asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will state what Crown Colonies give a preference to goods of Empire origin, excluding goods from the British Isles; and what is the amount of these preferences;

(2) what Crown Colonies give a preference in their tariffs to goods of British manufacture or origin; and what is the amount of the preferences given;

(3) what Crown Colonies give no preference to goods of British or Empire origin?

The answer to the three questions by my hon. Friend are contained in the following statements:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total food production of the Colonies and Dominions available for export during the most recent year for which figures can be obtained; and of that total the amount which was in fact exported to Great Britain?

Complete particulars of the matters referred to in the question are not available, and the summarising of the information which exists would, I am afraid, involve my Department in more labour than could be justified. I should, however, like to suggest that the hon. and gallant Member might find much of the desired information in the Year Book of the International Institute of Agriculture, and in our own Statistical Abstract for the Overseas Dominions, etc. [Cmd. 2247: pages 391–408.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonies have adopted and which have rejected the model Income Tax Ordinance recommended in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Income Tax in the Colonies not possessing responsible government?

The following Colonies and Protectorates have introduced legislation on the lines of the Model Income Tax Ordinance recommended in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Income Tax in the Colonies not possessing responsible Government: British Honduras, Leeward Islands (Antigua, Dominica, and St. Christopher and Nevis), Nyasaland, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Windward Islands (Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent).

In Northern Rhodesia an Income Tax Ordinance is being introduced during the present session of the Legislative Council which will follow generally the lines of the Model Ordinance.

In the case of Barbados and Fiji, in which Income Tax legislation is already in force, the question of adopting the provisions of the Model Ordinance is still under consideration.

I understand that the Legislative Council of Jamaica has rejected a Bill embodying those provisions.

As regards the three South African Territories, Basutoland, Swaziland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate, no revision of the existing Income Tax legislation is contemplated at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the appointment of a recognised agent resident in the United Kingdom for each and every Colony which imposes Income Tax, as proposed by the Departmental Committee on Income Tax in the Colonies not possessing responsible Government [Cmd. 1788, paragraph 56], has yet been made or is contemplated; and, if not, what are the objections to the appointment of such an official?

The appointment recommended by the Inter-Departmental Committee of an official resident in the United Kingdom as the recognised agent of each and every Colony which imposes Income Tax has not yet been made. I understand that the Colonial Governments concerned prefer to await further experience before making such an appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total value of the schemes for railway, harbour, road, and electrical development submitted by the Crown Colonies and Protectorates to the Crown Agents for the approval of the Colonial Office; what is the estimated value of the orders that these schemes would give to British industry; how many of these schemes are sufficiently advanced to enable the Colonial Office to encourage capital to be employed in carrying them out; and how much of this capital could be raised without any need for a Government guarantee?

The estimated total cost of various schemes for railway, harbour, road and electrical development in the Colonies and Protectorates which have at present reached various stages of consideration, and of which some have already been initiated, may be put in round figures at £5,000,000.

In Kenya and Uganda many schemes are already in process of execution either under the Kenya loan of £5,000,000 raised in 1921, the assisted loan of £3,500,000 voted by Parliament in 1924, or out of advances in anticipation of a future loan. It has not been contemplated that a Government guarantee will be required for this future Kenya loan.

As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible to give any reliable estimate of the value of the orders which these schemes would give to British industry, as this would depend on the nature of each scheme in detail. In many cases the schemes under consideration have not reached a stage at which such information could be available.

As regards the third part of the question, generally speaking no special difficulty is anticipated in financing such schemes as may be approved by means of loans raised by Colonial Governments or otherwise. In appropriate cases application could be made for such assistance as can be afforded under the provisions of the Trade Facilities Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the recommendations of and the work done by the Imperial Economic Committee will be made known to Parliament; and, if so, by what means?

It is difficult to give an exact reply to my hon. Friend's question

until it is known in what form the Imperial Economic Committee's Report will be made, which, I understand, is not yet settled. The Government fully appreciate the desirability of giving publicity to the recommendations of the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what name the new Committee to consider problems of the Colonies, the formation of which was recently announced by the Lord President of the Council, will be known; and what will be its composition and terms of reference?

