asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the recent strike of the inmates of the Ministry's institution, Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, arising out of the stoppage of week-end leave; and is he prepared to cause instructions to be given at this and other similar institutions that cone under his authority that in future full facilities for week-end leave will be afforded those patients who are deemed medically fit for travelling and who are desirous of visiting their families?

I have inquired into this matter and I find that a number of patients to whom the medical superintendent found himself unable to grant leave deliberately absented themselves without permission. The hon. and gallant Member will realise that these men are in hospital solely for the purpose of treatment with the object of improving their condition, and that, in considering any question of leave, regard must be paid to the requirements of the treatment prescribed and to the effective management of the institution. I may point tint that the facilities granted are considerably in excess of those allowed by civil hospitals. I see no reason to alter the existing leave regulations which are working satisfactorily at other Ministry hospitals.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider granting this humanitarian concession to these men who have done their bit for the country?

I have already gone into the question of leave.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of cases in which any need pension has been refused to mothers on the ground that their sons ought to support, or assist in supporting, them?

:I regret that the form in which the records of my Department are, kept does not enable me to give this information. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that claims to need pension would only be refused on the grounds indicated if the parent or parents had material sources of income and there were also surviving children who were able to contribute to their parents' support, but were not, in fact, doing so.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that he has already refused need pensions to widows whose sons are married and find it difficult to support their own families?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that, but I understood the arrangements made by my predecessor were said to be satisfactory.

It was not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's predecessor.

Is there a uniform standard in these cases, or are different standards followed?

These matters are, of course, dealt with by regular rules.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is satisfied that, under existing regulations, pensioners and their dependants who are unable to afford to pay the travelling expenses of any person or friend to appear with them before the appeals tribunal are able to do justice to their own cases; and, if not, will he take steps to amend the War Pensions Acts so that he may be in a position to make the necessary Regulations whereby each appellant shall be assured of the fullest opportunity of having his case properly presented to the tribunal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on the same subject on the 18th December and the 19th March last.

Is the Minister satisfied that appellants have a proper opportunity of stating their case without this assistance? If not, will he make representations in the proper quarters?

:As the hon. Member knows, in a case where the applicant finds difficulty, it is already laid down that the Chairman is to render every possible assistance, and expenses can be obtained in respect of any evidence which, in the opinion of the tribunal, may be required.

In view of the continuous complaints and the number of hard cases arising under this head, is it not possible for the Minister to do something which will make it easier for appellants to present their claims?

We are anxious to do justice in every way, but it is obvious that all applications cannot be granted, and it has been decided by the House that these questions should be settled by the tribunals and not by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions the amount of money which has been given in grants from the voluntary funds under the control of the Ministry since he came into office?

:The amount of the grants made during the period in question was £6, 000.

:What is the nature of the qualification which an applicant must possess in order to get some of this money?

:The hon. Member should put that question down.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) the names of the special committee at Newcastle who are charged with the duty of dealing with cases of forfeiture of widows' pensions on the grounds of alleged misconduct; and will he state how many such committees exist in Great Britain;

:I think the hon. Member must be under some misapprehension as regards the special committee in Newcastle to which he refers. Under the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, 1915, as amended by the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc. (Transfer of Powers) Act, 1917, the responsibility for deciding whether the pension granted to a widow in respect of the death of her husband in the great War has become forfeited, rests on the Special Grants Committee. The Special Grants Committee make inquiries in cases of this kind through various channels, including the police authorities, and it is the function of the War Pensions Committee to interview the widow, inform her of the complaints against her conduct, obtain her answer to those complaints, and generally to assist her in putting forward her case to the Special Grants Committee.

::Is the Minister aware that there are cases on record where no complaint has been lodged and where the only incident has been that a lady visitor called and disagreed with the forfeiture of the pensions; yet notwithstanding her report, the pensions have been forfeited, leaving widows with four children helpless?

::I shall be glad to consider a case of that kind, but the hon. Member wrote to me about a case, and I am bound to say that facts which he gave me in his letter confirmed me in my opinion as to the justice of the decision arrived at.

:Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that misconduct which happened four years ago justifies the Special Grants Committee in depriving these widows of their pensions and the children of their support?

::The case mentioned by the hon. Member—and it is not an isolated case—is one in which there were two illegitimate children.

:Is it not the case that it is four years since the misconduct happened and not a word was ever said to the widow and it is only now they have taken away her pension when the children need more assistance than hitherto.

I understand that we are not dealing with the question of the children but of the widows. I do not think the hon. Member realises how strong the feeling is among ex-service men against granting pensions to widows who misbehave themselves in a notorious and flagrant manner.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the desirability of amending the Royal Warrant so that the widows of other ranks may have the option of drawing a gratuity on re-marriage or being eligible for the re-issue of pension in the event of the second husband dying, as is the case with the widows of officers?

I regret that I am unable to accept this proposal. Officers' widows have no option as between restoration of pension and a re-marriage gratuity. No gratuity is paid to an officer s widow who remarries but in certain cases, pension may be restored in whole or in part if "pecuniary circumstances justify this course. "In the corresponding cases of men's widows, there is no provision for restoration of pension but a gratuity is paid on re-marriage. This difference in practice was upheld by the Select Committee who considered the matter.

:asked the Minister of Pensions if he will issue to Members, or lay upon the Table of the House Ministry of Pensions Instruction No. 55, 10th July, 1924, Medical Services Instruction No. 566, 30th May, 1924, and Ministry of Pensions Circular No. 30?

I shall be glad to supply a copy of Circular No. 30 to any Member who desires it. This Circular contains the substance of the Instructions mentioned, so far as they are of general interest, but they necessarily include also certain detailed instructions to the staff of the Ministry, and I am not prepared to depart from the normal practice of all Government Departments by adopting the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion with regard to them.

Have we not been informed in this House over and over again that no secret circulars are issued; and if we are told now that these circulars are in existence does the Minister not consider it right that not only Members of this House should be in possession of them but all those who are fighting for justice for these men?

It is quite true the hon. and gallant Member has brought a charge against an awarding officer, but at the end of two months he has produced no evidence whatever in support of it, and his attack has been shown by the awarding officer concerned and by all the medical officers concerned to be absolutely inaccurate.

The Minister has made a personal accusation against me, without telling the House why I did not give him assistance. The reason why I did not give him assistance was because I took it that what I said was confirmed by a medical officer in the Ministry of Pensions. I asked for a letter—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"].

:The hon. and gallant Member, clearly, must raise a point of this kind on the Estimates.

Is an hon. Member not entitled by the courtesy of the House to make a personal explanation?

Not during Questions.

Is it customary for a Minister, in reply to a supplementary question, to make an attack on an hon. Member, when that hon. Member for the time being has no right to reply, because it is Question time?

I beg to give notice that on an early date I shall raise this matter again.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that in the Supplementary Vote for that Ministry provision was made for an additional sum of £920, 000 in respect of the payment of 'treatment allowances in excess of pension, he can state why there is a reduction in the Estimates for the year 1924-25 of £1, 140, 500 in the provision for treatment and treatment allowances, of which sum practically £500, 000 is in respect of allowances in excess of pension; and whether any instructions have been issued to the medical officers of the Ministry that they should as far as possible reduce the number of cases in which alowances should be paid even though the pensioner may be totally disabled, temporarily, as the result of his war disability?

If the hon. Member will refer to the Supplementary Estimate for my Department he will see that of the £920, 000 mentioned in the first part of the question only £430, 000 was in respect of treatment allowances. The reduction in the Estimates for the cost of treatment during the present financial year anticipates a continuance of the decline in our requirements for treatment which has been a normal feature of pensions expenditure for several years past. No change has been made in the conditions of eligibility for treatment allowances, and no instructions in the sense suggested by the hon. Member have been issued.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether arrears of pension from 1st July, 1923, are paid in all cases where the pensioner receives an increase under the Pension (Increase) Act, 1924; and, if not, why men are deprived of money to which they are apparently entitled under the Act?

