asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the isolation of certain rural areas in Wales, he will consider the provision of telephone facilities without calling for guarantees?

It is the practice of the Post Office to instal telephone call offices without guarantee when the receipts are likely to meet the cost of maintaining and operating the service, and a large number of such offices have been opened in rural areas during the past few years. If, however, the facilities were provided without regard to financial results, heavy losses would inevitably be involved, and I regret that it is not practicable, therefore, to dispense with some guarantee where a call office is likely to be unremunerative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information about the extent to which the increased cultivation of beet for the manufacture of sugar has reduced the potato crop and thereby increased the market price of potatoes; and, in view of the Government's inducements to farmers to extend their beet crops, what steps he proposes to take to ensure an adequate supply of potatoes at the prices ruling prior to the introduction of the sugar beet subsidy?

No doubt some land was sown with sugar beet last year which might otherwise have been planted with potatoes, but the effect on the total area of potatoes in the country was not material. I would remind the hon. Member that the area under potatoes last year was somewhat in excess of the average of the 10 years prior to the War, and that the high prices of potatoes in the last two years have been due to comparatively poor yields rather than to a deficiency in the area under cultivation.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the opinions expressed in the current Report of the children's branch of his Department as to the advances made in the number and the success of placing young offenders on probation, together with the Prison Com- missioners' endorsement of such action, he will state what action is being taken to bring these suggestions before the Courts who are deemed to be backward in this regard?

Copies of the Report and various circulars have been sent to the Courts. Individual cases have been taken up with particular Courts and officials of the Home Office have discussed the development of the probation system with groups of magistrates. Further progress in this direction will be marked by the legislative changes embodied in Part I of the Criminal Justice Bill.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the event of his introducing a new Coroners' Bill, he will insert a clause requiring a report to be made to the Home Office of all deaths upon which a coroner's jury or the coroner alone returned a verdict that death was due to starvation, or had been accelerated by privation, with such particulars as he may require?

Returns are already made annually to the Home Office by coroners and published in the judicial statistics which classify the verdicts under certain heads, one of which is "death from want, exposure, etc.," and this would, I think, afford my hon. Friend the information he seeks.

asked the Home Secretary if he will grant the Return, Irish Political Prisoners, standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Woolwich— Address for Return of Prisoners convicted of offences committed in connection with Sinn Fein or other political activities with respect to the government of Ireland prior to the making of the Irish Treaty and now serving sentences imposed by British Courts, and of persons so convicted and sentenced in Northern Ireland and now in British prisons, showing the name, date when sentenced, duration of the sentence, and the nature of the offence in each case."—[ Mr. Snell. ]

My right hon. Friend knows of no cases of Irishmen convicted by English Courts and now in prison whose offences could fairly be described as political. With regard to prisoners convicted in Northern Ireland he has only such information as is relevant to the period and conditions of their detention, but as the motives underlying a crime must in many cases be matter of conjecture he could not in any event make himself responsible for a return framed upon the basis suggested. The answer must therefore be in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office will prepare a general specification for the tanks required for the Army, and allow competent private firms to submit appropriate plans and tenders?

The types of tank required for the equipment of the Army are not yet settled, but I will bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War what garrison is maintained at Singapore; whether any provision is being made to increase the garrison; whether any expenditure has been or will be incurred in the erection of additional accommodation for the officers and men of the garrison; and, if so, what is the actual expenditure up to 30th April and the future estimated expenditure?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to pages 143–8 of the current monthly Army List. As regards the remainder of the question, no provision is being made at present for increasing the garrison or for incurring any expenditure on the erection of additional accommodation. I cannot say whether it will be necessary to incur any such expenditure in the future, as the question of the garrison required to protect the Singapore Base is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) where the Royal Army Service Corps company was stationed whose clothing and equipment accounts were lost in transit during the year ending 31st March, 1924; and what was the amount authorised by the Treasury in respect of these accounts;

(2) whether, seeing that the tanks and engines ordered in 1919, and on which an expenditure of £267,000 was incurred, have been found useless for either training or war, the officers responsible for the designs and the placing of the orders are still employed; whether the tanks and/or the engines have been sold; and, if so, what sum was realised by the sale?

As both these questions arise on the Army Account, 1923–24, which at present stands referred to the Committee of Public Accounts, I propose to defer reply until the Committee have reported.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause a testimonial to be issued to Mr. Alfred W. Etherington, of 14, Market Place, Margate, in respect of his past 26 years' service as a civilian clerk in the Royal Engineers, with a view to assisting him to obtain other employment?