As Lord Balfour intimated in the House of Lords, the Committee referred to in this question will probably be framed on the general lines of the Committee of Imperial Defence. In that event there will be no detailed terms of reference or fixed list of members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonies in the British West Indies have now adopted the system of establishing reserve funds to meet such contingencies as hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.; and what the amounts of such funds are in the various Colonies of the group and the several Presidencies of the Leeward Islands?

Most of the British West Indian Colonies have at some time adopted the system of establishing a reserve fund to meet the contingencies in question, but in certain Colonies the reserve fund has been exhausted to meet those contingencies. The following table shows the amount of the various reserve funds now in existence and the liabilities to which they are specifically subject:

asked the President of the Board of Education what has been the cost of the inspectorate of the Board of Education for the years 1914–24, and the numbers of inspectors employed in the same years; and whether similar . figures are available of costs and numbers in connection with local education authorities?

The following are the particulars asked for in the first part of the question:

The particulars asked for in the second part of the question are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the great difficulty experienced by the deaf and dumb in obtaining employment on leaving school, he will consider providing further training facilities beyond the age of 16 years?

The information in my possession would indicate that such difficulty as may be experienced by the deaf and dumb in obtaining employment when they leave the special schools is due rather to general trade conditions than to insufficient training. I am prepared, however, to consider any specific representations that may be made to me on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the men employed by Messrs. Shanly, chair contractors at the British Empire Exhibition, have no uniforms or hats allocated particularly to them, but each day take their chance and get fresh hats and fresh uniforms, thus making the spreading of contagious disease extremely probable; and that no free lavatory accommodation is provided for these men; and if his Department will take steps to see that this state of affairs is remedied?

I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that every person regularly employed by Mr. Shanly has a cap and uniform allotted to him exclusively. On Bank Holidays and special occasions a number of temporary employés are taken on who cannot be provided with a new outfit, but every possible care is taken to see that these garments are kept clean and free from any risk of infection. I am also informed that each man is supplied with a free lavatory ticket at his request.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of woollen and worsted tissues manufactured in the United Kingdom and exported for the years 1912 and 1913 and 1923 and 1924, respectively; and the number of square and of lineal yards exported in the same years?

I regret that particulars of the quantities of woollen and of worsted tissues manufactured in the United Kingdom in the years mentioned are not available. The quantities of woollen and worsted tissues of United Kingdom manufacture registered as exported to all destinations during the years specified were as follow: —

Particulars of the linear yardage of the exports since 1st January, 1920, or of the square yardage of the exports before that date, are not available. From 1st April, 1923, the above particulars include exports from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Irish Free State; from the same date the exports, if any, from the Irish Free State direct to countries outside the British Isles have not been included.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department has considered the desirability of stimulating the despatch of a special textile mission to the Far East to study on the spot changing trade conditions; and if not, whether it will do so?

The proposal to send a textile mission to the Far East, which was originally made in 1919, has recently been revived, and is receiving the serious consideration of my Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether naval cook ratings who pass educationally and professionally for warrant officer are placed on a roster and promoted in order of passing; and, if not, whether he will take the necessary steps to introduce this system?

Promotions to warrant instructor-in-cookery are made by selection from fully-qualified cook ratings, the following factors, as well as seniority, being taken into consideration:

(1) Date of passing educational test.

(2) Result of examination.

(3) Recommendations for warrant rank.

(4) Length of service.

It is not proposed to make any change in this procedure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether provision has been made in Vote A of the Navy Estimates, 1925–26, for a lieutenant-instructor in cookery at the naval barracks at Portsmouth and Plymouth; and, if not, will the matter be given favourable consideration?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether trade unions are legal in India; if so, what was the date of legalisation; and, if not, will he take the steps necessary to secure such?

There has never been any legislation aimed at the existence of trade unions as such in India, and in that sense they have never been illegal. If the hon. Member refers to the acquisition of a legal status with definite rights and privileges, a Bill has been introduced to enable trade unions to acquire such a status by becoming registered. A copy of the Bill as introduced will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the scales of pay of the subordinate employés of the Eastern Bengal State Railways and other State railways in India?

I will ask the Indian Railway Board for this information, and will give it to the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the minimum wages paid by the Government of India to postmen, postal runners and telegraph messengers in the Madras Presidency?

