add that my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that the figure for the advances from the joint stock banks represents 80 per cent. of the total indebtedness of British farmers. As pointed out in my reply on 5th December to the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) a considerable amount of credit is extended to farmers from private sources.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement on the present situation on the North-West Frontier of India?

The position in Waziristan has been quieter during recent months, but there are still a few small gangs making sporadic attacks in Waziristan on Government forces and property, and raiding into the settled districts at the instigation of the Faqir of Ipi and certain other leaders. The situation on the rest of the frontier is normal.

asked the Minister of Transport how many pedestrian crossings, fitted with the ray apparatus similar to that established on the Sutton by-pass, have been placed in England; whether this apparatus is experimental; and whether he will state the results of those experiments?

Five traffic light signal installations employing ray detector apparatus have been provided in different parts of the country. Experience with this type of apparatus has led me to the conclusion that installations of the normal type are to be preferred.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in regard to the case of the railways, which is to be referred to the Transport Advisory Council, he will take steps to have the proceedings of this council held in public, since these matters affect all sections of the public?

The question is one for the council, and I understand that their decision is that the committee, which the council has appointed to deal with the matter, may, if they are hearing oral evidence and if they consider it desirable, admit the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that the weekly air-mail service between Sierra Leone and Bathurst, inaugurated on 24th June, 1938, to connect with the German air-mail service from Bathurst to Stuttgart, has now been suspended for an indefinite period owing to deterioration of the single seaplane provided for this service; that, as a result of this suspension, there is now only a fortnightly regular ocean-mail service between this country and Sierra Leone; that letters now take nine days in transit from Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom, as compared with three days during the period of operation of the air-mail service; and what steps he proposes to take to make this service quicker;(2) whether he is aware that a French amphibian aeroplane passes over Freetown, Sierra Leone, once weekly in either direction, carrying mails and passengers between France and Monrovia; and, if no British air-mail service to and from Sierra Leone is likely to be immediately available, he will at once contract with the French air lines concerned for the carriage of mails to and from Sierra Leone?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on 14th December, 1938, the interruption to the British operated Bathurst—Freetown service is only temporary. Meantime the air-mail between Sierra Leone and this country is being conveyed by the French and German services which operate twice a week between Europe and Dakar or Bathurst. Conveyance between these towns and Sierra Leone is made by surface transport. The total time of transmission in either direction is 5–7 days.