A certificate of conduct and ability is always given to a civilian employ6 on discharge or retirement if he desires it. I will see that such a certificate is sent to Mr. Etherington if this has not already been done.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the War Office has refused Messrs. William Foster and Company, of Lincoln, permission to accept contracts for tanks offered by foreign countries, seeing that other manufacturers of ships and munitions of war are allowed to export war material?

The War Office is anxious to afford all reasonable and legitimate facilities to the trade for the manufacture of tanks for supply to foreign Governments, but they require to be consulted in the case of each order so as to ensure that it can be carried out without prejudice to the national interests. Subject to this condition being complied with, Messrs. Foster and Company would not be prohibited by the War Office from accepting contracts for the supply of tanks to foreign Governments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many cases of small-pox have been notified at Colombo during the past 10 years; how many deaths have occurred from that disease; and whether any of the cases or deaths have been in vaccinated or re-vaccinated persons?

629 cases of small-pox have been notified at Colombo during the period 1915–1924 inclusive, and 163 deaths have occurred. The available reports do not always particularise between vaccinated and unvaccinated cases, but of the 21 deaths which occurred in Colombo in 1920, the year in which there was by far the heaviest mortality since 1915, three occurred in children who had never been vaccinated, and 16 in cases showing no evidence of primary vaccination, though they were said to have been vaccinated in childhood. Of the 24 cases which occurred in Colombo in 1923, 14 had no visible marks of vaccination, and eight were unvaccinated. No further particulars are at present available, but if the hon. Member desires further information I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the circle system can be tried at some congested road junction, as an experiment for solving traffic congestion, by keeping every vehicle on the move and thus avoiding blocks?

Consideration has been given to the suggestion that the circulatory method should be adopted at certain of the more congested street junctions in London, but I am not yet satisfied that its adoption would not lead to confusion and increase the existing congestion. I understand, however, that the London Traffic Advisory Committee are giving further consideration to this method in connection with an examination of the causes of congestion in Trafalgar Square, and the remedial measures which can usefully be taken to relieve such congestion. I must await their report on this matter before reaching any decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make representations to the railway companies to instal the telephone at all railway stations, so that farmers and others may be able to clear their livestock without unnecessary delay?

I have already been in communication in this matter with the railway companies, who inform me that all applications for the installation of telephones at stations receive their sympathetic consideration and are complied with where commercial considerations are found to warrant the expense. If my hon. Friend has any particular station in mind and will furnish me with particulars, I will bring them to the attention of the railway company concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to devices for causing head-lamps of motor cars to follow more nearly and even exactly the direction of travel of the vehicle, and to the considerable increase of safety, both to the public and car drivers and users, that such devices would bring about; and whether he will encourage the adoption of such devices?

In their third interim Report the Departmental Committee on Lights on Vehicles expressed the opinion that the use of head-lights moving in conformity with the front wheels of a vehicle is undesirable, and I am disposed to agree with the Committee's conclusion.

asked the Minister of Health whether in respect of the issuing of certificates to enable masters of vessels to replenish their supplies of drugs scheduled under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930, the forms necessary for granting certificates will be drawn up in such a manner as to be fully understood by the masters of foreign vessels; and whether more adequate arrangements will be made by the Ministry to facilitate the detection of concealed drugs upon foreign vessels entering the various ports of the United Kingdom?

I have been asked to answer this question. I do not know what forms my hon. Friend has in mind. The regulation does not prescribe the use of any form. Under the regulation all that the master has to do is to apply to the port medical officer and the medical officer is authorised to give him a certificate for such quantity as may be needed until the ship next reaches its home port. If any difficulty has arisen within my hon. Friend's knowledge perhaps he will communicate with me. The second part of the question refers to the Customs administration. I have no reason whatever for supposing the present arrangements to be inadequate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in the interests of widening the possible area of candidates for inspectorships of taxes and of clearing away obstacles to the candidature of applicants who are unable to meet the heavy costs of travelling to London, and of giving every part of the country equal opportunity, he will arrange that the board for giving oral tests shall meet in alternate years at London and Edinburgh?

Per linear foot of the standard width of 1⅜ inches. — Full rate. Preferential rate. d. Blank film, on which no picture has been impressed, known as raw film or stock. 0⅓ Two-thirds of the full rate. Positives, i.e., films containing a picture for exhibition, whether developed or not. 1 Negatives, i.e., films containing a photograph, whether developed or not, from which positives can be printed. 5

Having regard to the area from, which candidates are already recruited, and to the composition of the Interviewing Board, it is not practicable to require this board to sit in alternate years outside London. In order to reduce the cost of the examination both to public funds and to candidates as a whole to a minimum, it is moreover essential that the written and oral tests should be conducted consecutively and in the same place.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to grant security of tenure to the small number of temporary civil servants who, after qualifying by examination for established posts, have been rejected on medical grounds?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 9th June to the hon. Member for Islington West (Mr. Montague).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the duty to be re-imposed on imported cinematograph films is 33⅓ per cent. ad valorem, or whether it is a definite amount equivalent to ½d. a foot on positive films and 5d. a foot on negatives, irrespective of the value of the films?