I have not the information asked for by the hon. Member, but will obtain it from the Government of India if he so desires.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the acreage under poppy cultivation in India for each year from 1920 to 1924; how many chests of Indian Government opium have been exported each year from 1920 to 1924, and the value thereof; and what are the destinations to which this exported opium is consigned?

The acreage under poppy cultivation in British India, excluding a small area in the Punjab, which in 1922 amounted to 1,889 acres, was as follows:

The figures for the years 1923 and 1994 are not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what number of cotton mills in Bombay city

The acreage under cultivation in the Indian States has been estimated as follows during three years 1919–20 to 1921–22:

are at present closed down owing to unsatisfactory trade?

Two mills have closed down owing to unfavourable profit and loss account on the year's working.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that the memorial to Mr. Hudson, executed by Mr. Epstein, in Hyde Park, gives offence not only to a large section of the public, but also to many subscribers to the Hudson Memorial Fund; and whether he can have it removed?

I am aware that Mr. Epstein's design has raised considerable controversy, but in matters of art this is not unusual. As regards the second part of the question, there is no evidence to show that there is a general desire for its removal.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to patrons of music halls in this country by the operation of the Shops (Early Closing) Act (1920) Amendment Act, 1921, which prohibits the sale of fruit, table waters, sweets, chocolate, and other sugar confectionery or ice cream after the hours of 9.30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on Saturdays; and whether, seeing that theatres that hold licences, as do the majority, may sell intoxicating liquor until 10 p.m., and that an extension of hours for the sale of chocolate or ice cream would not necessitate longer hours for the attendants already employed, who attend to such sales in the ordinary course of their employment, he is prepared to further amend the Act so as to abolish the existing distinction between the sale of fruit and sweetstuffs and that of intoxicants?

I am not aware that inconvenience is caused by the provisions of the Act of 1921, which, I may point out, was passed as a result of a joint application from the theatrical managers and the confectionery trade. The question of special hours for particular trades will be further considered when the time comes to review the present Acts, but that cannot be done this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his revised estimates for the yield of the Customs and Excise Duties on silk and artificial silk in the current and in a full year?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount he now expects to receive in accordance with his alterations of the proposed Silk Taxes in respect of imports of natural silk, imports of artificial silk, and home-produced artificial silk, respectively?

The revised estimates of revenue are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Debt converted since the 1st April, 1919; the amount of new stock issued in exchange; the total cost to the Exchequer of carrying through such conversions; the average reduction in the rate of interest; the net annual saving in interest affected thereby; and the capitalised value of such annual saving at 4½ per cent.?

Bond and Stock Debt to a total nominal value of £1,693,292,140 with an interest charge of £88,130,000 per annum or 5·2 per cent. has been replaced by Debt to a nominal value of £2,007,327,685 with an interest charge of £86,371,000 per annum or 4·3 per cent. The actual expense of carrying through the conversions was £580,000 or ·03 per cent. The net annual saving of interest was £1,759,000 per annum. These figures are exclusive of the reduction of interest on Floating Debt which has been very large. As regards the last part of the question, the capitalised value at 4½ per cent. of £1,759,000 per annum is £39,088,000. It would of course be quite misleading to compare this figure with the increase in nominal value resulting from conversions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government has yet made a decision in reference to the Lace Report?

I cannot at present add anything to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member by the Prime Minister on the 14th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he can give any details of the debt consolidation of Rumania to Great Britain; and, if so, the approximate amount of the funding loan?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to debts due by Rumania to His Majesty's Government. No proposals have yet been received from the Rumanian Government for the consolidation or repayment of the War debt of Rumania to this country. As regards the post-War relief debt, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 6th May to the hon. Member for the Brightside Division of Sheffield (Mr. Ponsonby), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he proposes to adopt the recommendation contained in the Special Report of the Select Committee on Publications and Debates Reports to the effect that a detailed account of the cost of each completed order for printing and stationery supplied by the Stationery Office to any Department of State shall be rendered to that Department within 14 days of delivery?

The Treasury decision with regard to the recommendation is printed in Appendix 3 of the Special Report from the Select Committee on Publications and Debates Reports, 1925 (House of Commons Paper 63 of 1925, page 109).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount per head of the population distributed in 1924½25 in Great Britain for service pensions, including the pensions of school teachers and police, and War pensions?