In the case of pre-War pensioners who were, on 1st July, 1923, in receipt of increases under the Pensions (Increase) Warrant of 1921, any increase due under the Pensions (Increase) Warrant, 1925, has been given from 1st July, 1923. Where the first claim to increase under the Pensions Increase Warrants has been made since 1st July, 1923, the benefits of the Warrant of 1925 are granted as from the date of application, this being the earliest date from which any increase could be made under the Warrant of 1921. In the case of men resident overseas, the increase is granted from 7th August, 1924, i. e., the date, of the Act admitting overseas pensioners to these benefits.

asked the Minister of Pensions why an Order has been issued prohibiting secretaries of branches of approved societies signing life certificates as witness of the pensioner, and stating that this may only be done by the secretary at the registered office of the society; and whether he will revert to the practice that permitted a branch secretary to verify and certify a pensioner's signature?

:No such Order as is referred to has been issued. Under the terms of the Treasury Warrant prescribing the classes of persons who may attest life certificates, secretaries of branches of approved societies are ineligible to sign unless the branch is registered under the Friendly Societies Acts. If the branch is so registered, the signature of the secretary is, of course, accepted.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will favourably consider the request contained in the communication he has received from the Glasgow War Pensions Committee stating that there is general dissatisfaction by ex-service men regarding the Regulations of the Ministry?

::I have considered this matter, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) on the 26th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the working of the Regulations of the Pensions Ministry, especially as they affect final awards, eligibility for treatment and allowances, seven years' limit, pensions appeal tribunals, assessment of pensions in epileptic and chronic neurasthenic cases, education, and training and after-care of motherless children?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Monday last in reply to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Southwark (Colonel Day).

Is the Prime Minister aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction on the Glasgow war pensions committee, representative of all parties, and that the Midlands Advisory Council and various other bodies connected with pensions administration have protested very strongly? Is he going to offer us no hope of improvement in connection with it?

:Is the Prime Minister aware that a memorial has been signed by 252 Members of all parties in this House asking him to set up this committee?

:I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman is going to discuss the matter with me after Questions.

May I not have an answer to my supplementary question?

Yes, I am aware of those facts.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) whether any regional advisory committee has protested against the method of procedure adopted by the Ministry at the last meeting of the Central Advisory Council and, if so, what are the committees that protested; and whether, at future meetings, he will arrange that officials of the Ministry shall only attend to furnish information if desired, and that any memoranda that may be issued for the council's consideration shall be circulated to the members of the council at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting of the council;

The recent meeting of the Central Advisory Committee—the first since I was last in office—was summoned under abnormal conditions which, unfortunately, rendered it impracticable to observe the usual practice of circulating the memoranda beforehand in good time to the members; and it was on that ground that one council—the Midlands—passed a resolution expressing dissatisfaction. It is my intention to hold meetings at suitable intervals when matters appropriate for reference to the Committee arise, and I hope shortly to arrange one, though I am not, at the moment, in a position to state the exact date. No change has been made in the membership since the appointment at the beginning of the year of the present members of the Committee, which I would point out, must include officers of the Ministry under the express terms of Section 3 of the War Pensions Act, 1921.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman please answer that part of the first question with regard to the officials of the Ministry attending?

That has been answered. It is necessary under the Act that they should be there, and necessarily, therefore, we shall continue the present arrangement.

:I am asking whether they will be there simply to give information, and not to take the part which they do now.

:No. I am not prepared to alter an arrangement which is working perfectly well, and I think that the old arrangement is working a great deal better on the Central Committee than the new plan on the eight local councils.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that instructions are being issued by the Ministry of Pensions notifying pensioners in receipt of service and disability pensions that in future the service pension will be issued from the Service Department concerned and the disability pension by the Ministry of Pensions, and that the service pensions will be paid quarterly and the disability pensions weekly; whether it is anticipated that any economy will be effected by the issue of pensions by two Departments; and whether he has taken into consideration the inconvenience caused to the pensioner?