The duties on imported cinematograph films as proposed in Clauses 3 and 8 (2) of the Finance Bill are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the imports of the several classes of goods included in the category of the McKenna Duties have increased materially in the aggregate since the Budget announcement, and particularly if motor cars and accessories, clocks and watches, musical instruments,

March, 1925. April, 1925. May, 1925. 1st to 13th June, 1925. Value. Value. Value. Value. £ £ £ £ Motor Cars and parts and accessories (excluding commercial cars).* 970,000 1,236,000 1,200,000 1,178,000 Motor Cycles and parts and accessories 13,000 8,000 5,000 9,000 Clocks and Watches and parts 273,000 324,000 620,000 471,000 Musical Instruments and parts 154,000 178,000 243,000 246,000 Total Value 1,410,000 1,746,000 2,068,000 1,904,000 Quantity. Quantity. Quantity. Quantity. Linear Feet Linear Feet Linear Feet Linear Feet Cinematograph Films 11,422,000 12,909,000 17,059,000 37,690,000 * These include parts of Commercial Motor Cars which are to be exempt from duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, when a farmer submits accounts under Schedule B, he is allowed to deduct from his profits for Income Tax purposes both the rental value of his house and land and the rates thereon, where the house is used solely for the purpose of farming the lands only if the house and lands are rented, whereas if the house and lands are occupied by the owner the farmer is not allowed to deduct from his profits either the rental value of the house or the rates thereon and that this anomalous practice was first introduced in 1906 and renewed in 1922; and whether he will issue instructions that in future both farmers who occupy the house and lands they own and farmers who rent the house and lands they occupy shall be allowed to deduct the rental value of the house and lands they farm and the rates thereon from profits for the purpose of Income Tax, and that where the farmhouse is used partly for farm purposes the same principle shall apply to such part, in view of the anomaly of the present distinction and the increase in the number of owner-occupying farmers?

In the computation of a farmer's profits for assessment under

and gas mantles have increased, severally, in quantity; and will he give the comparative figures to the latest date available?

The imports of the articles included in the category of the McKenna Duties, in March, April, May, and the period 1st to 13th June, 1925, were as follow:

Schedule B, by reference to the rental value of his farm, the Income Tax Acts require the rental value to be taken exclusive of the value of the farmhouse in the case of an owner-occupier, but inclusive of that value in the case of a tenant-farmer. It follows that, in respect of farms of the same total rental value, the owner-occupier's Income Tax charge under Schedule B is always less than the corresponding charge upon a tenant-farmer. When, therefore, the owner-occupier seeks a reduction of the Income Tax charge on the ground that the assessment under Schedule B, which does not include the value of the farmhouse, exceeds the amount of his actual profits, no deduction is made in arriving at his actual profits for the rental value of the farmhouse or for the rates thereon, because the Schedule B assessment itself is based upon the legal assumption that the house does not form part of the farming occupation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there are large quantities of foreign hops at present in this country under control or in bond; and will he take steps to make the new duties applicable to these before their release?

A considerable quantity of imported hops is in this country under the control of the Hop Controller. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give reference particulars of the various Treaties with France, Spain, and Portugal which regulate the Customs Duties on wines and spirits imported into the United Kingdom from those countries?

The only Treaty, which directly limits the duties to be imposed in this country on imported wines and spirits, is that concluded with Spain, which was signed on 31st October, 1922, and came into force on 23rd April, 1924. By Article 6 of this Treaty we have undertaken, for the period of its operation (which is at least three years) not to increase the duty on wine or brandy, the produce of Spain, beyond the rates in force at the date of its signature. The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty, signed on 12th August, 1914, entitles all Portuguese products to most-favoured-nation treatment and, consequently, by virtue of this Treaty (which came into force on 3rd September, 1916, and remains in force for at least 10 years from that date) Portuguese wine and Portuguese brandy enjoy the benefits guaranteed to Spain by the Anglo-Spanish Treaty. There is no Treaty in operation between France and this country which affects the duties which may be imposed on French wines and spirits. The Anglo-French Commercial Treaty of 1882 does not entitle either party to claim most-favoured-nation treatment, in so far as Customs Duties are concerned, but expressly provides that the Customs tariffs of the two countries shall be regulated by their respective internal legislations.