The cost per head was approximately 13s. for naval, military, Air Force, Civil Service, police and teachers' pensions, and £1 6s. for war pensions and allowances (excluding cost of treatment).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Slough Trading Company have now paid the amounts due under the agreement to purchase Government property; and, if not, what is the amount still remaining to be paid?

The contract price for the Slough depot and the mechanical transport and spares, under the original contract, dated 7th April, 1920, was £7,000,000, plus certain payments which became due under a Profit-sharing Clause on the sale of vehicles. During the administration of the contract, the company made certain counter-claims against the Government in respect of sales of mechanical transport by Government Departments, etc., and in March, 1923, a settlement of these claims was arrived at. Under that settlement the company were given relief in respect of interest on the instalments for the purchase of the depot, and the settlement further provided that all receipts of the company, less audited expenses, should be paid to the Government up to final liquidation of the transport and spares. That liquidation has been completed, and the sum of £5,753,511 7s. 9d. has been received and credited to public funds. In addition there is a small balance of £9,290 14s. 9d. due from the company to the Government payment of which will be made at an early date. There is in addition, under the agreement of March, 1923, a sum of £81,438 15s. 0d., in respect of the depot property, which becomes payable to the Government by 16 half-yearly instalments, the first instalment being payable on the 31st December, 1925. The last mentioned amount is secured by mortgage on the depot property. It may be added that two law suits, in which the company are involved, are still unsettled, and that if the company's claims under these law suits prove successful, an additional sum will become payable to the Government.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government has considered the modification of the Superannuation Acts to permit of the retirement of permanent civil servants in any classes who are willing to be compusorily retired on proportionate gratuity and pension; and, if not, whether he will do so?

This proposal has recently been considered, but, in view of the increase of non-effective expenditure which would be involved I am not prepared to adopt it.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many ex-mines inspectors are retired on pension; the amount of pension; how many were retired at 65 years of age and how many at 60; and whether any and, if so, how many are now directors of colliery companies, colliery advisory engineers, or actively engaged in any capacity in connection with collieries?

There are 19 former inspectors of mines at present in receipt of pensions ranging from £114 to £679 a year. Eleven of them retired at 65 years of age or over, four between 65 and 60, and four below 60. I do not know how many are now actively engaged in any capacity in connection with collieries.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the large number of inventions claimed to be useful in the prevention of accidents in mines, and that for several years a promise has been made by the chief inspector of mines that an exhibition of proposed safety appliances for mines would be organised in order to bring to the notice of all concerned the variety of appliances now available; whether it is proposed to redeem this promise; and, if so, can he state when the exhibition is likely to be opened?

I am not aware of any such promise as the hon. Member mentions, and an exhibition such as he suggests is not at present contemplated. The proposal is not free from difficulty, and I should like to have time for more consideration that I have yet been able to give to it.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries now totally laid down in Great Britain; how many are owned by private companies and how many by limited liability companies; and the total number of workers who were employed by private companies and the number employed by limited liability companies at such collieries?

These particulars will take some time to extract. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as they are ready.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total amount of profits made in the mining industry during the years 1913 to 1924; and what was the average dividend declared during these years?

I have no information about dividends. The profits were as follow:

The above statement is subject to the following reservations:

(1) The figures are estimates, those from April, 1921. being based on the Statistical Summaries, published quarterly by the Mines Department.

(2) The statistics do not include the profits of coking, by-product and other ancillary operations.

(3) The Income Tax allowance, for wear and tear of plant and machinery, has been deducted in arriving at the profits, but nothing has been charged in respect of amortisation of shafts and equipment. Bank interest has been deducted for the years up to 31st March, 1918, but not since, and no deductions have been made in respect of debenture and other annual interest.

(4) No deduction has been made for Excess Profits Duty, Income Tax and other taxation, and no account has been taken of the payments to or by owners under the Coal Mines Control Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918, and the Coal Mines (Emergency) Acts, 1920 and 1921.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is considering the question of the advisability of each market where fat stock are sold having an adequate weighbridge; and, if so, when he will be in a position to make a statement on the subject?

Weighbridges are provided under the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts, 1887 to 1891, and it is only at markets where the number of fat cattle exposed for sale is small that exemption is granted. My right hon. Friend is considering the desirability of laying before Parliament a Bill making it compulsory to weigh all fat cattle exposed for sale by auction at markets where a weighbridge is provided, but he is not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the large authorised expenditure in Germany for the intensification of agricultural output methods; and whether the Government will consider the adoption of a similar policy in this country?