:Service pensions which have hitherto been paid weekly with disability pensions by the Ministry of Pensions will in future be paid by the Service Department by which they are granted, and will, I understand, continue to be paid weekly as in the past. The change will effect a substantial economy in administration, and I see no reason to suppose that it will occasion any real inconvenience to the pensioners concerned.

:Owing to the very unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that on the first opportunity on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House I will call attention to this question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the increasing number of street accidents of all kinds caused by horsed vans and carts turning into or out of thoroughfares without prior warning, with the exception; perhaps, in some cases of a noneffective whistle from the driver, he will take the necessary steps to ensure that all horsed vans and carts have effective warning appliances?

I have been asked to reply. I am not satisfied that there is any real necessity for such a requirement, and in any case it would require legislation to give effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will the Minister avail himself of the suggestions of the London Traffic Advisory Committee?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will study my answer, be will see that this proposal would require legislation, and nothing can be done without legislation.

Do we understand that none of the recommendations of this Committee will require legislation?

I did not say that, but as regards this particular question, that would require legislation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has evidence to show that the timing of motor vehicles over measured distances by plain-clothed police officers is an efficient method of preventing dangerous driving; and, if not, whether he will consider any alternative method having that object in view?

The timing of motor vehicles is an efficient method of detecting cases of driving at excessive speed. In the offence of driving to the danger of the public other elements, apart from speed, have to be taken into account. I should be happy to consider any practicable method of preventing such offences.

asked the Home Secretary how many motorists who were found to be exceeding the speed limits of 10 or 20 miles per hour in the police controls operated by the Metropolitan Police over the week-ends 28th to 30th March and 4th to 6th April, respectively, were prosecuted for exceeding the limits, and how many for dangerous driving?

Seventy-four motorists who were found to be exceeding the speed limit of 10 miles per hour, and 93 who were found to be exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles per hour in the controls operating over the weekend 28th to 30th March were prosecuted for exceeding the limits, and 15 for dangerous driving. Sixty-four motorists who were found to be exceeding the speed limit of 10 miles per hour, and 80 who were found to be exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles per hour (including four for exceeding the limit of 12 miles per hour for heavy vehicles) in the controls operating over the week-end 4th to 6th April, were prosecuted for exceeding the limits, and 12 for dangerous driving.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the speed is taken as the criterion of dangerous driving; whether any consideration is taken of the amount of traffic on the road at the time, and the braking efficiency of the particular vehicle concerned?

::I think I may say that all relevant considerations are taken into account.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many Members of this House frequently break the speed limit by driving on trams?

Hon. Members had better make these confessions in private.

On a point of Order. May I say that I never drive on trams?

asked the Home Secretary at what alleged speeds in excess of 10 miles per hour in 10-mile speed limits in the Metropolitan area motorists are prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit; and at what increased alleged speeds this prosecution is substituted for the more serious one of dangerous driving?

The police are anxious not to enforce the law with unnecessary rigour against motorists, and do not prosecute if a 10-mile speed limit has been exceeded by only a moderate amount; but it is impossible to say that either in this or in the matter of dangerous driving there is any hard and fast rule.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local education authorities, counties, county boroughs, boroughs and urban districts, separately, who have not provided a school dental service; and whether, in view of the value of these special services, he proposes to take any steps to secure its provision in the areas in which it has not yet been initiated?

:As the answer to this question contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Are not the number of authorities not providing dental clinics numerous I Is that why the answer is so long?

No; if the hon. Gentleman wants to know the total, it is 48, who have no provision. Of these 14 have already begun to make it.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the position of superannuated teachers, under the Act of 1898 who retired before 1919, and the disparity of their treatment in England as compared with Scotland; and whether any increase in their average pension of £37 per annum will be made?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply (a copy of which I am sending him) given by me on 19th February last to the hon. and gallant Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock). I understand that any increases given to teacher-pensioners in Scotland, otherwise than under the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1920 and 1924, have not involved any additional charge upon the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many teachers have retired with 30 years' service and, after attaining the age of 60, have received a pension and retiring allowance?

