asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to tins of Japanese salmon stamped with the word "Can," and with a convertible label carrying the words "Empire produce" and "Foreign produce"; and whether he can take any steps to prevent a convertible label carrying both inscriptions being used as a means of evading the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act?

I understand that where unlabelled tins of foreign produce bear the word "Can" at the time of importation, they are not released from Customs charge unless an indication of origin is also affixed. As regards the last part of the question, I understand that it is customary to sell both Empire and foreign produce under the same brand or trade mark and the type of label to which the right hon. Gentleman refers is no doubt intended to facilitate labelling. No objection can be taken to this practice, so long as the only indication of origin which is visible to the purchaser is the correct indication. If, however, the right hon. Gentleman could furnish me with particulars of any case where this practice leads to doubt in the mind of the purchaser as to the origin of the goods, I shall be pleased to consider what action can be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the label affixed to certain yarn carrying the inscription, guaranteed made from genuine English sea island yarn finish, only obtainable from T. H. Downing Company, Limited, Leicester, and on the reverse side of the label the words "Downella super sea island finish," and in small minion type the word "foreign"; and if he will take steps to prevent any such infringement of the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act?

If the right hon. Gentleman would be good enough to furnish me with a specimen of the label to which he refers, and with particulars of the goods to which it is applied, I shall certainly look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to introduce legislation to ensure that all imported goods will be marked clearly with the country of origin?

I am not yet in a position to add to the answer which I gave on the 4th July to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was Soviet Russia's favourable balance in her trade with Great Britain in 1938 or the latest available year; and what was her unfavourable balance in her trade with Germany in the same year?

The most recent figures available relate to the 10 months ended October, 1938. During that period the value of goods exported from the Soviet Union to Great Britain exceeded that of imports of United Kingdom origin by 139 million roubles; the corresponding figures of Soviet trade with Germany show an excess of exports amounting to 34 million roubles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Japanese by their action at Tientsin have unilaterally violated their commercial treaties with the United Kingdom, and that our obligation to give her the benefit of the most-favoured-nation Clause is at an end, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation making it possible for all Japanese imports at present marked foreign for sale in shops to bear instead the mark Japanese or with Japanese parts?

I would remind the hon. Member that it is hoped to settle the dispute at Tientsin by negotiation. As regards the suggestion that a general amendment should be made to the Merchandise Marks law in respect of the optional use of the term "foreign," I would refer to the statement I made on the 4th July in reply to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the source from which he obtains the necessary information as to numbers required in regulating the importation of cattle and sheep from Ireland; whether he consults the Federation of Wholesale Fresh Meat Traders in this matter, and, if not, whether he will do so?

The quantities of cattle and sheep to be imported from Eire are normally decided on the recommendations of the International Beef Conference and Empire Meat Council, respectively. I am always ready to bring the views of trade interests to the notice of these bodies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of ships, if any, which have been bought under the Government purchase scheme, and the gross amount paid for such ships?

Negotiations for the purchase of five vessels are well advanced, and I hope that the contracts will be signed shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of insured persons in employment in the years 1929, 1933 and 1938, respectively; and the number of persons who were within the scope of unemployment insurance in 1938 and were excluded in the previous periods?

The statement below gives the information desired:

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the declaration, dated 12th June, 1939, issued by the South African Minister of Justice, prohibiting the use or operation of pin-tables and gaming machines described in a list of 120 different kinds; and will he consider the advisability of issuing a similar list of machines the use or operation of which is prohibited in the United Kingdom?

I have not yet seen the declaration in question. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question by the Noble Lady the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Viscountess Astor) on 4th May regarding the South African legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the figures for maternal mortality for the division of Stalybridge and Hyde for the last three years?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the estimated annual cost of printing the telephone directories for Scotland; and how many men are employed at the Harrow printing works upon the production of these directories?

The estimated annual cost of printing (excluding paper) of the Scottish telephone directories is £12,500. I regret that it is not possible to give a separate figure showing the number of persons employed in the production of these directories.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many of the militiamen now being called up will be required for service in the Navy, and whether those who serve in the Navy will be able subsequently to embrace the Navy as a career should they wish to do so?

The number of men which the Admiralty are intending to enrol in the Royal Naval Special Reserve (the force established under the Military Training Act, 1939, to provide an opportunity for naval training for men who would otherwise be liable to enlist in the Militia) is about 12,000 to 13,000 a year. In the present year, the lack of training facilities will restrict the number to some extent. The first batch of men will be called up for training on 16th August.Men of the Royal Naval Special Reserve will be allowed to enter the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines if they wish to do so, provided that they satisfy the conditions laid down for the active service and subject to the existence of vacancies.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the average interval between the date of entering an appeal and of its disposal in the Court of Appeal in England in workmen's compensation cases averages less than three months, while the corresponding period in the case of appeals to the Court of Session in Scotland in the three cases heard between January, 1937, and May, 1939, was 10½ months, apart from and in addition to some necessary delay in the presentation of appeals; and whether he will consider by what means delays in the course of appeal cases may be reduced?

The number of workmen's compensation cases in the Court of Session during the period in question was 38, and not three as stated by the hon. and gallant Member. Apart from the intervention of a statutory recess, the average interval between the presentation of a case and its disposal was about four or five weeks. In the circumstances the last part of the question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention that a head covering shall be issued with the walking-out kit to be provided for militiamen, and, if so, of what type?

Berets will be issued for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the approximate date when it is expected that uniforms will be supplied to all the Territorial Army?

It is hoped to complete the issue of one suit of uniform, either service dress or battle dress, to all Territorials during this month. The second suit and greatcoat should be available during the autumn.