My right hon. Friend is aware that both the Imperial Government and the Prussian State Government have made arrangements to provide credit for the purchase of agricultural implements, seeds, &c, but he has no information as to the total sum authorised for such purposes. The whole question of agricultural policy, including the provision of credit, is at present under review in consultation with representative organisations connected with the industry, but the Government is not yet in a position to make any announcement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the hardship involved in the practice of recruiting lads into the Army under the age of 18 years without the consent of the parents; whether he is aware that when these circumstances arise, although the parents claim their son's return, release is refused unless the parents can. prove that they are in need of the lad's financial assistance and have found a situation for him to immediately enter; and whether he will circularise area recruiting officers to the effect that, before recruitment of lads not having attained 18 years, written sanction of the parents must be produced?

I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement I made on this subject in answer to a question by the hon. Member for the Blackley Division of Manchester (Mr. Briggs) on the 17th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total strength of the Army, the number of men vaccinated or re-vaccinated, and the number of vaccina- tions or re-vaccinations performed (per 10,000 men for the years 1920 to the present time; and whether vaccination is still an obligation of foreign military service?

As regards the first part of the question, there are no records of vaccination or re-vaccination for 1920, and the figures for 1924 are not yet com-

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Committee of investigation into the operations of Section 9 of the Housing Act of 1919, with power to call evidence?

I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind, but I do not at present think it desirable to appoint a further Committee on this question.

asked the Minister of Health the result of the inquiry which was held by his direction to consider the scheme known as Hickman's Folly Improvement Scheme?

An Order confirming, with certain modifications, the scheme made by the London County Council for the Improvement of the Hickman's Folly Area was issued by me on the 23rd May, 1923. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the Order.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses proposed to be built by the Oakdale Navigation Colliery Company at Oakdale (Mon.); the

plete. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures for 1921, 1922, and 1923, which are in tabular form, in the OFFICIAL REPORT. AS regards the second part, vaccination or re-vaccination is obligatory for all soldiers on enlistment; not when they proceed on foreign duties.

The table is as follows:

estimated cost per house; whether these houses are to be subsidised; and, if so, to what extent?

A public utility society is proposing to erect 101 houses for the Oakdale Navigation Collieries, Limited. The estimated average cost per house is £495, and the subsidy would be £6 per annum per house for 20 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange to place in the Library 1⅓ 1b. of unpicked and li lb. of picked oakum for inspection by Members?

As has been stated in reply to previous questions, the use of oakum picking as a task for casuals is still receiving my right hon. Friend's careful consideration, and he does not at present think there would be advantage in the adoption of my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the fact that railway companies operating between London and Glasgow habitually issue return tickets at a cheaper rate between London and Glasgow if these tickets are issued at London than if they are issued at Glasgow; and if he is prepared to promote legislation designed to ensure that equal facilities and financial benefits shall be accorded to purchasers of tickets at either end of the same route?

I am aware that the railway companies issue tourist return tickets at fares lower than the ordinary and that these tickets are not issued to London. I understand that the companies consider that the issue of these tickets to passengers journeying to London would result in a serious loss of revenue. The circumstances which justify a voluntary concession of this nature must, in my opinion, remain a matter for the commercial judgment of the railway companies, and I do not therefore propose to promote legislation as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that D. Mackenzie, 41, Hamilton Street, has been refused benefit at the Govan Em- ployment Exchange; that this man handed in to the rota committee nine typewritten certificates from employers in the district certifying that each of them had had applications from him and would give work to him willingly if they were sufficiently busy; whether, in view of the documentary evidence submitted by Mackenzie, he will have benefit paid; and, if not, what amount of documentary evidence he requires before granting payment of benefit?

I find on inquiry that the rota committee gave full consideration to Mr. Mackenzie's claim, but were unable to recommend the grant of further extended benefit. There appears to be no record of documentary evidence such as that referred to having been produced, but, in order to clear this point up, I am asking the committee to look at the case again. As to the general question with regard to documentary evidence, it is obviously not possible to lay down a rule that any particular quantity of such evidence will necessarily be conclusive. All the circumstances have to be taken into account in each case.