:The total number of teachers who had, up to 21st March, 1925, received awards on the ground of age under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, is 14, 360, and under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, 5, 565.

:My question was a specific question as to the number of teachers already retired before pension, and after they had reached the age of 60 had received a pension?

:Then I am afraid I did not understand that. If the hon. Gentleman will read his question again he will see that what he asked was particulars as to the teachers who have received a pension or retiring allowance after reaching the age of 60.

:If the right man reads the question he what I ask is,

" how many teachers have 30 years' service and, after age of 60 have received a retiring allowance? "

Yes.

I think that is quite explicit.

:The han. Member had better put the question down in another form.

:Perhaps, Mr. Speaker. you or the Noble Lord can tell me how to put it down so as to make it plain?

The Minister will, no doubt, help the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Draft Regulation for Article 6 of the Elementary Education (Substantive Grant), 1925, is so framed as to have the effect of excluding practically all the English provincial boroughs and urban districts whose rates are high; and will he reconsider the figures of toe prescribed amount and the prescribed proportion so that this additional grant is participated in by the highly rated areas which do not now receive any relief?

:I do not see my way to modify the Article in the manner suggested. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the ordinary grant is differentiated in favour of all areas in which the assessable value is low.

:Is the Noble Lord satisfied that the educational efficiency of the services in these particular areas can be maintained without this particular grant?

I do not think I should he satisfied even with it!.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many authorities, if any, have agreed to reorganise their schools according to Circular 1, 350, at the age of 11; and how many are making nine the dividing age?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply (of which I am sending her a copy) given by me on the 16th March, 1925, to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham North (Mr. C. W. Crook), in which I indicated that the suggestions made in the Circular are not intended necessarily to be applied by local authorities to the schools in their areas as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Education in how many cases, if any, the building of elementary, central or secondary schools has been impeded in any way by the shortage of bricklayers or other workmen; and, if in any, will he state in what part of the country this occurred, and when?

I have not called on local education authorities to supply specific information on this point. Cases come to my notice from time to time where the progress in school building has been impeded by shortage of labour, but it is obvious that a general state of labour shortage in an area will tend to delay the commencement of building, even more than it will tend to impede progress on building already begun.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on some of our new elementary schools in South Yorkshire a number of the tradesmen are working 10 hours and more per day?

I was not aware of that, but I am very glad to hear it.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of supplementary teachers engaged in the teaching profession in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with over 15 years' service who, notwithstanding such service, are excluded from the pensions list; and if he can see his way to give favourable consideration to their future inclusion in such list?

I regret that the information asked for in the question, so far as it relates to England and Wales, is not available, and there is, I understand, no category of supplementary teachers in Scotland, nor, so far as I am aware, in Northern Ireland. I am afraid that I cannot see my way to adopt the suggestion made in the second part of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these men have given over 40 years' service?

The question of supplementary teachers is rather a difficult one, because they are not members of the teaching service, but are only recognised while employed at particular schools, and recognition is liable to be withdrawn at any moment. That is why they do not come under, and cannot, I think, come under, a universal compulsory contributory scheme.

If a trade union qualification is necessary is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these teachers, being not eligible for membership of the National Union of Teachers, have a trade union of their own which is recognised by the trade union movement?

I am not referring to any trade union, I am referring to the difficulty of imposing a compulsory contributory superannuation scheme on a teacher who has no status, no permanent status, and whose status is only in relation to a particular school.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the Reports on the quality of the smokeless fuel produced by the low temperature carbonisation process and consequent elimination of the smoke nuisance if it is universally employed for household fuel, whether the Government is prepared to give facilities for bringing an Act of Parliament into force providing for the compulsory carbonisation of bituminous coal before use?

