NATIONAL FINANCE.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total revenue and total expenditure from 5th April to 30th June, 1921, and the total revenue and total expenditure for the corresponding period of 1920, excluding debt redemption?
My hon. Friend will find these figures in the Quarterly Return of Exchequer Issues and Receipts published last night. I may, perhaps, warn my hon. Friend that conclusions drawn from the revenue and expenditure figures for the first quarter of the year are apt to be very misleading. The considerable drop which will appear in receipts from Excess Profits Duty and Miscellaneous Revenue is in accordance with anticipations.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue to be received from 5th April to 30th June, 1921?
The revenue quarters run from the 1st of the month, not from the 5th; but in any case no attempt is made to prepare exact estimates of revenue by quarters as distinct from the Estimates for the year contained in the Financial Statement. I may add that the actual revenue receipts for the first quarter of the year will not be much below what might have been anticipated had an attempt been made to frame such an estimate.
NORWICH BOARD OF GUARDIANS (SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRAR).
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Norwich union have appointed their clerk to the additional post of superintendent registrar; that the vacancy was never advertised; and that the clerk was already in receipt of more than £1,000; and whether, in view of the fact that there are large numbers of capable men out of employment and that this practice of appointing one man to fill several positions does not represent a saving but extra expense to the ratepayers, inasmuch as a higher salary received by the one individual carries with it a higher pension, he will advise the Norwich union that the post in question should be advertised and given to someone at present out of employment?
I have made inquiry into this case and as the appointment is expected to produce a saving on the rates I do not think I should be justified in taking any action.
ENEMY DEBTS CLEARING HOUSE (STAFF).
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of the staff of the Clearing House for enemy debts; what are the total salaries paid to the staff; and what have been the total amounts received from Germany since the Department was formed?
The staff of the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts, which includes also the staff employed in the Austrian and Bulgarian Administrations, now numbers 1,353. The total annual salaries amount to £313,000. As the hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, the expenses of the Clearing Office are met from a fee charged upon payments effected by the office. The total amount received from Germany in cash or account in payment of British claims admitted under Article 296 up to the date of the last month's settlement on 15th June, 1921, was £24,553,045. There has also been credited by Germany and paid out of proceeds of liquidations here under Article 297, £8,301,482.
MEAT (RETAIL SALE).
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a cottager who has slaughtered a pig for his own consumption is prohibited from selling any of the surplus meat to a neighbour unless he has taken out a licence as a meat retailer; and, if so, what is the reason for this restriction?
I have been asked to reply. In order to ensure that premises utilised for the sale of meat are suitable for that purpose and to enforce compliance with any regulations affecting the sale of meat which may be required for reasons of public health, all retail dealers in meat must hold a certificate of registration. It was not intended to restrict such isolated cases of retail dealing as are suggested in the question, nor am I aware that any such restriction has been enforced.