asked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will state the total amount of each of the following cheeses sold during the last 12 months: stilton, gruyère, cheddar, gorgonzola, and double Gloucester?

The total amount of each of the following cheeses consumed during the 12 months ended the 31st December, 1938, were:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make concerning new and improved victualling scales for seamen?

Considerable progress has been made with the examination of these important proposals and the Board's officers are now about to discuss certain points of detail with representatives of the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of lard was imported from the United States of America during each of the last three years; and what was the average pre-duty price?

During the years 1936, 1937 and 1938 imports into the United Kingdom of lard consigned from the United States amounted to 589,000 cwts., 664,000 cwts. and 1,102,000 cwts., respectively. The average declared value of the above imports which is exclusive of duty was as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the types of offences for which, if committed ashore and outside the jurisdiction of the Naval Discipline Act, naval ratings, after being punished in a civil court, are also punished by the naval authorities; the nature of the naval punishments; and the number so doubly punished in the latest year for which the figures are available?

It is not the practice to punish naval ratings twice for the same offence, and the third part of the question, does not, therefore, arise. Certain naval penalties, however, may follow a civil conviction if the offence has shown that the offender is not worthy of the rewards of good conduct or of the responsible position previously enjoyed by him. Such penalties, which are distinct from punishments, include deprivation of the good conduct medal or one or more good conduct badges, and if the offence is specially serious or repeated the man may be disrated or even discharged from the Service. Full details of the penalties which may be imposed are set out in Article 598, King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what was the balance of real trade during 1938 with all countries with which trade agreements have been negotiated during the past seven years; and how these balances compare with those for the year immediately preceding the agreements in question?

The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom, during the periods specified, in trade with the undermentioned

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will give the respective balances of trade for the year 1938, between this country and all countries with which trade agreements

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given to-day in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel).

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, he will call a census to be taken of the number of Irishmen employed in carrying out various road-improvement schemes in Scotland; if he is aware that the records of work done indicate that for some days in the autumn of last year much of the work was suspended on account of the return to Eire of many foremen and labourers; and whether he will take steps to see that preference shall be given to unemployed Scotsmen?

It is a condition of grants from the Road Fund that contractors for road works shall obtain labour as far as possible through the Employment Exchanges. The Standard Form of Contract provides that the contractors shall from time to time notify the officers in charge of the Local Exchanges of the skilled or unskilled labour required. Preference is given by the Exchanges, first to local applicants, and then, so far as is practicable, to suitably qualified persons from areas of heavy unemployment in Great Britain. I have no information of any abnormal stoppage of work due to circumstances such as those indicated in the question and I do not see my way to arrange for a census as suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the announcement by his Department that the work of rearmament makes it necessary to curtail its activities on the premises building programme of Government offices, he can indicate what schemes in Wales are accordingly suspended for the time being?

There is no intention of suspending my Department's building schemes in Wales which have already reached a certain stage of advancement; but the pressure of Defence work will probably make necessary an adjustment of the building programme, which may involve the future postponement of less essential activities. Of the schemes for which financial provision was to have been made in the next financial year, work is unlikely to be undertaken in 1939 on four Employment Exchanges, at Aberkenfig, Caerphilly, Holyhead and Ystalyfera.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that a number of Employment Exchanges in the country need structural repairs, alterations and additions; whether the policy of replacing unsuitable premises is still to be taken in hand, or whether there is to be a suspension of building activity, and, if so, for what reason?

I am aware that a number of Employment Exchanges stand in need of improvement or replacement. There is no present intention of suspending Employment Exchange rehousing, but priority must be given to work on National Defence, and some retardation of Employment Exchange work may therefore be unavoidable. All necessary repairs to existing buildings will be carried out as before.