As soon as the Government are satisfied that these processes can be operated successfully on a commercial scale, they will consider the steps to be taken to achieve the object which we all desire.

asked the Minister of Health whether having regard to the evidence taken before the Depart- mental Committee of the Ministry of Health on smoke and noxious vapours abatement in 1920, any steps have been taken by that Ministry on the subject?

:Steps have been taken towards improving the administration of the present. law, and the Government hope also to introduce legislation on the subject next year.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the largely-increased importation of articles to which the new duties included in the Budget provisions for the current year will apply on and after 1st July; and, seeing that this abnormal volume of imports is calculated to defeat to some extent the purpose of the new duties, namely, to raise revenue, and that in addition considerable injury is being inflicted upon certain British industries, whether he will say what steps the Government propose to take to safeguard the revenue and the interests of British trade?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps it is proposed to take to prevent abnormal quantities of cinematograph films being imported into this country, in view of the new duties on these goods?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has so far been any indication of the importation of foreign motor cars in excess of the normal average since he made his Budget statement; and, if so, will he consider making retrospective to 28th April, any import duties that might be placed on foreign motor cars as a result of the Finance Bill?

I will answer these questions together. I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay (Commander Williams).

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the activity of a large number of agents for foreign manufacturers in this country at the present time, and the extent to which importing houses are enlarging their orders, in order to get over paying the duties after 1st July?

Very little has occurred up to the present. The very little that has occurred of extra importation was, of course, the result of decisions taken before the Budget was announced. I have heard that there is a possibility of a large excess of orders being placed at this time, and that is why I thought it very necessary to give the public caution which I did yesterday that we should hold ourselves perfectly free, in the event of any extensive importation, to ask the House to give us powers to impose taxes retrospectively from the date of my announcement.

Is it supposed to be a crime to import these articles? What is all this talk about warnings?

There is no question of moral turpitude, but only the great importance of protecting the revenue, and also of not allowing trade to be violently dislocated by an altogether undue influx of imports.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, since yesterday, he has discovered any precedent for a retrospctive import tax being imposed?

I have not occupied my time since yesterday in researches into precedents. It is quite reasonable, if you give a very long time for the discussion of taxes, to make sure that the purpose of Parliament is not defeated in the interval.

Will the right hon. Gentleman occupy his time in seeing if there is a precedent?

Every precedent has to have a start.

That matter will have to be debated should the occasion arise.

The answer to this question involves a tabular statement of figures, which, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount collected under the McKenna Duties on children's toys during the years 1922, 1923 and 1924?

I regret that the information required is not available.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea what the product of this fruitful source of revenue might be?

I cannot add anything to the answer I have given. I gather, however, that the only toys that would be affected would be toy musical instruments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he v ill consider the complication! that formerly existed through what are called commercial cars not being subjected to Motor Tax on import; whether he will make the tax comprehensive so as to include all motors; and, in the event of being unable to do so, whether he will insist that when once a car is imported as a pleasure car there can be no refund because of subsequent conversion to a commercial car?

I could not agree to extend the scope of the new Import Duties in the sense suggested in the second part of the question. I have noted my hon. and gallant Friend's other suggestions.

Is a car used by a commercial traveller a. commercial car, or is it a car for pleasure purposes?

I could not attempt to interpret the Acts of Parliament without due notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the inconvenience and loss arising to those engaged in the entrepot trade owing to the inability to obtain rebates, he is prepared to establish in London a free port, similar to that in existence in such a, port as Hamburg?

I am not prepared to accept the implication that the existing facilities for the treatment of transit traffic, for the duty-free warehousing of goods pending determination of destination and for the repayment of duty by way of drawback, are insufficient to meet the requirements of the entrepot trade, or that the establishment of a free port would confer any substantial advantages, having regard to all the considerations involved.

:Has the right hon. Gentleman received no responsible representations to show that these protective measures are seriously threatening the entrepot trade of London?

:None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has formed any estimate of the revenue to be derived from the products of Empire origin under the duties imposed or reimposed in his Budget?

It is estimated that the revenue to be derived in a full year from Empire products (excluding Great Britain) at the preferential rates of duty will be as follows: